I once again look forward to read the defence of Chester from PT and Vastman who both appear to be conspicuously absent from the forum and no I don’t want to buy the club but I do want it to still be in SL at the end of the season.

I hope we have a 'war chest' to spend on a prop, if we refuse to play Tangata and Brad Walker can't get a game. All this after Battye was indestructible at London but as soon as he signs for Wakefield, he's injured! On top of Kopczak being released without an appropriate replacement.

He wasn't "released"
He was OOC.

Well, of course you did....
Where?

On the cheap?
Everyone - apart from you of course, know that our finances aren't exactly top of the list.
So why don't you, as has been said before to you, put your hand in your pocket and provide the funds to improve the squad?

Is that a head banging at me cos i find it concerning

While I get the meaning behind what you say you do have to say there’s some baffling recruitment decisions. The most recent of which is Pitts who hasn’t done much of note on the pitch since he signed in 2020 was handed a 2 year deal till end of 2022 with an option to remain till end of 2023. He is now 31 (32 in december) and could still be here at 33. I have yet to see him break a tackle in the 16 games he’s played or run any dangerous attacking lines but then I don’t get to see what the club does I suppose.I didn’t get the reason behind that at the time. But looks like he’s here for another few years so I’ll cheer him.

Then Tangata - no announcement on his signature and in the off-season it appears we were looking for props and there has been mention of potential quota players. Obviously Tangata occupies a quota spot but seems to be getting very little game time. Begs the question who decided on signing him up if Chester doesn’t seem to want to play him.

Not a great recent track record to be honest.

On the flip side you can’t just release players. It’s not that simple. We are in the situation that unless there’s money for a player (I’d say 9 has become just as much a priority other than prop though) we will have to get the best out of what we have got. There some players with ability in there and certainly for the most part no lack of effort.

I’m willing to give Chester a few more games but even I’m growing weary with recent history of poor results and concerning spells where we seemingly collapse.

I hope the players and Chester succeed but it’s going to take some effort and smarts from the players and coaching staff to turn it around. Hope we’re up for the fight.

I believe it was mentioned in one of the zoom meetings.

I have put my hand in my pocket for over 40 years including giving up the season ticket refund last season and I am also a member of squad builder.
How do you know what our finances are have you seen the accounts.
I am sure Vastman will be proud of you and may give us gold star for trying to defend the indefensible with regards the coach but you should wait until he posts so that you can back him up. What is it now 9 wins out of 43 games, a record to be proud of. We played better when the club was in real financial trouble during Ted’s reign.
We may not of had the best players but the coaches like Andy Kelly got the best out of them.

There are a few issues combining which are leading to these losses trying to be objective

In all three matches so far we’ve played excellent in the first half but collapsed in the second

There could be a lot of reasons for this

I’m wondering if in each match, that the opposition coach is making the correct tactical changes to beat us and Chester is making the wrong or no tactical changes at half time

I can’t put this any where other than at chesters feet sadly as he’s clearly a nice guy but it’s time to part ways with Chester

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

I’d give anything for John Kear back personally but regardless we need change

Good post but the problem is that we play well without putting (enough) points on the board. Oppositions seem happy and able to soak up the pressure knowing full well that we’ll run out of steam and they’ll be able to take advantage. We have no attacking strategies, no apparent game plan, no ideas how to unpick defences and we never look like scoring no matter how long we’re camped in the opposition’s 22. I think our players know this as well and we end up ‘trying too hard’, giving penalties away and making errors. That’s when the pendulum starts to swing and the floodgates open. It’s ironic that we’ve scored two of the best tries of the season so far but both from flashes of individual brilliance not from any sustained pressure or teamwork.
I don’t like bagging players - I’ve got the utmost respect for anybody who plays rugby league at any level - and I don’t think their attitude is wrong or that they’re not bothered. I just think they don’t know what they’re doing or how to adapt as a team to changing situations on the pitch.
And that’s not the players’ faults!!!

Re the 9 position, Miller dropped into dummy half a few times and actually looked threatening. He scooted on an occasions, scooted then passed. He gets well involved in the tackling for a half (going after Dudson and McMeekan) and his distrubtion should be good. I'm not one for playing players out of position but I can really see him doing a job there in Wood's absence. Maybe with Crowther/JWood starting Hampshire and Lino could then play in the halves .

Another one suggested on the off season. Westerman played much more direct and seemed to be our most effective forward. Playing him at prop rather than Tanginoa maybe an option. The later is a shadow of himself so far and seems to be getting frustrated.

If we got some cash would you trust a Coach who last year completely brought in players who did nothing to make the club stronger In fact I would say if we had not bought any players in close season last year we would be no worst off with cash to spend

Miller at hooker could work
He’s always looking to take the line on so there is logic to that
Then Rocky at stand off

I’ve mentioned giving Rocky a run at hooker a few times previously as he doesn’t really have a starting position at the mo
I’d prefer to see Rocky given an opportunity at hooker, as things stand we have a long term half’s partnership in Miller and Lino
We need Miller on the pitch for 80 minutes but I get where you are going with that

On Westerman
Oddly I was thinking the same playing him at prop
Although he’s being playing really well at LF so is it best to keep him in his current role? Difficult one but again I see where you are coming from

If fifita who is supposed to be our best prop isn’t cutting the mustard now for whatever reason , why would putting a decent loose forward into that position make any difference, you’d just nullify the skill set in that position . We need props who do the hard yards and make room for more expansive play behind them from all involved.I know it’s not as simple as that but it would go a long to getting us on the front foot, instead of looking like playing hot potato with the ball

I think a number of positional changes are strong possibility s but not likely to happen and if they do would you think that Chester would be able to recognise the potential of players in different positions.
I don't think you can doubt Millers effort and he does put himself about so a move to hooker could prove successful.

Have to say I never considered Miller at hooker but it makes sense to me. He did have some sharp runs from there vs Wigan and he could be a good option to move there. A few people mention Hampshire at 9 but I just don’t see that.

9’s - Miller/Bowes

6/7 - Hampshire/Lino

I could see that being a viable option and it actually covers any potential injury to the backs with Hampshire being in there too (we’ve had to reshuffle last 2 games).

The other big issue is the forwards. From 8-12 don’t have enough firepower. I’d seriously look at moving Arona (prop experiment isnt working)to 13 and Westy to one of the second row spots (I’m sure he is a SR too).

Fifita
Miller
Battye
Westerman
Tanginoa
Arona



Certainly seems to have more to offer in attack on paper.

I’m at a loss though as to how our toothless attack can be fixed and how we can shut down these 20 minute spells where we just collapse with poor discipline and lack of defensive pressure.

The bottom line is that regardless of who we have 1 - 7, currently our pack is not able to compete for 80 minutes in the middle of the park.
The detail on who should play 1, 7, 9 is just irrelevant, although we dont seem to offer much on the rare occasions that we are on top.
I actually fear for what Paasi will do against us next week.
We desperately need some more go forward.

I can see tanginoa sitting out next week too after his head high shot on Cats players.

He was lucky to stay on the pitch based on what happened in the earlier game, looked a defo 10 minutes at best but probs a match ban coming.
Hats of to the ref who for once allowed the game to flow a bit during the long arm wrestling periods of the game, but I have to ask, how is it a video ref can judge a ball is knocked on forward but can’t determine a forward pass, it’s the same cameras and same camera angles and looking for exactly the same thing

Yep changes will have to be made due to suspension and injury.

We've absolutely nothing to lose on this fixture so I would like to see the inclusion of Walker (Brad), Bowes, Arundel, Kaye and Croft if fit. I would give Batchelor a run in his proper position as he's had to cover left centre the past 2 games. I would assume that Johnstone and Wood will be out injured with potentially Jowitt and Crowther who also both got knocks. I expect Tanginoa to be suspended and I would not play anyone who isn't 100% (Kyle Wood, Battye, Hampshire, Lino). We signed Tangata (presumably for a reason) , I would give him an opportunity as I think he will offer as much as Green or Arona at this present time.

Can't see anything but a tough night coming up.

You gave up your season ticket refund for last year, WOW I bet a lot of people didn't know that, same question back at you, how do you know what the club finances are, have you seen the accounts.

Disappointed with the result yesterday.
Looked like more of the same to me I’m afraid
We desperately need a 9 on the field to organise and get some QUICK accurate ball to either our halves or the next forward up.or to make the QUICK brake to keep the opposition on the back foot.
While our forwards aren’t the biggest,they would still make better meters if these areas were speeded up.
Until this happens expect more of the same..

As for Chris Chester.
He needed Kyle Wood on the field at the start of the season to give him a platform with which....if not get results.... get some foundations in place for the half backs to to gel and get some combinations going.
He now finds himself in a position of 0:3 this season. The next three are all tough games. If wood recovers from his injury and him and Battye playin these games then hopfully things might start to improve.
However Another 0:3 set of results will start to have consequences not only for the confidence of the team but also the support of the team and it is at this point that The board need to make some hard decisions moving forward.
Mr Carter has given Chris Chester plenty of help and TIME these past three seasons to try and improve things on the field, certainly more than most coaches would have got, and events haven’t always been kind to Chris Chester but for all his efforts I’m afraid it does look as though we’re in the last chance saloon for me.

Well done for that.
By the way, you're not the only one who did that and also buys into Squadbulider and anything else - like Trin TV,,,,,
Actually yes. It's called Company House.
I though we were talking about funding for players which obviously we don't have.