The most worrying statement for me is that we were "out enthused".

Considering a large portion of our team is young guys they should be champing at the bit to impress. I'm sure things will improve but it's a body blow to lost this game at home so early in the season.

Looking at the team NK hasn't got a clue what his best side is and that's worrying at this stage.

I wish people would stop posting its 16 quid for an adult to watch Leigh. It isn,t if folk use the North stand.

I try not to criticise any individual players as they are all much better than I could possibly have dreamed of

And because of that I find it really frustrating when I see good young players playing ' within themselves ' on a RL pitch

We were not out enthused , we just didn't attempt to play RL

We have players who have all been the best of thier generation at thier junior teams , are they not capable of 'playing RL ' as we see it being done every week in the NRL and SL ?

I dont expect it at the same level of finesse,speed and execution as Saints and Leeds , but it is almost as if they lack the confidence to express themselves , or they are being told they are not allowed to

The players we have are not that less skillful than those at Batley and Halifax or even the ones I saw at Sheffield last week

But we seem to be playing a ' grind them down ' type of RL for 60 minutes whereupon we find ourselves chasing matches in the last 20 and having to resort to ' globetrotter ' play to pull the game from the brink

Watch Boots n All on wed and count how many try's involve an offload , at least 40 to 50 % if this week is like the rest

We executed 1 in the 1 st half , why ? because we dont support the player with the ball therefore the defending team dont need to bring in extra players to stop us , this means it is easier to cover out wide

We seem to be scared of actually ' playing ' , so either the players we have cannot , or they are being told not to

Winning games is important , but at this moment ' playing ' is more important than winning

I agree with you Steve. Yesterday dispelled the myth that 'crowds will come back, once the Championship starts.' People want to be entertained, and our current, one-up 'style' doesn't do it for me. Also, it has to be the easiest type of attack, to defend against. Against a poor Skolars side, we were very inventive, but haven't attempted anything 'inventive' since. Even Sheffield were trying things - look at the variety in their re-starts.

I realise that we have many youngsters in the team, a couple of key players are missing, and that not all the experienced guys are performing, but we desperately need a couple of class players - even Batley had that.

NK talked about being 'out-enthused'. Maybe so, but he didn't mention out-classed, out-thought and out-paced - and to me, they all applied yesterday.

Answer... Durbin starting regularly



Easy this coaching game lol

You forgot -out coached - there Alan

but I'll forgive you, you have to share an office with him

Didn't go to the game, but Batley always play well against us.

Mennell and McGilvray are two top players that would walk into any NL1 side.

I take it these 2 ripped us apart again then?

When all are fit, I think it should be -

Mort
Alstead
Donlan
Reay
Stanton
Watson
Durbin
Hobson
McConnell
Hill
Armistead
Higson
Taylor

Smith
Morrison
Meekin
Marsh

Too true they did

Donlan 1 or 6 for me... I don't think he's big enough for a centre. Not something you'd have said 10-15 years ago.

Donlans hasn't got the creative ability in him for a half back, full back is where he's at.

Taylor at loose forget it, Armistead is that, and why Smith? we wont see him again he did the same at Cas, write him off now, Haggarty will be twice the player he is anyway.

From what ive seen i would go with
Donlan
Alstead
Maden
Higson
Stanton
Watson
Durbin
Hobson
McConnell
Morrison
Armistead
Rourke
Haggarty

Hill
Taylor
Meekin
Mort

It's a tricky one. You could swap him with Alstead in defence and play him at centre when in position if size is a concern.

You need pace out wide, so for me Alstead and Stanton must be in. I don't think he's creative enough for a 6 and if he plays 1 where does Mort and his goal kicking fit in?

Who'd be a coach, eh?!?!?!

When is Armistead going to be back?

We could do with Aaron Smith back as well but obviously he's got issues to get sorted out.

You look at the pack and we are light in my opinion. We've never replaced Gareth Price... what happened to his contract money btw?

Fair points... but Watson and Ridyard can kick if one or the other is playing.

And Stanton

It depends how you want to play. If you want 3 running and tackling back rowers, it doesn't matter who plays where. Most teams play this way nowadays anyway. Look at this weekends SL games - arguably only Purdham, Sinfield, Bird and Murrell were "traditional" loose forwards, the rest were runners and tacklers. The days of Harry Pinner, Gavin Miller or Steve Norton have all but disappeared.

If you want to play with another pivot, bring in Marsh.

Excellent... even more reason.

I dont really care who plays where , as long as they ' play ' ie they do more than ' run the ball in '

Paul [ captain Bull**** Cullen was going off on one last wednesday on B n A about a prop passing the ball

, WOW

Sorry but just having a big kid running into all the others is what you get at under 7's to under 10's

After that if they arent doing something different then they are not being coached correctly

Maybe thats why we cant beat the aussies

Strange also that you can get a ' Bash em up ' prop from any club and when they sign for Saints they instantly become off load experts

Heres my arm-chair attempt:

1. Donlan (this is a must whatever we thing of our centre problems)
2. Stanton (if he can kick as been suggested then pure pace and for kicking)
3. Alstead ( to beef up the defence - solid as a rock - 100% EVERY week)
4. Rudd ( needs the opportunity like everyone else has had, lets see what he can do - I hope he will sure up the defence)
5. Maden (apparently played well at Sheffield however, I need to see more consistency to warrant a regular starting place - I have not been impressed over the last 12 months but I know what he is capable of. Play Mort here if he under achieves)
6. Marsh ( very clever player who can kick goals,40/20's, break the line and create)
7. Watson (chief playmaker when those around respond)
8. Hobson (at them from the start)
9. McConnell (solid)
10. Meekin - dont be afraid to off-load, you have a good one in your amourey(to be replaced by Cookson when fit - offloads,agression,line breaks, quick PTB's - time to show the critics)
11. Higson (to be replaced by Armistead when Fit)
12. Taylor (rarely has an bad/average game)
13. Reay (has played their before - lets see how it goes for a couple of games - can switch Marsh here and have Watson and Durbin for a spell at 6 and 7 to see what happens

14. Hill (continue the go forward after 20 minutes)
15. Morrison (pretty solid all round performer)
16. Rourke -(Higson to start from the bench when Armistead is fit)
17.Durbin (has to come on after at least 20 minutes to create havoc and could be tried at 6/7 swopping with Watson if things not happenning)

The ones in bold are given.

Lets look at a Rudd/Maden partnership.

Give Reay a run at loose and if this does not work-out then if Aaron Smith is available then this would be his spot. Failing that we put Marsh there and give Ridyard another crack at 6 after a couple of reserve games during April.

Meekin can step in for any of the 4 props missing through suspension/injuries/poor form)

Mort is available for cover at full back or wing.

Durbin starts if Watson or Mcconnell injured - if this happens we recall Hatton for a bench start

Haggerty for back row cover

Reserves hopefully to start knocking at the door.

Overall I would like to see an experienced back-rower added to the squad and a six would be fantastic.

Would stick Reay at centre instead of Rudd, Armistead at loose and retain Higson at second row. Meekin hasn't done much wrong either, for me.

I want a look at Ruddy at centre. I have not been a huge fan but particularly after Sunday we need a change. I dont think anything is too drastic except giving Reay a run at loose whilst Amistead recovers What is there to lose?

I was looking at some impact from the bench and with Hill, Morrison, Durbin and Higson we have plenty of options.

I agree about Meekin but I would give Cooky another chance as if he is in the right frame of mind he can create some havoc.

Meekin/Morrison/Cookson(when fit) battling it out for 2 prop spots with Hill and Hobson givens at the moment.

The first name on my team sheet every week would most definitely be Lee Marsh big, strong, agressive, and powerful,can break tackles can dominate, and has a powerful kick,I am afraid that Lee was only an afterthought signed when the big name Aussie was blocked but what do I know Ive only been watching em since 1949.

Durbin needs to be involved alot earlier. People have said he is targeted for his defending but on Sunday his defence was spot on and alot more assured than the right centre/wing positions !!!!!!!!!!!!
Also thought Danny Meekin did really well whilst on the pitch and is steadily impressing me each week.
Donlan definately at Full Back for organisation aswell as positoning and defending.
The whole team need intensive training in how to pass the ball from left to right !!!!!!!!!

Now if Uncle Ned listens to Eddie a little more in future, we'll see a few more performances like today.

Roll on Monday