Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:38 am  

Maybe we are victims of some over hyping pre season if you like, there was talk of this being the best squad in 30 years etc, and that may well be borne out as the season goes on, lets hope so. I just think generally people are expecting a bit more from us, we just haven't played that convincingly in any of the games so far, but obviously done enough in the first 4 to get the points. I also think the conditions in some of the games have been a red herring, HKR, Salford, Catalans, Wigan & Warrington, although cold, were decent enough conditions for February and March. Last year has probably given us expectations to 'kick on' so to speak this year, and it's like we're nearly hitting our straps but not quite yet! Let's face it, it's gonna be difficult to crack that top 4, the last 2 seasons no one saw Leeds and Warrington being so poor, doesn't look like that's gonna happen this year with one of the big guns.......although, brings me to Hull, if, they lose today, they are gonna be under a bit of pressure on Monday against us I think from their demanding fans, so maybe a HKR win could help us over there, and it looks like the weather could be similar to last night.

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:56 am  

Chris Chester is fast becoming Richard Agar. his loyalty to players who are past it or out of form . and his treatment of our own especially Jowitt who never gets even mentioned by him is just like the treatment of such as Cowling by Agar.

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 9:58 am  

I have never known such bad weather for the start of a season and Easter Monday looks like being equally bad. We are a dry weather team so to win 4 games lose 3 by no more than 10 points and have on abandoned is pretty good. . The effort against cas who can blow any team away was terrific. I would like to see Arundel Batch and Hampshire get starts on Monday. Finn Horo and Tupou to be rested for the Leeds game.

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 10:04 am  

Surprised at all the negativity after the lads put absolutely everything into last night!

To address a few points...

Those disappointed we didn’t create that much in the second half...Cas were the dominant side in the first half...what exactly did they create in the first half? They’ve perceived better halfbacks than us in Gale and Roberts and all they came away with was a try that looked like a forward pass...they weren’t chasing the game either so I think it’s really harsh to have a go at ours...we scored the best try but it just wasn’t meant to be, we got in more scoring positions but just couldn’t finish them off...

Our forwards in the conditions...surely for a really big pack it’s much tougher to be mobile in wet boggy conditions? We’re getting bogged down at the ptb and that’s our main problem at the moment...on the odd occasions we do get quick ptb’s we look very dangerous, we’ve got two quality hookers in Randell and Wood who are just not getting the chances at the minute but when the better weather comes and dryer pitches I’d expect our back to be able to get us on the front foot much more...they are big men yes, but they aren’t like the props from the old days of winter rugby they are athletes and much fitter...it’s killing our offload game too...all our big men are excellent with theviffload and I’m sure we’ll see that much more in better conditions...we’ve pace in the three quarters to burn too which will also come into it more when we’re able to shift the bill about a bit quicker...I’ve absolutely no doubt at all we will be a far better side in the coming months...

On Pauli and Horo...I think Pauli is a decent work in progress and to me has looked better the last twice when playing as a back rower, not prop as some have said...it’s the one ingredient I think we miss as a team...a blockbusting type backrower...most of our others as very similar in size and the way they play...if Pauli can develop in this role it gives the team something extra...he’s a young lad come over to a new country and a new style of play...he’s only played half a dozen games so let’s cut him a bit of slack! Defensively he looks to have a bit to work on but he’s shown signs that there is a dangerous player in there and he’s another who I think could be much better in dryer conditions...Horo has been a little disappointing only for me because he’s taking the shirt of arguably one of the best young players we’ve produced for some time! There’s no lack of effort there but it’s clear to everyone at the moment he’s not offering anything Batchelor didn’t last year...again though it is early days...

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 11:08 am  

musson wrote:

Pauli is getting better with each game imo
I think the move to him as an impact back row will really work but it will take time to perfect the plays involving him and for his fitness to improve which it definitely is

I would defo like to see more of Batch too, he’s still v young though and his time will come, Horo only on a years contract, to me he’s just filling in while batch does his time in the reserves

Horo signed for 2 years.

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 11:27 am  

victarmeldrew wrote:

Chris Chester is fast becoming Richard Agar. his loyalty to players who are past it or out of form . and his treatment of our own especially Jowitt who never gets even mentioned by him is just like the treatment of such as Cowling by Agar.

It's fair to be critical of Chester but to be compare him to the likes of Agar is well out of order.

[PopTart]

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 11:56 am  

When you see how many tackles we defended on our line against the widely praised attacking side like Cas, and we had plenty of chances to win, I'd say we did ok.
The weather was not good for either side but once they nudged ahead made it harder to chase a game.
I didn't really agree with the Fifita decision but I can see why they gave it the way they did.
The off side on the line was completely wrong and not only that, some of the angles on the Cas line which showed how off side they were made that even worse. You can't pick and choose those decisions.
There were a few other decisions that were only small, both ways, but those two made a big difference to us.

I'd say the right team won, but it was very close. And that can only be good for us.
We could lose to Hull on Monday and still be a great team that is pushing for top 4 at the business end of the season.
I look forward to the hard grounds and clear weather for us.

[PopTart]

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:08 pm  

Not sure why everyone so tetchy with Printer.
A big pack is a good thing for heavy weather as the faster players can't get away from them. He's right.

However, as also said our play isn't to bash big trundling forwards up the middle. We tie players in with those players and off load or play the ball quickly. The heavy forwards logic went out in the 70s.
I think we should be able to adapt a little better but to be honest Cas has a very strong middle defence and our big pack was starting to stress them in the second half. They won because their big defenders really got stuck in.

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:14 pm  

I came away from last nights game really happy with the teams performance. Had a couple of really tough calls against us that both then led to Cas scoring points. No complaints though with the result as I thought Cas hardly put a foot wrong and contained us really well. A close game in horrendous conditions and I think this season is looking bright for both clubs.
That comparison to Agar has to be the daftest comment I've seen on here for a while

[PopTart]

Re: 19 for Castleford : Fri Mar 30, 2018 12:56 pm  

victarmeldrew wrote:

Chris Chester is fast becoming Richard Agar. his loyalty to players who are past it or out of form . and his treatment of our own especially Jowitt who never gets even mentioned by him is just like the treatment of such as Cowling by Agar.

Which of the players Agar overlooked have proved him wrong?
The only time fans haven't complained about selection is when we only had enough decent players to get 13 players on the field we liked.

But more to the point, you can't play everyone. If Grix is playing better he get's the shirt. I'd be more concerned if Jowitt was being played because he is a local junior rather than playing the form player.