Of course the pack have laid the platform how else does it normally work ? Saints' and Leeds' and more recently Wigan's packs have also laid platforms for them when they have been scoring points. I hope that by next season we have improved our backline with more strike power but however you dress it up we have a decent attacking record. Poor defence (attitude) has cost us this year in the games we have lost.

There's a risk here that we confuse decent attacking record with performance.

No confusion here. All I am doing is stating a few facts for balance, whilst at the same time acknowledging some poor performances in defence and a definite inconsistent (bad attitude) approach in some away games.

We havn't been fantastic this year by any means, but there has been a marked improvement imo.

First of all lets look at the results.

We have won games against Saints away, Hudds at home, Cas at home and Bradford at home which we lost last year. We have beaten Quins at home who we beat last year, and lost to Wigan away who we lost against last year. We have lost to Salford and Quins away who we beat last year. Therefore we are 4 points better off so far based on the corresponding fixtures last year.

We have scored 194 points and conceded 143, making our attack the 4th best in the league and our defence the 5th best. Last year in the corresponding fixtures we had scored 152 points and conceded 182. So we are 81 points better off (10 points a game). Lets not forget how much better Wigan and Crusaders are this year than last aswell.

In terms of actual performances we have seen two very accomplished performances against St Helens and Huddersfield. A strong performance against an allbeit poor team against Quins, and not perfect but still good battling performances against Cas and Bradford. We were outclassed by the best team in the competition and put in two poor diplays against mediocre sides away from home (they are not however, as people have mentioned, the two worst sides in the league) however, despite our under par displays we could have still come away with results if a coupe of things had gone our way.

Our defence is certainly more resilient, we have stoped teams from scoring a first half try in half of our games so far and whilst defending kicks is a problem that can be put right with some time being put in on the training field/ Calderwood returning. In attack we might not be playing harlem globetrotter style and scoring length of the field tries, but we have obviously been doing something right to have avaraged over 24 points a game. The conditions so far have not really allowed for eyecatching stuff so far and we will get a better idea of where we are at offensively over the next couple of months, not only as the grounds dry up but as our first choice half back pairing get more game time togeher (they have only played 3 games together so far remember). Fitz and O'Meley have been very good signings and Turner has chipped in with some good performances and Long has showed glimpses of what he can do. Lauaki needs some work on his disclipline but he has shown that he can be a very good addition to the squad, and Radders and Dowes (although not always popular on here) have looked alot better than last season imo. The next 3 matches are important. I am confident of a win against Rovers but we then need to win one of the next two to really put ourselves on track and get fans back on side.

People get too down hearted by a couple of bad displays. I said at the start of the season (as did many others) that top 6 was the aim and anything higher would be a bonus. Well we are currently well on track to do that, so lets not let a couple of bad performances (which I'm putting down to attitude rather than ability) dampen our spirits. I for one am really looking forward to Friday now.

I love what you're saying and I hope you're right, but the reality is that it was a couple of bad displays around about this stage that preempted the slide into direness last season and the one before. Just got an awfully bad case of deja vu at the moment.

I'm not at all looking forward to Friday, but am really looking forward to being proved wrong.

Good post. Agar should stand or fall by results and you have stated the facts.

Who would you say are worse?

The most disappointing thing about Saturdays result was that Salford didn't look very good at all.

I'd say Quins are the worst team in the league, then probably Salford, then Catalans, then I's say Crusaders, Bradford, Cas and Hull KR quite similar. Neither are particularly good teams, but on their day they can both cause upsets and I think Crusaders in particular could be dark horses for the playoffs but will probably finish about 10th.

OK.....I dont wanna sound naive here.......But.....I'm gonna anyway!!!!!

Right...all those shouting for Agars head on the silver plate....What do you suggest he does? I know some of you have been rugby fans for years and really do know the game inside out.(I'm not having a pop at ya) Now we are all in agreement the Rich Agar is indeed a 'nice bloke'......The players respect him too. Soooooo just what is happening to make quite a few folk suggest that he has to go. We have a team full of potential world beaters...Fitz, Long,the new revitalised Horney. We have a scary pack, we have a few bright young stars like Briscoe and Lynn.......So what would you 'in the know' folk suggest a new coach would do something different? Where would he start? What would he say to the squad? Some of ya claim to have coached teams in the past, or are even coaching at amature/youth level.......WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON THE TRAINING FIELD that Agar isnt doing. As far as i'm aware.......the lads are still 'pulling up trees' in training and the fitness levels are on a high! The coaching techniques are spot on....its the final execution that is, or seems to be lacking that certain spark the first game at St's had.....C'mon...WHAT WOULD ANOTHER COACH DO??????? Or am I indeed a total know-nowt?
For me.....the likes of Fitz, O,Meley, Long and Radders cant and wont be re-trained/coached (Radders is a good coach anyway!).....They are the finished article and it is these players that should be helping Agar become a better coach.
Bringing in a 'seasoned' coach would possibly create a conflict of interests with him telling someone of Craig Fitzgibbons experience how to play RL.
The losses we have endured so far as I can see are not due to 'coaching malfunction'.....No...They are down to the last step of the team bus......The players seem to be doing the job at home.....they just need to have the same heart when they travel. On Friday...the bus will be landing in 'Injun country'.....or half hour walk from my house ......I think the Lads have a point to prove that day....And they will prove it!
Monday will be a bigger test.......But I can see us getting all four points!
I say stick with Agar (for now)....he will be a top coach one day.....I'd like it to be with us and not having him comming back to haunt us!