OK, my last home game has gone and to be blunt, I am still so depressed it hurts.
Tried to remember my first game and believe that it may have been the loss to Halifax in 2003 at Griffin Park. (I definitely recall it being a loss). I remember thinking that I had seen a great game, with speed and passion and met a really friendly bunch of people and I was immediately hooked on it. As a Union devotee, I saw the benefit to Union of the importing of League coaches to sort out defence and the angle of running. Since then, I have passionately followed the team and rarely criticised any part of the club other than the obvious one, Marketing.
Yesterday, some 7 seasons later, I have to say that even though I have seen us tonked in the past and dotted (Leeds 2006 by 60), I have never seen the team look so comprehensively beaten. I have always tried to be supportive of the coaches and players, as I am only new to the game and therefore may not be as much as an expert as other, more long term fans, but a few things yesterday made my blood boil.

1. Why do we persist in making Sharp our top yard maker up the middle. He and melling were again used to bring the ball back inside out own 20, when it should have been our forwards on at least the 2nd and 3rd tackles.
2. Why always seem to go for the killer pass on the 2nd or 3rd play when attacking? Patience and an ability to force another set of 6 are basic parts of the game are they not?
3. WTF was Purdham doing in the centres? I know we have had "issues" there of late, but he is one of the best loose forwards in the UK game. Gafa and Clubb in the centres has worked in the past, so why waste one of our best players in the centres?
4. Commitment. LMS looked like the only guy up for it in the 2nd half yesterday. As much as I think he is a great prospect, he still seems to look for the contact but until he sorts out his off-load game or puts on 3 stone, he is becoming a bit of a 1 trick pony.
5. Mac. I really don't know what to say here. We have gone from a play-off quality team to the worst in Superleague. If anyone doubts the assertion that we are the worst, I remind them that we lost to a Salford team with nothing left to play for, at Home. I believe that he would be better served and serve better by being elevated to Director of Rugby and a new coach brought in, as I believe tactically he has been found wanting over the last 12 weeks.
6. Tackling in Union is obviously a different kettle of fish, but why in gods name do people not take a forwards legs when tackling. Castleford made plenty of easy yards yesterday by simply attracting 2 or 3 quins into the tackle and then pumping their legs. OK, the off-load is a worry, but surely to stop the player with the ball is the priority.
7. Squad. Luke Dorn was an OK player at the Broncos and was passable in year 1 at the Stoop, but he is now a liability. Either play him at FB, or bin him. Orr can't be faulted for effort, but seems to have faded as the team have. Randal has disappeared in the second half of the season and therefore, we have no playmakers. We are losing 2 props (IIRC) and have yet to replace them properly, so unless we have a Myler in the reserves who is ready to come through, then we are looking at missing the 8 again next year. We need at least 2 big forwards (as has been said) but we also need someone with a rugby brain...someone who can make things happen.

So, 7 seasons of watching Londons pro League team has come to an end and if I am honest, I have had a blast. Depressed as I am now, I have some cracking memories of some brilliant games, some funny moments in the stands and a fair few too many hangovers. I will always look for Quins RL results first thing and continue to post here from time to time. I applaud the fans who refuse to get too downhearted and especially those who will continue to travel up and down the country to follow their team. I will also continue to shoot at naysayers like Rupe1 and Storminateacupbronco who simply whine for the sake of it.

Lastly, I wish the new marketing team at the club all the best. Yesterday saw the biggest gate at a Cas game since 2000 when they had loads of free coaches come down. Of the 3,824 there were some 3,400 or so "home" fans and let's hope that they weren't too put off with what went on on the pitch. The £99 ST offer is great and if , as is being rumoured the Club get the CWC warm up game again, then let's hope the team harvest the info on all the Australians that attend. There were 12 boxes in use yesterday and regardless of who paid and who didn't, it was great to see first timers having fun and hopefully, they will think about coming back. Crowds were 6.5% down on last year, but I have the upmost confidence that the Club will really have a go at marketing the game next season and am sure that attendances will improve.....if only I could say the same for the team.

Out of interest why do you think he should be kept on in that or any position?

I believe that he is one of the main reasons that we have become "an option" for players from the north. Not saying we have attracted the "names" that some desire, but that is as much to do about money as anything else. I would like to see a "head coach" brought in and Brian to scout for talent, nurture the production line and generally oversee everything other than the tactical coaching of the team.
That and the fact he has 2 years left on his contract

We do need some front rowers....and not just the standard workman like props...we have them...we need a big nasty s.o.b...who is going to attract 3 defenders. We just don't ever seem to be able to up the anti and lift the tempo, always one up rugby with a possible offload to a player that will just take the tackle.

Look at the teams in the playoff places, all of them have a front row that will dent the opposition...its clear, yet we just can't seem to get a prop like that ourselves...what are we thinking?

Agreed with the tackling point...often we see our team being taken for piggy back rides..2 or 3 of them at a time. I don't think you need too much intelligence to have someone smashing into the legs...with someone up high, easy...why isn't it coached into them? Should be second nature at SL level!!!!!

Oh and we should bring back Hoppo...that guy was quality!!

Blimey Hear Ye, you must have been sitting near me. That's all I did yesterday state if only we had Lee Hopkins back.

We are really missing Hoppo (on and off the pitch).

Someone started a rumour yesterday that we were signing Burgess.

No not Sam (as if!) I mean Luke. Anyone else hear that?

Not heard the Burgess rumour, but to be fair I doubt there is much mileage in it. He's in the squad week in week out at Leeds, why would he come down here???

On the Hoppo topic, anyone know what he's up to now? Still playing? Coaching? In Aus?? Would he be a possible target?

Gardner
Nannyn
Kaye
Grayshon

being examples



A free pint after the game could entice that sort of quality

he played one season for Windsor (the Panthers' reserve grade) in 2008 before retiring, not aware of any coaching role since