yep, if we ever get a decent scrum half at the club, we'll be a good side. problem is, we never get one unless they arrive with one leg

We've got one mate, he's just not getting a game. He may be raw, but he's better at 7 than Azza IMO.

Ellis did have a very good game, I agree.

agree, Miller has to be given a chance, as he's an Aussie can't play for Donny, so playing him in the 1st team is the only way we can see if he's improved or not.

Wasnt that one of gentle's major problems,playing players out of position.I think that is one of the biggest mistakes coaches make is playing people out of position unless injuries force their hand.

And wasn't saying Houghton had bad game. He was at fault for his lapse in defence. Couldn't scoot as much as cas tackling techniques were spot on. Turned the attacker everytime. Gave danny no time to run. Great game though. No complaints with the result.

You'll struggle to get one unless you give them a run and time to bed in. Said last week I'd be delighted if you picked heremaia in the halfs against us, ties up yourbiggest attacking threat in the wrong position.

Firstly I think it's important we don't get too down hearted by this result. It's disappointing, but not a disaster. Cas look a very accomplished side and at home they will be hard to beat. Had we defended that winning try we would all be saying what a good battling win it was without 4 of our 6 props. So I don't think we should throw the baby out with the bath water when it was a game of such fine margins.

I don't want to write the kid off yet but I am starting to fear that Crooks might turn out to be a one season wonder. From what I have seen of them both this year I would give Arundle the right centre spot. I think it's also time for Miller. I rate Heremaia very highly but he is a hooker, his talents are wasted at 6 and I think Miller just gives us another dimension. I like Rankin at full back too, Shaul has showed glimpses this season and I still think he'll be a top full back but he still has a few too many flaws in his game currently that he needs to work on. It kinda goes without saying that we need a couple of big guys back. Without Feka, Carvell, Bowden and Green we are very lightweight up front. Ultimately I think that was our downfall today.

I'm still not unhappy with our start, and I still think 4th is achievable, but we've really got to knuckle down and start knocking out some wins now.

I only hope that Miller and Arundel have both been given time to get it right in training before playing. They both have bags of talent and whilst I think heremaia is a great hooker he isn't a half back and should only play there in an injury crisis. Crooks has just been a bit crap, especially defensively, this season.

Couple years time we will have our home grown halves.. I no it's not now but future looks bright.

Had enough possession and opportunity to extend our half-time lead after the break which would have made it very difficult for Cas to come back at us.

Our Captain was outstanding again.

Two points bombed.

Disappointed.

I wonder why we bother buying half backs because we don't give them time to settle and show what they can do, seem to want instant results and if not... drop them ! strange way to take this team forward.

hope i can wait that long,i`m 74yrs now.

Miller has to be given a go now. Shaul needs dropping, he's solid under a high ball and running in open spaces but some of his kick returns were embarrassing yesterday, on one of them he ended up running towards his own posts! Rankin looks much livelier and able to link up play.
1. Rankin
6. Horne
7. Miller
Interchange hk. Heremaia (can change the game when he comes on - which we really could of done with that impact yesterday).

I was in the opposite stand so I'm not sure who was at fault for the last try, and if it was crooks fair enough, but in the first half I thought he did a much better job defensively. What did worry me in the lead up to their last try was how Webster made 20 meters with two men on his back!

Great game yesterday, thoroughly enjoyed it. Great support from the FC and a great effort by the lads.
My opinion of the game
Thought losing Bowden early doors was probably the reason for the loss, although I thought Thompson was outstanding, we lost a lot of the collisions up the centre of the park. I thought the ref was lenient with thier tactics of slowing the play of the ball down, they were very Wigan-esk in the way they slowed down the rook. It was hard to say anyone had a bad game, although for me Ellis, Thompson and Westerman were my stand out players. Thought Houghton made some great runs from dummy half, yet some of his passes leave a lot to be desired as the forwards invariably had to check thier runs to catch the ball. Tanaloa worked hard also, showing plenty of ball handling skills and enthusiasm. Ifs and buts, well if Carvell and Feka had played I think it would havei been a different result, but that's easy to say I suppose. All in all it was a good game, and all the lads showed plenty of effort and commitment, just a shame the result went against us.