Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Some utter nonsense being spoken over last night. It was hugely frustrating to watch and playing the walking wounded has put the season’s hopes on the skids. Not sure what choice there is otherwise and I’d have taken the gamble against what is a poor Leeds side this year.

The one criticism I will make is not playing the conditions. Leeds did that, took the points on offer from kicks and their big chance with the ball in hand. Excellent defence from them towards the end of the game as well. Fair result in the end.

It’s probably more born from frustration than anything.

Losing twice to London and that last night even with the numbers depleted meant we could have been sat on 22 points, in a strong position, with all aforementioned players to return at the business end.

Now we look like missing out on the opportunity (again) and that’s the frustration.

It's worth saying we weren't playing the Leeds team that has lost so many.
They had fit players in where we had busted players.
I knew it would be harder than people thought when I saw the team and the big point for me from OP is they players who are playing injured.

We didn't score because of poor execution but we did create.
It needs to be fixed but it doesn't warrant the noncence some are posting.

I think the opening poster is totally wrong. yesterday was dire and injuries are no excuse and if I’m shot down so be it.

However put in context hopefully this is a low water mark in what’s been an incredible 3 - 4 years.

Last night aside injuries have played a huge part this year, combine this with the sticky patches all teams have it not so bad. In truth we have been spoiled of late. Not that long ago holding Leeds to ten points would be considered an achievement.

It’s simple and rather like Leeds we need a win and the only people who can manufacture that are the players.

To the OP, it’s mostly not criticism it’s an honest appraisal from most. We can’t kid ourselves, even taking injuries into account we are playing quite badly at the moment.

It will change but hopefully sooner rather than later.

But who's going to change it Fisherman we've been playing the same way now for a long time other teams know exactly what we're going to do & it's the same every week a lot of people on here won't have a word said about Chester but him & his coaching colleagues have to come up with some variations. we look so flatfooted

I'd like to disagree if that's ok.

Firstly injuries may not be an excuse but they are a reason. Changing formations and partnerships will always affect execution and for me that is what is wrong at the moment.
Also, there was no lack of effort yesterday. We forced 4 drop outs from the off so there was no slow start, we just didn't execute the play correctly and put a poor pass out that ended up in touch.
Same with the moans about wet weather rugby. Leeds defended the middle well so one out rugby wasn't working. Brough's kicking was exactly right. We just messed up the play to get the ball with Miller trying to catch on the full rather than letting them make the mistake or Hampshire trying for the ball and catching the player off the ball.
Again the game changing move was great in that the ball went to the new guy out wide who broke free. Hampshire made the effort to catch up but ran rowards him rather than leaving a passing option so the fullback has the intercept and pass within reach.
BJB not diving. It's all execution.
Sau could have had 3 tries if the ball had been a good pass.

It was the quality of passing that killed our attack last night.
This is clearly not down to ability as EVERY SL player is more than capable of passing a rugby ball but, we need to find out just why we are "passing the ball anywhere" rather than execute a decent pass.
Are we frightened of taking a hit or under so much pressure that we cant perform.

The best players can make the right calls and execute their skills under the severest pressure and the lower down the shaft you go, the ability to perform as often or, under more pressure, reduces.

I have to say that I really thought that the players that we have, especially the pivots / spine were way better than they showed last night and some of our last tackle plays were just not good enough, which ordinarily you would say is down to our main organiser (Brough). He and Miller look like they cant/ dont want to play in the same side, which, based on their early season form is just bizarre.

Frankly I’d be amazed if you didn’t disagree, it’s certainly your style where I’m concerned.

You’re not totally wrong nobody is. However your desire to be contrary on last night is somewhat contradictory. Read your post from half time last night and unless I’m mistaking you’re pretty much calling it a dire performance, am I wrong?

Repeat of his cock up at Cas earlier this year. He just doesn't have the acceleration to get close enough in those situations



Missing Jowitt ?

we just didn't look to grind a result out, maybe we don't have the grunt and determination to do it. Last play potions very poor but not much wrong with our kicking game. Nothing came from the half backs and the pack seemed overpowered. The squads been sunk by injuries to key players and we still need to get back to anything like a full squad.
for me the biggest disappointments Miller who at the moment can not seem to get in to gear, his game times been limited but I expected more from him.
The swap with Salfords proved totally ineffective and I didn't seen the need for it in the first place.
Its been a frustrating few weeks and once again we need the players to step up in general and the senior players to get a grip and perform like we know they can. Leadership seems non existent.

Warrington have easily beaten Catalan & had 7 first team players missing but the players that did play were all singing from the same songsheet that surely has to be down to the coaching staff or the players are just not good enough to coach

Well the coach told us why he shipped Pauli out, and told him in no uncertain terms didn't he?!! I partly agree with you, nothing against Sau, but now he's picked Croft, he could have played him before. Now Sau can't play next week, then unless we don't know something, Tupou will be back, what then for Sau? Pretty pointless, unless of course Pauli does come back fitter, faster and the best back row in the comp......

. He and Miller look like they cant/ dont want to play in the same side, which, based on their early season form is just bizarre.'"

Very good point, maybe he's just lost that yard especially in the first few strides........next year TJ & MCB to start as first choice wingers??

Chester said after the match there were 4 or 5 players who did not train last week so they could play last night,Weather was a big factor last night making it a level playing field,making it easier to defend and much harder to grip the ground this is why B J B could not dive for the the corner .Thought new forward went well and can not wait to see him on a dry track and think Hampshire would have scored of is break but seemed to near for is pass. .Think the time as come to get behind them instead giving them criticism

But that’s boring

Watched it again today.
Could have , should have won.
Created opportunities, but failed to capitalise.
Unlike some, do not feel it the time to pick out individuals to blame.

By the way , it was Miller who created the break for Kelepi.

Well in a fairytale kinda world ideally you would get behind them, but we don't live in one of those do we!! I'm not one for wading in there too often, and will always give people the benefit of the doubt, but my patience has started to wear a bit thin over the last few weeks. Yes injuries, yes the weather etc etc, but at the end of the day performances have been pretty poor generally for weeks, even allowing for certain factors. Like a few others have said, we now have our 1,6,7&9 back that started the season, we should be performing better than we have, that doesn't mean automatic wins, but at least it would give us a chance. You can argue this, but I reckon the 2 games where we had the most players out, we won, Leeds & Hudds. Since then players have come back, yes we have lost other players, but the 17 against London, Catalans and last night were good enough, the performances weren't, and looking at the next set of fixtures if we don't improve, we are gonna be looking at a long losing run sadly......

Haven't seen the replay, but I'm sure when Tanginoa broke, he also had the option of Lyne on his outside?

Shouldn’t forget Leeds cane just as close to scoring as Wakefield with Ava failing to pick up a grubber right on your tryline in the first half and Watkins being millimetres away when sliding over and Croft with a great effort just turning him over as he got to the line. Whilst you can say it was poor execution I think from a Leeds view we made it much harder for you execute those passes out wide to your left winger with determined defence that was much more in your face than what Leeds usually offer this year. Their was one where Sau tries knocking it back to Hampshire because Briscoe is on Sau, a few weeks ago Briscoe probably wouldn’t have been in camera shot on that play.

Also Leeds had to do around 60 or so tackles more yet we made over 250m more with ball in hand. We also had guys missing and a few making their returns and rusty and carrying knocks themselves. Hurrell’s first SL game since Easter Monday, Ferres returned from a few out and whilst he played the full 80 he only made 4 carries so was obviously managing his way through the game being used mostly for defence, Cuthbertson another returnee and Lolohea is still unfit and whilst he cane up with the try that was the only positive to his performance and the rest of the night felt like playing with 12 men at times. Ava had his knee heavily strapped too and Briscoe was playing hurt that last quarter with his arm strapped up,

Fans don't have delusions of grandeur, we are holding the club to the expectations that they set before the season started. We were told that we were going to have a good crack at the cup and push for the top 5. We are out of the cup in only our second game and outside of the top 5 and dropping. If the club don't want to be held to their own targets, then don't share those targets in public forums

Yeah, but we’ve come a long way since beating Bradford in the MPG!

Have we really though? Still in the same dump in Belle Vue, the same amount of CC semi final appearances as part time Halifax, and no playoffs in the league.