: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:19 pm  

LS16_Rhino wrote:

FFS – we’re top of the league, current reigning champions and run our nearest rivals to two very close defeats – why the fook do we need to change anything???

Three big games, three comprehensive defeats. So far I would have to say it's the weakest league I've seen in years, I wouldn't judge us against any other team except Saints and we are clearly not there.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:19 pm  

LS16_Rhino wrote:

FFS – we’re top of the league, current reigning champions and run our nearest rivals to two very close defeats – why the fook do we need to change anything???

Because when we have come up against any team of any real class we have come up short. Yes we've been competitive but we just haven't been good enough. We have some very good broken field runners but because of the obsession we have "the middle channel" they're not getting the chance to be fully effective.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:26 pm  

Dave Heron's Moustache wrote:

Three big games, three comprehensive defeats. So far I would have to say it's the weakest league I've seen in years, I wouldn't judge us against any other team except Saints and we are clearly not there.

Maybe the thread title should read “Style of Play needed to beat Saints” then.

Saints are a better team than us at the moment – simple, they might not be come October but at this point in time they are, so the need to change our style of play deludes me.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:28 pm  

we were a shambles. the scoreline flattered us. the pack looked lightweight, the decision to play donald on the right clearly isn't working,gibson,sadly, is not good enough. the injuries have really hit him hard. defence was shocking,loads of missed tackles and we never had a good line. the passing was ponderous and the lack of runners was evident.
we played in the centre third nearly all the game despite the fact it was obvious it wasn't working.
the coaching staff need to take stock because at the moment we don't look a patch on last season.
saints were top drawer,fully deserved the win. lets hope they have a good run and injuries bite. we may need it

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:29 pm  

Best pray for rain when you play us

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:29 pm  

LS16_Rhino wrote:

Maybe the thread title should read “Style of Play needed to beat Saints” then.

Saints are a better team than us at the moment – simple, they might not be come October but at this point in time they are, so the need to change our style of play deludes me.

There's an unfortunate typo in that. It makes more sense though with it in.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:30 pm  

LS16_Rhino wrote:

Maybe the thread title should read “Style of Play needed to beat Saints” then.

Saints are a better team than us at the moment – simple, they might not be come October but at this point in time they are, so the need to change our style of play deludes me.

There's plenty of improvement left in us and even today we showed some good rugby but not enough to get the win.
I think we are all dissapointed to be out of the cup and would of liked to of won the wcc but it hasn't happened.
We will get better and i'm sure we'll be in the GF again one thing i think we definately need to improve is our discipline,it's been awful this year and needs to sorted asap.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:31 pm  

good rugby? maybe in the last ten minutes. outplayed by a more organised and stronger team. men against boys

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:31 pm  

We need some new blood !!!! thats the top and bottom of it

We have lost Ellis and have no replacement, Buderous is looking like a sick note.

Donald is lost on the right.

: Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:33 pm  

Very dissapointed, another game where we don't take our chances...

Webb 9 MOM - Great support play, didn't drop a thing, looks like he's starting to build some form.

Donald 6 - He's wasted on the right, McClennan's got it all wrong IMO, Gibson/Smith/Watkins aren't powerful enough to draw the winger in and offload the ball creating space for the winger, because of this Donald gets no room to use his pace, and last year some of those chances that he didn't take would be taken. Hall isn't as fast as Donald, but he's a lot stronger, what I'm saying is Hall will be alot more likely to win the one on one collisions than Donald, and Donald will be more likely to have room.

Gibson 7 - Apart from a couple of mistakes, he played quite well today, hopefully he can have a run in the side and regain his form of 2007.

Keith Senior 8 - Always looks a threat, great break, we'd see alot more tries down that side with Donald there.

Ryan Hall 5 - Thought to have seen some good signs in the last couple of games, but as I've stated in the Donald comment, he isn't fast enough to play next to Senior.

Danny McGuire 7 - Was a bit quiet but created some chances, which were few and far between

Rob Burrow 7 - Made a couple of mistakes, but great break and showed some spark

Kylie Leulaui 6 - A little quiet IMO, not enough carries because usually he makes lots of metres

Matt Diskin 6 - Nothing special, average performance, hasn't been the same since his injury, hopefully the return of Buderus improves his game

Jamie Peacock 8 - Looked fired up for this one, shame most of the rest of the pack weren't.

Jamie Jones-Buchanan 7 - Good try, but a bit quiet for his normal standards, had a pretty good game though

Carl Ablett 6 - Same as Diskin

Kevin Sinfield 7 - Good vision for the first try, involved in this build up for the last.

Danny Buderus 7 - Couple of bad passes but that's expected for your first game back after 5-6 weeks, but got involved in the game and threatened more than Diskin did

Ali Lauitiiti 6 - Didn't threaten Saints like he usually does, a few good offloads.

Ian Kirke 7 - Was strong in the tackle, made alot of yards, been a good year so far for Kirke

Luke Burgess 7 - No nonsense go forward prop, good offloader as well, thought he had a good game and his position in the 17 which at the start of the season wouldn't be regular, has now become a little more secure.