: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:10 pm  

It's getting very predictable saying this every time but the officiating was absolute rubbish.

For Wigans gamebreaking try, Amos Roberts (IIRC) made an absolute f**k up of the PTB, not a minor thing a total screw up. The linesman (the bald headed one)watched this and proceeded to do nothing.

I know what it sounds like.....but the officials were absolute garbage. Still at least it's an end to our misery now.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:12 pm  

Starting to get fed up of the match officials ruining my Sunday afternoon, the disallowed tries, the blatant knock on's in the crucial Wigan try at 14-12,

Can't wait for next season

[Bullseye]

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:15 pm  

Plenty of effort but no win again.

Awful start, we didn't complete a set in the first 20mins and had to soak up far too much pressure. That said the try Worrincy let in was very soft and Wigan looked as bad as us in attack.

The middle period of the game that saw us pull back from 0-12 to be winning 14-12 was much better. It was determined stuff and I was pleased with how that part of the game went. Unfortunately Newton came back on and made some awful brain farts, gifting the ball to the opposition. Our completion rate went downhill again and the Wigan tries were to be expected.

Pluses? Thought that Burgess and Lynch had good games and Donaldson certainly didn't look out of place. The defence was much better with Menzies in the centres.

Minuses? The completion rate was pants in the first and last quarters of the game, Newton's efforts in the last quarter were awful and we do seriously lack ideas in attack at times.

Hope we see Donaldson and Whitehead at Celtic next week.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:24 pm  

i thought when Cook and Lynch came on in the second half our energy levels and aggression went up. This coincided with us pressing Wigan back into their own half and only ended when we made the mistake of taking 2 points when Wigan looked knackered. Cook for me would be a natural replacement for Morrison if he's going as his enthusiasm and work rate help get us on the front foot.

[Bullseye]

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:26 pm  

Cook did have a better game than Worrincy and did well.

They both have serious issues to resolve in defence though.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:29 pm  

childofthenorthern wrote:

i thought when Cook and Lynch came on in the second half our energy levels and aggression went up. This coincided with us pressing Wigan back into their own half and only ended when we made the mistake of taking 2 points when Wigan looked knackered. Cook for me would be a natural replacement for Morrison if he's going as his enthusiasm and work rate help get us on the front foot.

Agreed

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:31 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

Cook did have a better game than Worrincy and did well.

They both have serious issues to resolve in defence though.

Cook, along with many others, has been worse this year with more missed tackles and penalties but he's improved over the last few years. He always seems to put in the work and has the fitness to last long periods of games.

It seems he's on his way but next year will probably be the one he starts to achieve his potential.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:01 pm  

I thought Steve Menzies was brilliant for you. We couldn't put him down at times and he looked your best player.

Was Sykes playing at stand off? I thought he played alright considering he was out of position.

Your forwards owned our pack for the entire game. An area we really need to improve in. I thought your defence in the first half was pretty good. You just lack strike power to me. You don't have a "go to" player that can create something for you.

Wigan didn't play well today but they had that "go to" player in Martin Gleeson who effectively won the game for us.

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:02 pm  

cadoo wrote:

I thought Steve Menzies was brilliant for you. We couldn't put him down at times and he looked your best player.

Was Sykes playing at stand off? I thought he played alright considering he was out of position.

Your forwards owned our pack for the entire game. An area we really need to improve in. I thought your defence in the first half was pretty good. You just lack strike power to me. You don't have a "go to" player that can create something for you.

Wigan didn't play well today but they had that "go to" player in Martin Gleeson who effectively won the game for us.

Menzies rarely has a bad game.

Sykes as played SO a few times this season now, he's less of a liability in defence there aswell.

Our pack was on top for most of it, although I do get a little nervous everytime Paleaasina attacks our line. Credit to Donaldson for going for the legs and getting him down though.

[Bullseye]

: Sun Jul 19, 2009 7:04 pm  

cadoo wrote:

You just lack strike power to me. You don't have a "go to" player that can create something for you.

Wigan didn't play well today but they had that "go to" player in Martin Gleeson who effectively won the game for us.

Good analysis there. We are lacking that spark that can create something int he backs. At the moment we have some honest triers but no real class in the backs. We seriously need an injection of creativity at halfback and threequarters.