What bad luck for Shaun Leaf. He really does cop for some bad luck. He's been a great servant to this club and shame on the RFL for not allowing him a testimonial. It's not fitting that his last season with the club is going to be the Dons worst in recent memory.
As for today's performance, it was a horror show. It emphasized all our weaknesses. Every glimmer of hope that comes our way is snubbed out by a grim return to reality.
Before the game, I said I thought it was wrong of the club to build this game up as the most important in the club's history. It certainly wasn't but it probably ranks amongst one of the worst performances. Having said that, I don't think we need to have a go at Carl Hall. Anyone who is as committed to Doncaster rugby as Carl gets my support any day.
On the field, amongst other things, we committed the same ultimate sin twice in the same game: No dummy half waiting to collect the ball. That is just unforgiveable
The teams we've come up against this season have all been bigger and faster than us, They've had more skillful players too. The end result is that we can't stop them when they get near our line and we struggle like hell to break theirs.
Some of the decision making was awful again today too. Sometimes it's not how good you are, it's how well you think the game out, and we came up short in that department too.
On reflection, I think we perhaps didn't give Paul Cooke enough credit for his on-field expertise last season, and we've been sadly lacking that this season.
Ultimately, the club really got it badly wrong with the recruitment policy during the winter. This has resulted in our demise.
I recently posted that I thought most of the current players wouldn't be at the club next season. After today's showing, I doubt the new coaching team will have been impressed enough to consider offering many new contracts.
To the players' credit they did keep going in the second half when they were so far behind. Effort is great but when you're being outclassed, there is only one inevitable outcome. Well done to Lee Waterman on his performance. He always gives his best and will run through a brick wall for the team.
Unless Club Doncaster decide to invest some money, I fear for the calibre of player who may be at the Dons next season because RFL funding, sponsorship, and gate receipts will all be well down on this season.
Sadly, we must now be a very short price to go through the season without recording a win. The Dons' fans don't deserve this.