Quote: General Zod. "Some fair and valid points but whilst the Wigan comparison is accurate in terms of experience, the physical preparation of the Wigan players which happened during their academy years, is far above what Rovers have been delivering and Sandercock has said it is a key area in need of address.
As far as the Cas game goes, our starting front-row of Walker, Carlile and Beaumont and their replacements Green, Griffin and Cox have not even got 100 SL games between them so it's not a coincidence that bulk of the penalties were conceded in the middle part of the field were they were defending (even though some other players conceded as well), hence the knock-on effect of the excessive starvation of possession - the worst I have ever seen in 22 years of watching Rovers.
As far as defence goes, whilst the stats are mathematical fact, I prefer to look much deeper in terms of where the tries are conceded and under what circumstances. i.e. the vast majority of out tries have been conceded on the back of excessive penalty counts which have generated fatigue. It's fair to point to the coach and question if there is something fundamentally wrong but given the fact the team have produced several solid performances defensively, the indications are that the fault lies with the players' inconsistent individual performances rather than the implemented systems. The main area this season where we have conceded is on our right edge where we've had 4 different right edge pivots, 5 different second-rowers, 3 different centres and 3 different wingers and this type of merry go-round will hinder any coach's systems taking effect. If the board would have spent during the off-season to get Ferguson (a player who wanted to come but the board wouldn't sign), we would have had more experience and continuity on that side.
If you look at Jake's comparisons to this season's scenario to 2009 is chalk and cheese - absolute utter bollox; and here's why. For most of the 2009 season, our right edge of Dobson, Newton, Webster and Colbon played virtually every game; a fringe NRL half-back (in dream team form), an NRL winning 80minute second rower (also in dream team form), a Tri-Nations winner and a proven, solid winger brought up through the Wigan system. All of these players were proven ready made players where all Morgan had to do was tell them they were playing on Sunday where as Sanderock has had to mix and match with very young and inexperienced players.
I agree that somethings Sandercock says aren't too clever and I'd prefer he'd cut some of it out but he's been used to practicing and delivering at Champion clubs like Manly were he had a massive part in developing champion (yes champion) players; i.e. NRL winning and World Club Challenge winners and I see massive improvements in several of our young players.
The bottom line is the club has not effectively prepared itself for the transition of the current market choosing to persevere with average (but experienced) players who blocked the paths of those who are finally making their way in the first team, albeit in testing circumstances.
The only way another coach is going to improve things is if they take short cuts like coaches like Agar and Morgan who signed ready made players but with a consequence of constantly fighting annual "devolution" by replacing one has-been after another, something Hudge said he was eager to escape because of what he termed the "glass ceiling" effect of following this regressive strategy and instead trying to create a squad of young players with the potential to be great players and also the chance of serving 10 years plus at the club therefore enabling a lower player turn over and more continuity. Which is why Sandercock was brought to the club, particularly because of his work at Manly.
The most successful people are those who can take criticism on the chin because right now Hull Kingston Rovers is like an episode of Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen nightmares where the proven, world class chef in Ramsey is telling some harsh truths to the folk in the restaurant, but they just won't listen and because of their delusions of grandeur.'"
In a nutshell you lost to Cas because of young players giving away lots of penalties and the pitch being slightly shorter than other pitches.
