This is going to be a league where the top sides lose their away games to other top sides.
So if we beat Barrow down at the Keepmoat we will be back to parity and the same with other losses away.
Based on that performance we would lose at Workington, Whitehaven, Oldham and Rochdale.
We need to win everything at the Keepmoat, which we are capable of, and beat lesser sides away.

We desperately need a NIPPY (ie FAST) number seven.
Our current one is too slow, couple that with Cooke as the other half back and we are a bit pedestrian.

Still I don't suppose we will get anybody else now.

I have however learnt my lesson about going to Barrow.
I can't believe we could go from great to grotty in 7 days, I truly wished I was somewhere else but watching that game yesterday.
You could pretty well see we had nothing to offer from the off.

Not sure they can afford to drop too many points against promotion rivals, leaves little room for error, and could leave it tight at end of season. Do you think the travelling had an effect, hope not because theres a lot more to come.

Sounds very much like a disappointing effort and a real big up to the Faithful that travelled. The three Cumbrian away fixtures were and are always going to test the metal and it sounds like Barrow really did want it more. If this bunch of players do want to do well then the answer should come on Saturday, if they turn up half d against Sharlston and do not give it a hundred percent then the good feeling from the Whitehaven game will sadly dissipate. I thought after last week we may just have a half decent shout this year, hope to hell I'm correct.

just viewed the highlights, missed tackles seem to have been a problem so far this season, whitehaven apart, i don't think we put enough pressure on defenders either,would like to see powley given a run, he's speedy and direct and against tiring defence would do a good job i think.As for turning up on saturday against sharlston, well they should approach it as any other game. I'm sure they will, the coaching staff wiil demand an improvement

i suppose the only issue tony has is who he drops for powley. both emmett and kesik are on form. kesik is my 1st choice at hooker but i wouldnt want to see emmett dropped from the team sheet. think powley is better in attack than emmett but not sure he can defend too well.

I think powley would be more effective coming from the bench anyway, as an interchange. when the forwards have done their job in tiring defenders.emmett reverting to back row

Wasn't wrong though was I.we always struggle away 3 plus hours every other week isn't ideal but. Like last year we will win our home games and pick up 4 or 5 wins on the road.You will be tough at home and Cooke will shine but like iI said don't think he will be up for long away trips

Do you really think that your exhaustive survey of the results of ONE league away match is conclusive proof that we will struggle away from home?

Apart from Holt and Harrison (Barrow) were no great shakes on Sunday and were beatable by a Dons team playing somewhere near their best—unfortunately we played below expectations and as a result failed to even get a bonus point—we played panic rugby and failed on numerous occasions to complete a full set.
Let’s hope the game against Whitehaven was a truer reflection on our ability than the display at Barrow.

would just like to mention that paul cooke played with a badly swollen right hand and i am sure this was a reason for his slightly below par performance it was like a balloon he showed it to us at the service station,said he wanted to play so he had it strapped up and did not shirk anything he deserves much credit for that,..

would just like to mention that paul cooke played with a badly swollen right hand and i am sure this was a reason for his slightly below par performance it was like a balloon he showed it to us at the service station,said he wanted to play so he had it strapped up and did not shirk anything he deserves much credit for that,..'"

not sure playing with an injury such as that is the best idea. running the risk of being a liability. and at an extreme risk of making it worse for the sake of resting for one game? it clearly affected his game

Depends on the injury i suppose, i would have thought the medical and coaching staff would have assessed the injury, and deemed him fit to play. You would hope if the injury is still bothering him this week he would not be risked.

Just to add a Barrow perspective. We were on good form defensively, but in attack we were well short of what we are capable of. We caughed up far too much ball and gave away too many penalties to build any pressure. Ref Leahy did his best to make the match a stop-start affair which helped out the Donny pack in combating the far more mobile Raiders outfit. We haven't really hit the straps and clicked for 80 minutes so-far this season. If we do, then I'm confident a top 4 finish will be on the cards.

Cooke is the lynchpin of your team without doubt and could still be playing in Super League given the right attitude. However, on Sunday's performance, I didn't see much from the rest of your pivot players to suggest that he'll have much support in creating chances in 2012.

On Sunday, Andy Ballard was the only out-of-towner in the Raiders' 17 man squad. No Dual Reg players and no Overseas players. Three of the squad stepped-up from the Amateur/RU ranks for 2012 and three had been away from pro RL for several years prior to 2012.

There's a real buzz around Craven Park this season, the crowds are good - as is the team spirit. There's a new 12 man Board of Directors, new sponsors, far better links with the Amateur clubs, new Outside Bar, New Toilets, New Snack Bar (all funded by the fans via the Development Fund).

What a difference 4 months makes !

Enough of my ramblings. Good luck for the rest of the season (bar our visit to the Keepmoat).

Indeed.
We were pants.
Bring back Spavin.

It looked like, after his masterful display against Whitehaven, that people expect Cooke to do it all on his own.
So if Cooke doesn't do it, it doesn't get done.

There needs to be 3 or 4 play makers in our side.
Not just one.

What the hell will we do when he gets injured?