Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 9:49 am  

If Marshall is not confident how can the players be Halifax coach Richard Marshall has offered a candid assessment of his side’s chances of making the Super 8s Qualifiers for a second successive season, saying they are not currently ‘playing well enough’ to finish in the top four. Fax, who host Oldham at the Shay on Friday night (8.0), slipped to sixth in the Championship after losing 32-16 at Batley last weekend, although they remain just two points shy of third-placed Bradford. But while Fax are far from being out of the running with 10 league games still remaining, Marshall remains realistic. “At the moment, we’re not playing well enough to finish in the top four, it’s that simple,” said Marshall, whose side won 10 games straight during June, July and August last year to clinch fourth spot. “Consistency is key and that’s something we’ve not had this year. “We’ve no margin for error now and the competition’s changed; while I still believe we’re capable of going on a run like we did last year, it’s going to be a lot more difficult. “The players want it, but you would have to say Batley wanted it a little bit more than we did last weekend and that’s what got them the result. “We’re trying to build something here for the longer term, but it’s a results based business and at the moment we’re a bit scratchy in that regard.” Oldham were humbled by Marshall’s side on Good Friday, with a first half blitz at Stalybridge giving Fax an unassailable half time lead. Since then though, Scott Naylor’s side have taken some significant scalps, including an incredible Challenge Cup win at Super League strugglers Hull KR. “Oldham are a good side and they’ll be coming to take another scalp,” said Marshall. “Look at who they’ve beaten; Hull KR, Batley, Sheffield, Featherstone. Read more: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/h ... z49BiQYQdG

If Marshall is not confident how can the players be Halifax coach Richard Marshall has offered a candid assessment of his side’s chances of making the Super 8s Qualifiers for a second successive season, saying they are not currently ‘playing well enough’ to finish in the top four. Fax, who host Oldham at the Shay on Friday night (8.0), slipped to sixth in the Championship after losing 32-16 at Batley last weekend, although they remain just two points shy of third-placed Bradford. But while Fax are far from being out of the running with 10 league games still remaining, Marshall remains realistic. “At the moment, we’re not playing well enough to finish in the top four, it’s that simple,” said Marshall, whose side won 10 games straight during June, July and August last year to clinch fourth spot. “Consistency is key and that’s something we’ve not had this year. “We’ve no margin for error now and the competition’s changed; while I still believe we’re capable of going on a run like we did last year, it’s going to be a lot more difficult. “The players want it, but you would have to say Batley wanted it a little bit more than we did last weekend and that’s what got them the result. “We’re trying to build something here for the longer term, but it’s a results based business and at the moment we’re a bit scratchy in that regard.” Oldham were humbled by Marshall’s side on Good Friday, with a first half blitz at Stalybridge giving Fax an unassailable half time lead. Since then though, Scott Naylor’s side have taken some significant scalps, including an incredible Challenge Cup win at Super League strugglers Hull KR. “Oldham are a good side and they’ll be coming to take another scalp,” said Marshall. “Look at who they’ve beaten; Hull KR, Batley, Sheffield, Featherstone. Read more: http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/sport/h ... z49BiQYQdG

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 10:28 am  

If we win tonight it will be a good victory. If we lose it won't be the end of the season but it will be a defining moment in the season. The boys need to stand up and deliver what we know they have in them.

Lose tonight and the odds of top 4 are receding quickly, especially with the fixtures that we have remaining.

It's a confidence and consistency thing and both are missing from the side at the moment. We need a good win with high % completions in attack and defence. Richard is responsible off the pitching for picking the side, but once the players cross the white line it is predominantly down to them.

We may be living off last year but I still believe that this squad of players is much better than they have shown so far. It's now that time of the season for them to start to deliver and do it week in week out.

Up the Fax!!

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 11:13 am  

Am I going barmy or summat? RM is quoted in this piece as saying 'consistency is the key'.We know it is Rich, it's you who keeps chopping and changing the team every week isn't it?

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 11:16 am  

I agree with the above these next 10 days could well define our season. Really is now or never for me with Batley winning last week and Fev starting to look good. We need to put some points on Oldham tonight not only to make up in the point difference gap but to go into next weeks 4 pointer with some genuine confidence (we haven't looked like doing that since Whitehaven 1st match) Come on Fax!!!

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 11:18 am  

A back to basics approach to start with. 5 sets and a good 6th tackle option every set.

Less mistakes therefore mean more energy applied to defence, which has been poor this year.

More energy means players should be ready to back up any line busts made.

Gamebreakers such as Saltonstall and Johnston need to be playing at Fullback and scrum half. Saltonstall wasted on the Wing where others can do a job just as effectively there, such as Potts.

My ideal settled XIII for rest of season.

Saltonstall
Potts
Tyrer
Heaton
Sharp
Murrell
Johnston
Boyle/R.Moore
Kaye/B.Moore rotate
Tangata/Ambler rotate
Manning
Sarsfield
Fairbank/Barber rotate

Cahalane, Greenwood, Smeaton, G.Moore, Bennion, Maneely as back up. Maybe the 2nd Team Young centre needs a call up to the First Team.

Would love to see Grix back, if only on the bench, as he can literally cover every position besides Prop.

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 11:25 am  

Hudd-Shay wrote:

Am I going barmy or summat? RM is quoted in this piece as saying 'consistency is the key'.We know it is Rich, it's you who keeps chopping and changing the team every week isn't it?

Thought same when i read it,almost lijke a self assassination article.Top 4 gone IMO.We won't replicate last season.

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 11:42 am  

jeffvickers wrote:

A back to basics approach to start with. 5 sets and a good 6th tackle option every set.

Less mistakes therefore mean more energy applied to defence, which has been poor this year.

More energy means players should be ready to back up any line busts made.

Gamebreakers such as Saltonstall and Johnston need to be playing at Fullback and scrum half. Saltonstall wasted on the Wing where others can do a job just as effectively there, such as Potts.

My ideal settled XIII for rest of season.

Saltonstall
Potts
Tyrer
Heaton
Sharp
Murrell
Johnston
Boyle/R.Moore
Kaye/B.Moore rotate
Tangata/Ambler rotate
Manning
Sarsfield
Fairbank/Barber rotate

Cahalane, Greenwood, Smeaton, G.Moore, Bennion, Maneely as back up. Maybe the 2nd Team Young centre needs a call up to the First Team.

Would love to see Grix back, if only on the bench, as he can literally cover every position besides Prop.

Ryan Boyle is a prop on loan from Cas.Unsure if he can play tonight,would have thought not as not in 19 declaration.Anyone know what happened to the initial loanee from Salford ?

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 12:03 pm  

Oh. Andrade. Forgot about him

Re: Not confident : Fri May 20, 2016 5:25 pm  

Got to agree we need to stick with same halfback combination IMO Jonno Murrell. Stick with Heaton at Centre. Salty to FB. All this chopping and changing is no good for consistency.

Re: Not confident : Sat May 21, 2016 1:32 am  

Hearing a lot of unrest in your camp, just passing it on before I get both barrels.