After reading through the 'Today's game' thread, I thought this deserved one of it's own.

I've never played professional rugby, nor am I ever likely too, so excuse my conjecture on this point but;

I would imagine that Sims played the way he did today because he was told to do so. Those of you jumping on the Stevo bandwagon of 'someone needs to get the message out' are complete and utter tools. I'm not sure there was much wrong with any of the off-loads he did, except that the Muppet he passed to was unable to catch a simple pass.

I've watched games were he has run the ball in hard every time, never twisted in the tackle, gone down and looked for a quick play the ball. I can't believe that some posters on here believe that TS's pre-game speech is something along the lines of

[i'you know what? Today lads, just go out and do what the fook you want'[/i

It's a professional sport FFS.

As I said, I'm no Rugby player, but I can see a player doing what the coach tells them to from a mile off, and I bet he will be the first name on team sheet for it. And rightly so.

A thread of his (Sims) own,..or a thread about your disapproval of other posters right to an opinion and share a view.

Sims had a stinker honestly, but I feel like he can be forgiven. The heat for a start would not be kind to a prop forward anyway let alone with his hair. He's backed up after Wembley and played in a game that has apparently seen us fly in and out on the same day. Sims likes to offload and it just didnt work out well today particularly. His passes had great vision behind them as Rae said, just lacked execution. He can't bust holes on his own like Hill can so he has to add an extra facet to his game. Let it go and move on. He'll be much better next week.

What I,ve seen of Sims is that he gets too hyped up pre warm up and kick off time, he just needs to build a solid composed game by running in hard gain metres and take energy out of the opposition. Then he can start to drop off and offload to the supporting players, some of his offloads were OK but some of his mates weren't switched on, Gidley by experience would have read the situations better and hence more mentally aware.
It was an energy sapping game last week so I would imagine fatigue with the heat plays a big factor in executions, overall the team was not short of effort and TS will be happy with the 2 points no matter how scratchy they played.

I broadly agree with the OP. But after a few of those offloads had gone down, and Sims was taking the ball up deep in his half, there was a strong case for him (as a senior player) thinking, 'right, I'm just going to take the tackle here and not offload.' He passed and the ball was lost. Sometimes we just produce a few too many unforced errors. Ratchford and Atkins are experienced and talented players who can deliver the odd cock-up; Higham too in the recent past.

Is there not a case for the players racing to be dummy half to be aware that Sims will off load if he sees you in clear space, against Cats the players Sims off loaded to were mainly looking what to do once he had played the ball and not ready for his off loads. Just be ready guys he will off load!

Do you mean like practice a few moves in training?

You know its funny. When Cuthbertson first came on the scene and was offloading in EVERY tackle like a man possessed there were people banging on about how good he was and how we need a forward who can take the ball up, attract 3/4 defenders and offload. There were people crying out how with two hookers like Clark and Dwyer we would be unstoppable with a front row who loved to do that.

now we want a stick it up the jumper style prop.... I wish people would make their minds up. personally I think Sims compliments Hill perfectly. Never takes a backwards step attracts defenders and looks for a quick play the ball. nothing wrong with that in the slightest.

Yeah that could work Rico I might suggest it to TS

Id like a mix of both, there's a time to off load and not. Structure within randomness as opposed to chaos.

Structure within randomness...

mike wainwright, thats all i 'm saying.

Is that a line from Turn,turn,turn by the Byrds ?

Honestly though, you can't beat a few training ground moves to give other players an idea what you might do.

Yep divides opinion, never would get a game for the likes of Wigan, Saints, Leeds, will eventually fade away in obscurity

Of course.

I'm a Sims fan, just thought his decision making was suspect on Saturday. Or is that an opinion that is in some way invalid?

More like "The Band"

Take an off load Fanny, take a load for free;
Take an off load Fanny, And (and) (and) you can put the load right on me.

Some good highlights on the link below. Some of the Sims off loads should have been taken. www.catalansdragons.com/articles ... arrington/

Some good highlights on the link below. Some of the Sims off loads should have been taken. www.catalansdragons.com/articles ... arrington/

I am still amazed at how quickly Ratchford stopped the Cats kick through , picked the ball up & got the second try under way.

I think what was very good to see was the amount of basic rugby, good passing from the backs & supporting the ball carrier. That is why we won.

I'm quite amazed that, that piece if play didn't get the league express report highlight Of The match.


What did was that twirly stuff gigot did when collecting that kick in the corner, evading the Two chasers. Which, granted, was good, but it apparently led to a penalty, which lead to going IP field and then scoring a try.

That's milking it a bit, personally speaking.

Every team needs a prop in there who drops early to get a quick PTB or turns for an offload. There'd be too many opportunities for opposition defensive lines to get set play after play if every prop in the squad tries to make snails pace metres with three men in their back.

and if they come off we would at Last Waltz around defences

I think there is far too much fanny in this thread.

Winslade used to be good at throwing the ball about & getting his team mates moving. Charlie didn't fanny about.

Quite right, too much fannying around and you lose sight of the ball. Then where are you ?