Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Mon Jul 08, 2024 6:51 pm  

Possibly due to injuries, but there seems to be a decline in our play since the 1895 final. yesterday's six tackle completion rate was probably the worst this season.

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:16 pm  

I don't think there's no doubt that injuries have caught up with us with the amount of not just our starting 17 out, which is about 8 atm, but also their backups as well. So we haven't been able to rotate players like probably DP wanted to, so there'll be some tired legs out there, after 22 games. Also, some of the older players like Pitts and Ashurst have played about 20 games already, so I think it's just caught up with us a bit and it's gonna be interesting if we can keep this streak up.

I thought we were fairly poor the week after Wembley against Widnes but that was almost expected and then we were a little better against Halifax. Then against Barrow, I thought we did well, nothing flash but a solid performance but against Batley that first half was about the worst we've played this season.

Tbh though most games apart from a few, I don't think we get out of 3rd gear, apart from when we need to and we change gear, then we stick a few moves together in 20 minutes and pull away. So hopefully these next 3 weeks the guys can up their game and we can get some bodies back on the park and put a more complete performance

Just listened to the WTH podcast and we've scored 166 tries in 22 games and Max has 38 assists and 11 tries, he's having a cracking season. Plus we have 5 players that are in double figures for tries. Also, they touch on Olpherts and the season he's having, which even just watching him I thought he's been having an eye-catching season for us, but he's averaging about 170 meters a game and 50 post-contact meters, he's turned out to be a really great buy.

[PopTart]

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:28 pm  

I don't think Batley are getting enough credit. They played well early on to put pressure on us. With only 1 half back and 1 hooker it was always going to be difficult.

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Mon Jul 08, 2024 9:43 pm  

No doubt they did, but let's be honest a completion rate of just over 50% is complete rubbish, no matter how well Batley played that first half. We couldn't hold on to the ball, we got pinged for so many penalties and even taking into account all the disruption before the game, plus the guys we've got out that was awfully frustrating to watch.

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Mon Jul 08, 2024 10:44 pm  

A lot of people have been saying that this was our worst performance of the season, especially at home. But still they came through a lot of adversity to pull away by 20 points.
Losing Liam Hood before kick off meant a lot of adjusting around the rook, and having to bring in Isaac Shaw ( lucky we had a forward as 18th man ) We also had 2 players coming back for their first game back since Wembley, so maybe a bit rusty, add to this we didnt have our first choice front row playing or back up hooker, so credit to Batley as they disrupted our play in the first half and exposed some inexperienced positons.
After half time they established there strength and pulled away. I reckon they did well when faced with adversity and showed there professionalism over 80 minutes. One thing that I always like to see in a first team squad is a strong bench with at least 3 forwards and a utility if possible, I said at the time that we might struggle having only 2 forwards on the bench.

[PopTart]

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Tue Jul 09, 2024 1:43 am  

Shaw was on the bench. Booth was 18th Man. But your point is still correct.
We lost a hooker and had to replaced with a fullback.

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:26 am  

PopTart wrote:

Shaw was on the bench. Booth was 18th Man. But your point is still correct.
We lost a hooker and had to replaced with a fullback.

Do not think we missed Hood Think it was more down to playing 21games this season with 14 still to go.We are missing our big hitting forwards big time because of been injured .Teams know now we have no pace down the middle of field ,and when we move the ball are moving up fast on Gale ,or Max so disturbin g the ball movement . Know this will not go down well with some but we are missing Lino sorry but he is the best we have got at present.In the second half we ran more direct and looked better for it.Enjoyed watching Smith looks a real fine .Prat gets better every game and think the winger we got from Leeds is going well, and fit every week not like some I can make .Think it is a case of do not rush players back ,if we lose a few matches so be it and be ready to go when it matters at the end of the season

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Tue Jul 09, 2024 8:37 am  

Nothing against Liam Kay but you can see he is not comfortable at half, we have lost pretty much the attack down that side without Lino, Gale can only do so much as can Kay in his capabilities but you can see (and the tries Olpherts has scored) where the focus of attack is mostly. The team balance is off in regards to attack, which then rush plays leads to errors.
For me Batley played very well and only gave when fatigue kicked in, they never really looked 'dangerous' on attack but took the chances they got (admittedly off penalties for field position)

Once Lino is back, and as much as people may gripe, he does assist many tries. a couple of testers coming up (Particularly in Toulouse) but frankly Bradford don't really pose many threats to what they have the last twice we have practically blown them away (Mostly 2nd half as per most games)

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Tue Jul 09, 2024 10:42 am  

Trinity have posted a message on Facebook saying that the reserve team are playing Bradford on Thursday does this mean we can use this game as Bain's one match ban? Can Bradford do the same with Pele?

Re: Batley Bulldogs (H) : Tue Jul 09, 2024 11:02 am  

Dr Dreadnought wrote:

Trinity have posted a message on Facebook saying that the reserve team are playing Bradford on Thursday does this mean we can use this game as Bain's one match ban? Can Bradford do the same with Pele?

I think that only is allowed if it’s in a different week to the first team game.