I think the problem is (as Betts has pointed out) the players just haven't been physical enough. Leigh made too many easy yards when they had the ball and we hardly made any yards when we had it. So we can swap players around as much as we like, but if Batley are up for the fight (which they always are), we have to make sure we turn up for the 80 minutes.
A lot has been made of the awful tackling of our centres (rightly so), but IMO our biggest weakness has been the pack. Players like Allen, Finnigan and Pickersgill have just not offered enough. Heckenburg had been our best player up to the 1st Leigh game, but even he was anonymous in that game and Leuluai who gives it his all often misses tackles and isn't big enough to make an impact when going forward.
I don't know exactly how or where they are going to find it, but this team has to find that killer instinct and go out to really want to hurt the opposition (legally of course). At least by dropping players Betts send the message that he won't stand for anymore of the collapses we have seen recently and If any youngsters are picked, I'm sure they'll give 100%. Even though we shouldn't have to be doing it at this stage of the season, to me it looks like we're going to have to start afresh with the team and make the players earn the shirt. i knows its probably impracticable, but personally I wouldn't really want I'Anson, Finnigan, Ropati, Sculthorpe, Pickersgill, Coyle or Netherton near the team unless they proved themselves in the reserves.
All views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of the RLFANS.COM or its subsites.
Whilst every effort is made to ensure that news stories, articles and images are correct, we cannot be held responsible for errors. However, if you feel any material on this website is copyrighted or incorrect in any way please contact us using the link at the top of the page so we can remove it or negotiate copyright permission.
RLFANS.COM, the owners of this website, is not responsible for the content of its sub-sites or posts, please email the author of this sub-site or post if you feel you find an article offensive or of a choice nature that you disagree with.
