Quote ="the stella kid"Having had time to reflect on the recent performances i still feel some of the reaction on here has been way over the top. I would say the main problem the players are suffering from is a lack of confidence. In times like this the fans should be getting behind them rather than complaining all the time. Some of the worst comments on here are from people who did not even bother going to the game on sunday. So if you cannot be bothered to attend the game what right have you to criticise the players for lack of effort and commitment when clearly you have very little.
On sunday we conceeded three tries in the first 12 minutes. Two of these were from grubber kicks which are always difficult to defend. Widnes then never really looked like scoring again until another grubber at the end. The try Cross was awarded by a clearly out of his depth referee was farcical as he blatantly grabbed a Giants player and threw him out of the way to get to the ball.
The weather made it difficult to play through hands which is the Giants main strength and on the day our short kicking game was poor and ultimatly cost us the game as Brough had an off day and Widnes did well in this area.
Clearly one or two players are not at their best but the worst performers this week were not the sames as the previous week so it is not always the same players.
I dont buy into all this stuff about playing players out of position. Nathan Brown has always done this and the players will be used to swapping around. Also just because a player is named in a position does not always mean they play there. It does not matter one bit if Kevin Brown for instance plays stand off or loose forward on the team sheet, as it does not change how he plays. He is still the left hand side attack pivot and he plays no differently this season to previoulsy.
If the players put the effort in and the fans stick with them then their form will return. It only takes a bounce of a ball or a lucky decison to change a game and once the Giants get that all important win they will be back on track.
I will get worried if they stop putting effort in but this is not the case.'"
I really would love to agree with that, but its not what I see.
You dismiss the first 12 minutes other than to cite the poor decision on the Cross try (I agree that Robinson was clearly pulled back and I was astonished when the ref gave the try), however we were also very fortunate on the Grix try, clear double movement - look at Grix & Jerry's faces in yesterday's Examiner to see their reaction.
You also ignore the ease of Hanbury's break leading to the Van Ah try, right through a soft spot between a half back defending in a different spot from previous matches and a winger playing centre on the opposite side to where he normally plays. That was the first defensive set of the game, the defensive reorganisation failed immediatly.
The second Widnes try was also pathetic defensively, the worst missed tackle I have ever seen from a Super League Player (a former international centre and second row playing as an extremely undersized prop). That was followed by a grubber which should have been comfortably dealt with but the winger playing centre and centre/winger playing full back looked at each other trying to work out who would deal with it, the Widnes chaser didn't hesitate and reached a kick he should have been beaten to.
One of our half backs, has been getting loads of stick for getting caught in possession, but where is the movement, where are the runners? Its not his fault if nobody is there. Why has our movement stopped?
Have teams worked out we get the ball wide early so rush up outside? Certainly looks that way, but there should then be gaps inside - except we moved our attacking full back who loves an inside ball onto the wing and we lack size to take it up back into the ruck.
On Sunday immediatly after the 3rd Widnes try we brought on a real prop instead of a centre/second row playing prop things immediatly improved. On the introduction of the two other big men off the bench we took control, scored twice and were well on top (though behind on the score board) at half time.
Come the start of the second half the same personnel re-took the field but there had been some more positional tinkering. We still had over 5 minutes 13 v 12 but knocked on first set and never saw the ball again with that advantage(but did concede two points to a penalty).
We next took all the big guys off again and all momentum was long gone, another penalty conceded and we were eight behind. The physically bigger players returned and we improved, got the fortunate Grix try and were back in it.
Widnes were not bottom for no reason, they then started to panic and proceded to throw the match away giving us two penalties in quick succession turning a two point lead to them into the same for us. Desperately they went for a short kick off and mucked that up. Penalty to us on half way 3 minutes to go but we had the last chance to throw the game away and we did.
Nathan Brown said in monday's Examiner that the "Lads are playing with no confidence or game sense". I agree with that entirely, but I do not blame the players (which is why I have named none above).
Who is responsible for teaching the players game sense?
Whom carries ultimate responsibility to give the players confidence?
Who picks the team (with seven players not in their usual positions whilst the usual incumbents of those positions are actually on the park)?
Which other SL team puts a 15 stone second row at prop and has three huge men sitting on the bench for much of the game.
I believe in our players, I have lost belief in our coach. I recognise a lot of the good technical and player development work he has done and we should be grateful for that. Sadly he also has weaknesses, these flaws have now led to him being out coached by Denis Betts!!!!! We were deservedly beaten by Widnes, who this season are a very poor side.
It was wet ar Widnes? That is the poorest excuse of all. The Grand Final is played in October, I go every year irrespective of who is playing and cannot remember one played in the dry, if we cannot play in the wet there is no point. To coach a style that does not lend itself to winning at years end is madness (Although I do not believe Nathan Brown would blame the weather).
It is in both Huddersfield Giants and Nathan Brown's interests that paths now divert. Should that be now or end of the season when he is off anyway? It would be difficult for Saints not to take him now if put to them so I can see no financial/commercial reason to favour either option. Which leaves us with the question of what is best short term from a playing perspective.
A jolt/kick up the backside may help the players re-focus. I would go with Anderson now.
I will continue to support the Giants, go to almost all matches and will continue to do so, but I expect better, for myself and other fans, but also for the players who are a very good squad overall and perhaps most of all I expect better for Ken Davy, a man who has done so much for our club and the Town of Huddersfield.
