Next 5 Games : Mon Apr 24, 2023 11:38 am  

After another disappointing pathetic performance, think the next 5 games will be crucial to how our season pans out and the future of Dunning.

We're against the bottom 4 sides plus Keighley (who we should be gunning for revenge) so that "should" be nothing less than 5 victories IMO not saying they will be easy, but if we're serious about what we want to achieve this year, we shouldn't be dropping points in this chunk of games.

If we get the maximum points from this then we'll be at the half way point in the season and likely in a top 4 position and even above Fax (depsite not a single one of our players good enough to get in their side obviously)

That said I just don't trust us to have that killer instinct for all 5 games. I can see us winning two then inexplicbly losing at home to London or something. It's a recurring theme and if that happens I think it will be habit that will continue to hinder us the rest of the year.

We've had some outstanding victories this year against some good teams, but then been awful on too many occasions. Depsite Dunning clearly bringing some good to the team (fitness, attitude etc) he doesn't seem yet, to know how to solve this issue.

[Bullseye]

Re: Next 5 Games : Mon Apr 24, 2023 1:23 pm  

I think I sort of expected this season to be a mixed bag. The early signs were good in terms of players actually looking quiet fit but that should be a bare minimum. However, as the season has gone on it's clear we not yet capable of putting in consistent performances. We back up good performances versus Toulouse and Sheffield with total crap. It's very frustrating and risks undoing all the work on fitness and it shows the change in culture isn't maybe that much of a change.

Recently we seem to have lost the ability to attack, it's like we've reverted to last year under Kear when the only idea we had was to put in an ineffective kick to Kieran Gill. What's happened? Only a few weeks earlier we were putting in some good set moves and supporting the ball carrier more. Instead we seem to rely on Holmes doing something or we revert to individuals trying to fix things on their own.

The halfbacks are a worry if Holmes is out. Patton tends to go missing when things aren't going his way. Lilley tends to over compensate and tries too hard and makes mistakes. It's clear the Lilley/Patton partnership doesn't work. I'd be looking to give Lawford some more game time.

Re: Next 5 Games : Mon Apr 24, 2023 4:14 pm  

I’d agree with all of the above. But I wouldn’t be surprised if Sammut did a number on us at Barrow.

For me. It has to be 5 wins. At least 2 convincing wins (ie not nessecarily big scores, but playing really well). Otherwise its still Dunning out for me.

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 8:09 am  

I'd have been more strategic as a club, move on from Dunning now after some very disappointing results and give the new coach these 5 'easier' games to work with the team before the business end of the season. If we give Dunning these 5 games we can forget being serious contenders and possibly the play offs altogether as the damage will have been done and its another rebuild in the winter. Now the faster tracks are having an impact we need a coach who can you know, coach.

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 9:18 am  

Or maybe let Dunning have the next 5 games and If we win them which we quite feasibly could we will be at half way with a decent record. He’ll also have his star signing in Walker available and a couple of SL three quarters. Lawrence is also due back soon which will give us some on field leadership

[Bullseye]

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 1:51 pm  

Make or break period for Mark Dunning then.

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 2:07 pm  

Dutch Bull wrote:

I'd have been more strategic as a club, move on from Dunning now after some very disappointing results and give the new coach these 5 'easier' games to work with the team before the business end of the season. If we give Dunning these 5 games we can forget being serious contenders and possibly the play offs altogether as the damage will have been done and its another rebuild in the winter. Now the faster tracks are having an impact we need a coach who can you know, coach.

Out of interest, who would you bring in who is a) affordable or b) available or c) any better than Dunning?

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 2:23 pm  

If Dunning was to go the Board would scour the earth for a replacement then appoint Greenwood.

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 5:01 pm  

paulwalker71 wrote:

Out of interest, who would you bring in who is a) affordable or b) available or c) any better than Dunning?

Wed have plenty to choose from as aplications would be coming in from all over the world......

Re: Next 5 Games : Sat Apr 29, 2023 5:05 pm  

My instinct would be they’d appoint Nobby, which would be a disaster