The numbers show for each coach the "no. of games", "the points difference for these games", and finally "the average points difference per game".

So P Cooke was the coach for 11 games, the points diffential was -207 and the average points diffential per game was -18.8.

P Cooke 11 -207 -18.8
C Hall 1 -18 -18.0
T Miller 3 -52 -17.3
G Thornton 8 -292 -36.5

Total 23 -569 -24.7

Can anyone help to expain why these figures are like this?

Well it looks ike we were consistently bad until we got our latest coach and now we are twice as bad ... but I am sure that's not the reason.

In the last eight games, the Gary Thornton era, we've played Bradford, Featherstone, Halifax and Leigh, three of the four teams now in the Middle 8s. Three of those four games have been away too.

The points differences in those games were: -66, -40, -52, and -56.

In the reverse fixtures, played earlier in the season (probably on pitches less conducive to free-flowing open rugby, of which the Featherstone home game springs to mind in particular) the points differences were: -18, -7, -36 and -36.

The fixtures have certainly been tougher during the last eight games than at any other point during the season. The players' belief will have waned as the season has gone on, so confidence will have been lower, making life more difficult too.

Is there a case for saying Gary Thornton is a worse coach than everyone else based on these results? No. The guy inherited a squad that was shot to pieces. He has basically found himself in probably the most unenviable place in rugby league at the moment.

It's quite easy to get into a mess quickly, as we've done this season, but it's a lot harder to get out of it!

The guy needs to be given time to put his own squad together before we can judge him fairly.

Well even this side would win half their games in the division below next season.

If they were kept together, which they won't be.

So he can't really do a lot worse, things can only improve.
It's relative though ... the middle of that division would NOT be acceptable.

He is going to get his chance, no doubt, and yeah it's only fair to judge him on that next year.

But if we are table-topping I will be gobsmacked,impressed and would consider coming back on board.
Recruitment so far has been sticking plaster stuff by Thornton, I expect better before I even think about it.
COYD

Explain them, no. But in fairness only one of those set of stats has any real relevance.

Paul Cooke was in charge last season and was party to the recruitment pre-Season. For me his stats are valid, [uhis team [/ueffectively.

The Carl Hall and Tony Miller stats are pretty meaningless considering the sample size and the position the Club was in at the time.

With regard to Gary Thornton, and has been pointed out, he joined a Club in turmoil and a set of players whose confidence would have been at an all-time low. Can he be fairly judged on those fixtures alone, probably not.

I will reserve judgement until we are a couple of months into the new season.

I get where you are coming from but in truth how many half-decent players would have become available in the last couple of months?

Very few in truth with Clubs reaching the business end of the season and only releasing players who never get a game (McLocklan and Wright from Dewsbury as examples). The only other option being players out of the game (e.g. Mennell).



Agreed, although I'm with you in that we have to be up there from the off.

The alarming facts with all these stats for this season is that they have been gained under four different coaches & lots of players but the management team of the club as remained the same all season & looks like carrying on in to next season.