Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 11:32 am  

I've totally given up any hope of us reaching Wembley.

In thirty years I'm yet to see a Trinity team really want this cup, why I don't know.

They all talk the talk but not once have I seen what I can truly describe a full blooded cup performance, not one single game.

I actually believe that in 2004 we were far closer to a GF place than we have ever been to a CCup during the SL era. Even in 2008 we blew it, we were against a Hull team who themselves looked lack lustre yet at no point in that 80 minutes die we ever look like winning it - I know it was close on the scoreboard but for me the players never seemed willing or able to step forward.

2015 was just tragic but to be fair not unexpected, the rest of our CCup exploits have been beyond pathetic on occasions and have often been in total contrast to our dogged and determined league form through the years. Most of out last ditch relegation games have been far gutsier and better to watch than any of our Cup games, why they can'y replicate that level of desire and intensity remains a mystery.

Put simply and I have no idea why but for some reason our team is NEVER really up for it imho. I can't see any reason why that will change this year, I see us choking almost straight away.

Perversely if we make top 8 I see us doing well in the super eights.

Seems weird at a club renowned more as cup kings than title winners but the stats bare it out.

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 1:27 pm  

vastman wrote:

I've totally given up any hope of us reaching Wembley.

In thirty years I'm yet to see a Trinity team really want this cup, why I don't know.

They all talk the talk but not once have I seen what I can truly describe a full blooded cup performance, not one single game.

I actually believe that in 2004 we were far closer to a GF place than we have ever been to a CCup during the SL era. Even in 2008 we blew it, we were against a Hull team who themselves looked lack lustre yet at no point in that 80 minutes die we ever look like winning it - I know it was close on the scoreboard but for me the players never seemed willing or able to step forward.

2015 was just tragic but to be fair not unexpected, the rest of our CCup exploits have been beyond pathetic on occasions and have often been in total contrast to our dogged and determined league form through the years. Most of out last ditch relegation games have been far gutsier and better to watch than any of our Cup games, why they can'y replicate that level of desire and intensity remains a mystery.

Put simply and I have no idea why but for some reason our team is NEVER really up for it imho. I can't see any reason why that will change this year, I see us choking almost straight away.

Perversely if we make top 8 I see us doing well in the super eights.

Seems weird at a club renowned more as cup kings than title winners but the stats bare it out.

I agree with all of that, apart from 2008, against Hull.
We were absolutely awful for the first 15 mins of the game, with Peterson? unable to cope with the kicks to his wing.
However, if they had played for another 10 minutes, we'd have won the game.
Hull were out on their feet and we were finishing strongly but, we had just given ourselves too much to do.
You cant give any team 3 scores start in a semi final and hope to win.

IF we can gather some momentum and get a couple of favourable draws, we COULD get there (to Wembley) and right now, the dream is very much alive, at least until Friday

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 1:43 pm  

First winning at Hudds will not be easy, new coach, Brough back, new coach = `old `players looking to impress, very talented youngsters ( apparently this Wardle lad is out of contract this season and all the big boys are after his signature ) . So if we win at Hudds all we have to do is avoid Saint, Wigan, Leeds, Warrington , Cas , Hull and we may reach a semi final.

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 1:49 pm  

Wardle will be missing a few games after this weeks disciplinary.

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 2:37 pm  

bellycouldtackle wrote:

First winning at Hudds will not be easy, new coach, Brough back, new coach = `old `players looking to impress, very talented youngsters ( apparently this Wardle lad is out of contract this season and all the big boys are after his signature ) . So if we win at Hudds all we have to do is avoid Saint, Wigan, Leeds, Warrington , Cas , Hull and we may reach a semi final.

They have had the new coach game whilst I don't see the return of Brough as a bonus but who knows he may have a few performances left in the tank.

On paper we out size them, out pace them and Miller, Finn, Wood and Randell should be able to outthink them but somehow it probably won't happen.

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 2:49 pm  

vastman wrote:

They have had the new coach game whilst I don't see the return of Brough as a bonus but who knows he may have a few performances left in the tank.

On paper we out size them, out pace them and Miller, Finn, Wood and Randell should be able to outthink them but somehow it probably won't happen.

I thought our game next week was his first game in charge and in the country?

I would rather Brough play than him not to be honest, although he can occasionally still produce something a bit special he is now more of a liability than anything else whilst he is on the pitch.

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 3:44 pm  

bellycouldtackle wrote:

First winning at Hudds will not be easy, new coach, Brough back, new coach = `old `players looking to impress, very talented youngsters ( apparently this Wardle lad is out of contract this season and all the big boys are after his signature ) . So if we win at Hudds all we have to do is avoid Saint, Wigan, Leeds, Warrington , Cas , Hull and we may reach a semi final.

I hope your never asked to encourage the lads before the game, I fear none of them sides and why should we, In fact I run the back side off broughy and Wardle so they knew they'ed been in a game

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 4:57 pm  

snowie wrote:

I hope your never asked to encourage the lads before the game, I fear none of them sides and why should we, In fact I run the back side off broughy and Wardle so they knew they'ed been in a game

Pauli Pauli step up to the plate again.
There isn't a HB in the comp that would want to be in his path and if he runs at Broughy 2 or 3 times, he wont want to know.
Running out wide, instead of banging the ball up the middle seems to be his new role and I like it

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 5:36 pm  

Yep we did the same thing a few seasons back! Using Richard moore running at Trent Barrett

Re: Challenge Cup : Tue May 08, 2018 6:06 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Pauli Pauli step up to the plate again.
There isn't a HB in the comp that would want to be in his path and if he runs at Broughy 2 or 3 times, he wont want to know.
Running out wide, instead of banging the ball up the middle seems to be his new role and I like it

I'm no big fan of Brough's right now, but the only thing he still does is defend bloody aggressively. In most of our games he's the one looking to put a hit on someone out wide. He's a liability in many ways these days, but lacking the grit to tackle a forward certainly isn't one of them.