Sorry, I meant that’s how we should have started vs London.

Was it 2004 when we had a patched up squad that lost in the play offs to Wakey? Cooke was playing on 1 leg. 07 we got Head in to replace Cooke who was good when he played, but that was the problem, he struggled with knee problems

I’m still not convinced you can prevent a lot of injuries. Ruptured muscles and tendons, ligament damage, head knocks, broken fingers and shoulders etc are all very hard to prevent. S and C and fitness can help muscle strength and flexibility, but I do think we’ve just have incredibly bad luck with players and their fitness in recent years - as well as probably signing players with underlying injury issues in Trueman and Walker for example.

It really has been a perfect storm for us.

I think we are ultimately paying the price for 2 consecutive very poor preseasons under Smith and again under Hodgson where players just haven't been prepared for the rigors of a season of SL rugby. On top of that this season we in the most part have been playing a lightweight 17 due to failures in the recruitment and our very poor discipline on the field compounds everything playing so many games a man down etc. Its inevitable that once one of two injuries started to bite it would have a snowball affect based on all the factors and the fact there's been very little genuine desire on show and getting beat every week.

The downfall started in 2018, a bit unfortunate in 2020 where we recruited well, then covid hit, had we got the right coach with that squad we could have turned the corner.

Connor
Swift
Griffin
Carlos
Ratu
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Sao
Jones
Ma'u
Ellis

Satae
Savelio
Fash
Cator

Thats not a perfect 17, bench is a bit week, but it's miles ahead of where are and a play off team with the right coach.

Is Grix taking the pl$$!? What about every other club? 12.3115234375:5