The problem Jefferies will always have is that he was over-hyped by some over his great natural skill and ability in his first spell here, which wasn't always obvious on the pitch, and his alleged high earner status, for a player who did nothing in the NRL. He left for Bradford (after saying he wanted to go home?), and helped, with poor coaching, to take them backwards before arriving back with us. Weren't the Crusaders the only other team interested?

i think thats the one thats sticks in a few peoples throats, ben is not exactly in the "coming home" corner, and dont think the stosic thing has helped him either, although im not sure thats fully informed.

Summed it all up for me, from the day he signed for us fans on here have been gearing themselves' up for the first opportunity to have a pop at BJ and apparently he did not let them down on Saturday, (shame on you Ben) and I am sure before the season ends you will provide them with fresh ammo. On the bright side it should leave Blaymire and Co free to expand their game without the customary sniping. Good luck for the next 3 seasons BJ I fear you will need it

No Davey was number 16 and made the great break that led to one of our tries.

Why people feel the urge to create 'scapegoats' in OUR OWN team is just beyond me - and then wonder why they aren't playing well (eg Darrell Griffin), or why they don't acknowledge the fans at the end of a game etc.. etc.. For God's sake the season hasn't even started yet!

I think John Kear knows a lot more about a player than any of us on here - what he can do, what we need, how he fits in to the team and his character & desire to do well. So I am more than happy to trust JK's judgement on this.

We had this last season, I remember posting in defence of Snitchy when many were writing him off and lining him up as a scapegoat - and how well did he play last season!

Can open, worms everywhere...

I dont have issues with people having a pop at players.

But after one meaningless "festive challenge", its ludicrous.

The game is nothing more than an opportunity to blow some cobwebs away,give some kids a taste of a different level of rugby and maybe try a few moves out.Nothing that cant be achieved in training apart from "full on" contact.

It seems at Wakefield we categorise our players and staff into one of three groups.
1.The "cant do anything wrong and are worthy of hero status group"(even when they do have a shocker.they are always forgiven)

EG. JD,JK,Brough.

2.The "hes not very good,but who else can you get for £10 per match group"

EG.Henderson.

3.The "Scapegoat group"

EG.BJ
Previous members of this group include,Blaymire,Sculthorpe,Griffin and John Pearman(although that to$$er thoroughly deserved it).

One thing that confuses me,if BJ is that bad,how did he make 27 appearances for Wests,140+ appearances for Wakey and 40+ appearances for Bradford,added to that last time at Wakey he returned a try ratio of close on one try every two games.A pretty decent record for "Mr Perpetual Scapegoat"

you're right. shut down the board, no opinion or reasoned debate needed here!

You would have to be very foolish to criticise any player after just 1 friendly game, astonishing!!!!
And as for DB, I can name plenty of players who have gone from club hero to club villain in a very short period of time, atkins, griffin, Westwood, nat wood, etc etc!!
One fact you can't argue is that our most succesful season in SL came with bj and not db!!!
I'm really looking forward to this season, and shall wait a bit until I start pulling people to bits!!!

that season he played mostly and scrum half if memory serves?.

Correct chapster

Don't bother mate, he's one of these who loves to express an opinion but can't bare it when someone offers an alternative - very very sad.

Democracy and freedom of speech simply doesn't work

i have to be honest and say theres a touch of kettle and teapot in that post.

I think some people seriously need to get things into perspective here, it was only a friendly aimed at building up match fitness and generating some income for both clubs in the off season. Then again, I can remember this kind of reaction when we lost a friendly a couple of seasons ago.

We’ve had a big turn around in the playing squad, so it’s going to take time for players to form combinations and gel, especially in key pivotal positions. Give the lad a break and get behind him rather than on his back from the off, JK has a good track record at bringing the best out of players. I seem to recall such scepticism at the signing of Steve Snitch this time last year

He's not the only one on here though is he? some think that buying a season ticket constitutes supporting the team when in reality all it does is get you though the gate, and that is when you start supporting the [size=150team[/size, meaning every player that pulls the shirt on not just the chosen ones that the rs kissers think can't do any wrong,
The point that they need to take on board is that BJ is here for three years like it or not, and we're far more likely to get something productive out of him by giving him our support than we are by sledging him week in, week out, as for Brough, it's to be hoped that he announces a contract extension before the season starts otherwise he's going to get slaughtered every time he doesn't put in a superman performance and all the numpties on here will be questioning his commitment to the cause

I can't help but think that if you take that position to its logical conclusion, you end up only allowing parameters of debate that range over the positive aspects of any performance. Hardly what I'd consider a forum. Unconditional support doesn't make you a better support, it runs the risk of turning people into one-eyed fanatics who have lost the critical faculties to give a balanced assessment of their teams strengths and weaknesses. Yes like all clubs there are people on the terraces who seem to delight in slagging players off on the slightest whim, but to me this is hardly that.

You could equally argue that giving players unqualified support creates an unrealistic mindset over how well they are doing, and would arguably be unfair on those who are consistently doing the business. I'd be concerned if all Kear did was laud praise on the players regardless of how well they are doing. Personally I think any player sensitive enough to be overly bothered by what is said on an internet forum should simply not go on the forum, which is the approach I'd expect most would take.

I just don't see (the vast majority of) what criticism I've read above as amounting to anywhere near what could be seen as 'scapegoating' or risking 'sledging a player week in week out'. It seems to be more in the mould of 'had a poor game and slightly worried that some of the problems bring back bad memories' - fair enough considering there is a long past between us and the player. If that can't be said on here without people bandying accusations about people being planks or not true supporters, then as a genuine forum it will die a death.

i dont think you can question that every one who posts on here wants what is best for the team, but to suggest you can go to a sporting fixture and not criticise as much as you may proclaim your heros is frankly a bit naive.

?

whilst i dont dispute that their are 'planks' who revel in the negativity that a poor performance brings, and that said 'planks' do indeed hurl abuse at their own players at matches, and that jeffries is likely to have borne some of the brunt of this abuse. however i would ask a simple question of the pious majority on this thread; have you actually read any of the posts? and if so can you enlighten me as to where this terrible scapegoating has taken place?

I'm not 100% convinced the things he allegedly said about going home were in fact true, i think a lot of it was made up/twisted by the press and our friends at the WE.

Also i believe money issues played a part in him leaving but thats just my opinion, so to those who hold grudges, are you sure you know the facts before lobbing the first brick, so to speak.

This threads been blown up into something its not and we should all consider other posters views on the subject.

I doubt it, its not really happend, just a few chest puffing posters

decided to edit, not getting involved, good luck to all the players in 2010

Seconded.

Thought strikes me that sometimes the fans should be the scapegoats! someone behind me on saturday was not only slagging off anyone basically that didnt go in his local, but letrs see, xmas generally, the state of the world, think even tiger woods got a going over, however he felt sorry for the pope!

I however didnt but thought the dear that tackled him looked a useful prospect as cover at loose forward.

I can say one thing for certain about BJ he will look a totally different player when he shaves off his beard.

Not only that, but the removal of face fluff will make his chin more aerodynamic, and could be a crucial factor in exploiting those elusive gaps. Think about it, Ben!

I didn't go to the game, and wasn't convinced about re-signing BJ either. However, I'd like to think I'm not yet daft enough to criticise a player on the basis of his first game back in the festive friendly Boxing Day booze-up challenge. Wait for the real stuff to begin and see how he goes then.

Havent read all this thread but Snitchy and Stosic didnt play well against Cas in friendlies but they were two of our best forwards in 2009...