So we're 6th assuming Rovers get a decent win tomorrow, gap of 4 points to Cas, but form on a downward spiral and without Connor, Carlos, Lane, Savelio, Cator, Mitch, McNamara.

What do we do about the halves? Think we need Lovodua starting somewhere in the spine (not ideal but has to play there IMO). McNamara weeks off still.

Will need some luck to make the 6 on current trajectory but hopefully Cas and Leeds will continue their erratic form and we can manage it.

You play Hookem at 7
Lovodua at 6
Balmforth on the bench to spell houghton
Mitch at centre, one of the teams best defenders yet can't get a game
I'd even put Wynne back at fullback

Need to stop playing players in terrible form, low on confidence and who have been told they aren't needed anymore.

Mitch is injured isn't he?

I'm gonna get off the fence for you and say we won't make the 6, although, obviously hope I'm proven wrong.
I thought it would be a struggle at season commencement, mainly down to Hodgsons halves recruitment. I doubted Hodgson's signing of Reynolds but thought, well, he's been around him at Wests, (where he couldnt get a game)but surely Brett must think he can do a job for us. He unfortunately hasn't been up to it.
Wasn't over enamoured with the Gale signing either but thought with his SL experience he might be at least up to giving us a lttle leadership around the park. He's been disappointing at best.

When you said Brett must think he can do a job for us I thought you meant Brett himself as a half back. Might not be a bad idea.

I await Tarquins assessment of the result a little later.
He'll put us both right. icon_lol.gif
As for BH, do we give him the reins for another season, and a second chance, with hopefully a new 6/7 and have any faith in him getting it rght?

With Connor out our spine must be the weakest in the league.

The injury to Ben McNamara is really unfortunate timing. Reynolds shouldn't play for us again chuck in Joey for the rest of the year. As soon as Benny is fit, get him at 7.

The injury to Carlos probably means Wynne won't be used at full back.

We've gotnto be careful about chucking too many kids in key positions all in at once, but Litten and Balmforth should be introduced in the next few weeks if things don't turn around.

We consistently go on a downwards trajectory in the second half of the season. Looks the same again.

Think BH would be under even more pressure if finances weren’t so tight.

Yep, most teams aim to peak for the end, not us...

Feeling like we just can't get out of this mid table rut, its been 5 years now and we just plod along, occasionally giving a better than expected performance before flopping again.

Get thrown the odd good performance in to keep us interested. They’ll start announcing the signings soon.

I rarely ever have a crack at the players.
For me it’s always the Coach.
I’ll suggest removing BH and KP now -
AP may as well save time and show some authority in doing so.
I am just starting to have some doubts re AP. He’s no Shane Richardson but more Jimmy Haslam ( Cleveland Browns).

I’m sorry but BH hasn’t demonstrated he can impose a culture on the team other than complete inconsistency, which is a sign the team win and lose despite the coach not because of him.

5th now on 18 points - you'd hope we're on our way to our first aim of the season (avoiding relegation).

The decimation through injuries and suspensions is horrific (12) - Connor, Swift, Tuimavave, Sao, Ma'u, Evans, Savelio, Cator, Scott, McNamara, Johnstone, Vulikijapani plus getting rid of Reynolds - so a play off place is pretty unlikely with a resurgent Leeds and Warrington. A shame that they key player injuries are serious/long term as technically the run in is not too bad.

the remaining july fixtures are favourable to us, apart from wigan next friday
teams below us either play each other or the top 4...still top 5/6 start of august ill be happy

no worries of relegation at least.

we will finish top 6