Motu Tony is a bigger loss to the club than we maybe realised at the time. Ellis isn't enjoying the role and all we've done is renewed existing players contracts. It is harder than ever to get experienced players from the Southern Hemisphere to join an SL club, so it was good to have Motu with his contacts and respect Down Under to unearth some gems like Talanoa, Fonua, Faraimo & Carlos. This years recruitment feels like we haven't look any further than our own dressing room.

Didnt take long for swear words to get involved,this board is improving.

As good as Ellis was he is not the only player to bring them qualities to a squad. We needed a big signing who was a leader and never got one.

Any suggestions?

Don't agree about masi think he us developing well, gevus hard to put down and him not getting out down is a real plus and something to work on, tough to compare him with Thompson as he is an outstanding player and could be one of the best props in the world, plus Masi hasn't been playing right that long compared to other props, so it might take him longer to develop.

I think Green is a decent player but is injured too often.

I don't think props are our major problem we make plenty of yards, we lack line breakers and our attacking plays are poor particularly in the red zone.

I'm not making excuses, our ball retention was absolutely appalling and we didn't deserve to win, however these players might be back from injury but they are far from match fit and it shows. Just confirms what I've been saying for years about the necessity for a reserve grade to give somewhere for players returning from injury to actually gain some match fitness.

… and confidence, you'll never know for sure your knee is 100% until you start playing for real, and the reserves is the obvious starting point - if you don't feel quite right then you can come off without risking making things worse.

Exactly. The reserves is so much more than just a youth team. It's somewhere for the regular first teamers to play if needed to gain match fitness. I'm massive advocate for it and really hope the rumours that are circling of a reserve grade being developed across the board are true.

Simon Mannering

I hear you

Lee can’t have it both ways though

Just like Trump claims the Stock market successes he then can’t disown the losses to come

Lee used to the excuse of unfit players returning as the reason
for the loss. So the following week surely he can’t fall into the trap of being so daft as to play players not fit etc

If he did then he’s stupid or unfit players are not really the reason and the low morale , confidence and missed tackles are down to his
coaching methods ??

He can’t use the same excuse 2 weeks running - surely

I don't think he used it as an excuse.
He actually said, after tha Wakey game that he 'Rolled the dice'.
I take that to mean he was gambling on not fully match fit players to have the experience, and guile to improve the team, more than several of the young players, who have all had too much game time this year.
We have a lot of players coming back from serious injuries, all of whom need game time.
Where else can they get that game time?

Granted if the morale is low there may be things he can do to improve that. Confidence and missed tackles are down to individuals.

john sutton

Yes another top player, think Mannering is a couple years younger.

And he's announced his retirement

Awaits calls for Steve McNamara.

And the return of the Flying Pig.

I'd have Lineham back, I'd also have McNamara as coach if Radford did leave,

I'd have lineham back. Decent wingers are rare these days. None of his crowd left at HURL for him to fook around with now either.

Would you be happy with Brian McDermott for 2019??

Nope, he won trophies at Leeds but also inherited a good system and good players from Tony Smith and they were very inconsistent. Champions to middle 8s to Champions and middle 8s again.

While of course we'd be happy with being Champions at any cost, constantly dropping in to the middle8s is risky and you'd come unstuck at some point.

Radford deserves time to sort this out, im giving him until Easter before the Radford Out banner is dusted off

As I’ve said on another thread, it’s nod Radford’s head we need but additions to the coaching staff a la an experienced attacking coach but who’s out there that would work under a young English head coach?

We are going to get an addition to the coaching staff in Gaz Ellis unless he decides to go to Leeds.
Love Gaz Ellis as a player but he is hardly likely to sort out our attacking and ball handling woes

Let's just go for a new head coach and thank Lee for his efforts.
He can leave with his head held high and forever with our gratitude for 2 CC wins.

A change of coach has worked wonders at Saints and latterly Hudds.

I can't stand the thought of stagnating which we have all too often whilst being on the cusp of pushing on further.

You forgot Warrington.Another Aussie coach who has changed their style of play and turned the club around

On the flip side Rick Stone took Hudds backwards, bringing in an Aussie often works but not all the time

I agree but the three clubs mentioned will all be a force next season and more importantly Saints and Warrington have not sat back and have refreshed their already strong squads.
I expect Huddersfield will do the same on the back of a strong season finish which will make it easier for them to attract players.
We are nowhere near the current top four and when you factor in a resurgent Catalan,Huddersfield and Wakefield i think we are in for a poor 2019 even with a fit squad.
Another heavy defeat looming at Huddersfield and Adam Pearson will lose his patience and we will see some changes.
Dont think adding Gaz Ellis to the current coaching set up will solve any of our current playing style and handling problems