Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 10:56 am  

I honestly thought Miller had the makings of a decent player, unfortunately he seem to have gone backwards. Last night he had a shocker, still looking on the bright side. We don’t have Abdull, amazing how he managed to insert himself into the Catalan jersey. Looks like he is enjoying the French cuisine.

[Ex-Swarcliffe Rhino]

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 11:27 am  

It’s becoming glaringly obvious to anyone with eyes that Rohan Smiths “Vibes Rugby” is smoke and mirrors. Sounds great, you do get some highlight reel tries but overall it’s just the same crap every week.

First 10 mins we were up in Catalans faces with some swarming and tough defence then, like a light switch we went back to the powderpuff lackadaisical “passive” model and the writing was on the wall from then on in.

Catalan were there for the taking, they were just a nervous as ourselves but they played simple, basic rugby that played to their strengths, god knows what we were trying. Far too many players waiting around for someone else to do the work, too many players falling into the trap of believing their own online fanclubs and no one in that team who is prepared to read the riot act and take the game by the scruff of the neck.

All in all, we are in a spiral of our own making and we won’t break out of it until the “coach” is removed, he sets the team and the tactics but although he can talk a good game he certainly can’t coach one consistently.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 1:15 pm  

I will say that Cameron smith's instincts when we're doing badly are terrible. He injects himself into the play all the wrong way. I understand he's trying to make things happen, but he's way too slow to act as first receiver. He'd be far better off showing the way by trying to hit the line as hard as he can. That at least would be leading from the front.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 1:36 pm  

I’ve not watched the game yet but sounds like we had too many errors again as feared. Also looks like we were competitive so the 50 point drubbing was avoided. I realise that isn’t a great positive…

Just a reminder we had Fus, Newman, Mom, Croft and Holroyd all missing and this loss sounds marginal actually. Really not the end of the world in context. I am looking for a good showing against Saints in 2 weeks with some bodies back though.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 2:12 pm  

The frustrating thing was that Catalans were there for the taking. They made roughly the same number of errors as we did. We were much worse conceding penalties. Bottom line is if we can cut the penalities and errors down to an acceptable minimum then we'll get more possession in good field position.

We were still in the game at 8-0 (albeit with some luck), but the wayward intercept given by Sinfield to Johnstone was the turning point.

Leeds never looked like scoring, sadly. It's a shame because if we did manage to build pressure Catalans were likely to wilt in the heat with so many big men out on the field.

There was plenty of effort (as Smith alluded to), but we're making it too easy for the opposition in too many areas of the game.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 2:24 pm  

Errors or no errors, we don’t play a game plan that builds pressure so it’s a moot point. The effort we put in is a consequence of the mistakes that we make, so whilst it might keep the score down, against a good team its not likely to mean a win.

I’m not disappointed with losing in France, I expected it and do most seasons to be honest, I’m disappointed in the sheer dumbheadedness of the players and coaching staff to come up with such a poor performance, again.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 2:49 pm  

Exeter Rhino wrote:

The frustrating thing was that Catalans were there for the taking. They made roughly the same number of errors as we did. We were much worse conceding penalties. Bottom line is if we can cut the penalities and errors down to an acceptable minimum then we'll get more possession in good field position.

We were still in the game at 8-0 (albeit with some luck), but the wayward intercept given by Sinfield to Johnstone was the turning point.

Leeds never looked like scoring, sadly. It's a shame because if we did manage to build pressure Catalans were likely to wilt in the heat with so many big men out on the field.

There was plenty of effort (as Smith alluded to), but we're making it too easy for the opposition in too many areas of the game.

I agree, Cats were there for the taking.
Less penalties and dropped balls and we could have been closer to them.
Problem is that when we did get near their line we were clueless.

And of course Cats will say that if they had made less errors then they would have smashed us.
They dropped the ball when over the line twice effectively coughing up 12 points.

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 2:55 pm  

Croft makes a huge difference to us in attack and especially in good ball. Who plays against Saints then assuming he is back: Sinfield/Croft or Frawley/Croft?

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 3:53 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Croft makes a huge difference to us in attack and especially in good ball. Who plays against Saints then assuming he is back: Sinfield/Croft or Frawley/Croft?

You’ve gotta go with Sinfield now. He’ll learn a lot from Croft .

Re: RD 11 | Catalan Dragons (A) : Sun May 12, 2024 4:09 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Croft makes a huge difference to us in attack and especially in good ball. Who plays against Saints then assuming he is back: Sinfield/Croft or Frawley/Croft?

Sinfield/Croft - 100%