Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 7:44 am  

I’m a little surprised by the levels of negativity on here.

Looking at their tries in the first half 2 had forward passes in them, not just line balls but significant forward passes.

Obviously Murphy should have done much better with the try resulting from the kick (ignoring the forward pass in the build up) and if the video ref is there I’m not sure the Catalans try stands that TJ catches and then the ball spills out over the line.

We started the second period well and after conceding did well to get field position to score ourselves and at that point I think there were 2 points in it and we had the momentum.

The Catalans fullback drops the ball and we are in their 40 with 6 tackles and have the ability to attack and build pressure. Lynn runs into touch on tackle 1 and we then have a nightmare 15 minute spell where we lose the game compounding error after error, think it ended up being 5 errors in a row and as a result of that period the game is gone.

Is it disappointing to lose, obviously, but was the performance as bad as some are making out? Absolutely not in my opinion.

I think in spells we showed some nice attacking play/shapes and made some good meters ball in hand. We just failed to do that consistently and that 15 minute spell absolutely killed us.

My main area of concern was we seemed to get bullied in the clash of the middles, and Smith was off the pace at 9.

Most of the issues can be fixed up relatively easily as the season progresses so whilst I’m disappointed I’m optimistic there were more good signs than bad.

My expectation prior to kick off was we will be fighting for our SL survival this year but I saw signs we are in with a chance of winning that fight.

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 7:48 am  

Prince Buster wrote:

If Tafua can't show enough form to get picked ahead of Lineham or Kershaw, then we should be asking why have we brought him over (presumably on a decent wage) just to sit on the side lines. Pointless signing or a player out of form, I wonder which it is ?

I went to the Hull friendly. One arm had a support on his forearm and he looked unable to tackle properly. I suspect he's injured and they didn't want to risk that injury till he's able to give 100%

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 7:51 am  

Kettykat wrote:

Hard to show form in 3/4 games that he’s played since he’s been here. 164 games and 88 tries in a far tougher comp for the Sea Eagles says to me he’s a good un , but not mash’s signing so who know why .

He had an arm support on v Hull and looked impaired. Suspect injury is why Taufua didn't play

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:04 am  

jonh wrote:

I’m a little surprised by the levels of negativity on here.

Looking at their tries in the first half 2 had forward passes in them, not just line balls but significant forward passes.

Obviously Murphy should have done much better with the try resulting from the kick (ignoring the forward pass in the build up) and if the video ref is there I’m not sure the Catalans try stands that TJ catches and then the ball spills out over the line.

We started the second period well and after conceding did well to get field position to score ourselves and at that point I think there were 2 points in it and we had the momentum.

The Catalans fullback drops the ball and we are in their 40 with 6 tackles and have the ability to attack and build pressure. Lynn runs into touch on tackle 1 and we then have a nightmare 15 minute spell where we lose the game compounding error after error, think it ended up being 5 errors in a row and as a result of that period the game is gone.

Is it disappointing to lose, obviously, but was the performance as bad as some are making out? Absolutely not in my opinion.

I think in spells we showed some nice attacking play/shapes and made some good meters ball in hand. We just failed to do that consistently and that 15 minute spell absolutely killed us.

My main area of concern was we seemed to get bullied in the clash of the middles, and Smith was off the pace at 9.

Most of the issues can be fixed up relatively easily as the season progresses so whilst I’m disappointed I’m optimistic there were more good signs than bad.

My expectation prior to kick off was we will be fighting for our SL survival this year but I saw signs we are in with a chance of winning that fight.

Catalan had 1/3 of their starting 13 missing including both halves, fullback, starting prop and second rower. If we are to survive we simply need to be winning these games. Our kicking game is what concerned me most, they just rolled us up field while we struggled to make the 35m.

We were up against the best wing combination in the league and they really punished us outside, as they will a lot of teams. Nearly every time we had sets on their line we scored, which is very promising, but we didn’t allow ourselves the field position to be in their 20 often enough, which to me was a result from kicking it down the fullbacks throat time after time allowing them to start on their 30 pretty much every set. Sloppy individual errors and at times inconstant referee compounded this.

[Wildthing]

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:10 am  

It was disappointing but not horrendous.
We are going to have to defend against kicks, and cut out the silly unforced errors.
I saw enough last night to think we can survive this season, but we won't be challenging for the playoffs!

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:26 am  

jonh wrote:

I’m a little surprised by the levels of negativity on here.

Looking at their tries in the first half 2 had forward passes in them, not just line balls but significant forward passes.

Obviously Murphy should have done much better with the try resulting from the kick (ignoring the forward pass in the build up) and if the video ref is there I’m not sure the Catalans try stands that TJ catches and then the ball spills out over the line.

We started the second period well and after conceding did well to get field position to score ourselves and at that point I think there were 2 points in it and we had the momentum.

The Catalans fullback drops the ball and we are in their 40 with 6 tackles and have the ability to attack and build pressure. Lynn runs into touch on tackle 1 and we then have a nightmare 15 minute spell where we lose the game compounding error after error, think it ended up being 5 errors in a row and as a result of that period the game is gone.

Is it disappointing to lose, obviously, but was the performance as bad as some are making out? Absolutely not in my opinion.

I think in spells we showed some nice attacking play/shapes and made some good meters ball in hand. We just failed to do that consistently and that 15 minute spell absolutely killed us.

My main area of concern was we seemed to get bullied in the clash of the middles, and Smith was off the pace at 9.

Most of the issues can be fixed up relatively easily as the season progresses so whilst I’m disappointed I’m optimistic there were more good signs than bad.

My expectation prior to kick off was we will be fighting for our SL survival this year but I saw signs we are in with a chance of winning that fight.

I thought we missed Liam Hood. We were poor around the ruck all night.

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 8:48 am  

Prince Buster wrote:

If Tafua can't show enough form to get picked ahead of Lineham or Kershaw, then we should be asking why have we brought him over (presumably on a decent wage) just to sit on the side lines. Pointless signing or a player out of form, I wonder which it is ?

Taufua is too heavy IMO. He looked lost in the friendlies that he played and basically like he didn’t want to be there.

Maybe thats why Lineham is getting picked.

And remember there are many Fev fans who will tell you that Lineham wasn’t even championship last year…

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:08 am  

jonh wrote:

I’m a little surprised by the levels of negativity on here.

Looking at their tries in the first half 2 had forward passes in them, not just line balls but significant forward passes.

Obviously Murphy should have done much better with the try resulting from the kick (ignoring the forward pass in the build up) and if the video ref is there I’m not sure the Catalans try stands that TJ catches and then the ball spills out over the line.

We started the second period well and after conceding did well to get field position to score ourselves and at that point I think there were 2 points in it and we had the momentum.

The Catalans fullback drops the ball and we are in their 40 with 6 tackles and have the ability to attack and build pressure. Lynn runs into touch on tackle 1 and we then have a nightmare 15 minute spell where we lose the game compounding error after error, think it ended up being 5 errors in a row and as a result of that period the game is gone.

Is it disappointing to lose, obviously, but was the performance as bad as some are making out? Absolutely not in my opinion.

I think in spells we showed some nice attacking play/shapes and made some good meters ball in hand. We just failed to do that consistently and that 15 minute spell absolutely killed us.

My main area of concern was we seemed to get bullied in the clash of the middles, and Smith was off the pace at 9.

Most of the issues can be fixed up relatively easily as the season progresses so whilst I’m disappointed I’m optimistic there were more good signs than bad.

My expectation prior to kick off was we will be fighting for our SL survival this year but I saw signs we are in with a chance of winning that fight.

Mentioning Smith at 9, I'd like to see Smith get a chance in the halves. I know Hood is injured, but we also have Bowes and Kaye. I know it was only a friendly, against what was mainly a Leeds reserves, but when he moved from hooker to half back, we looked a totally different side

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:25 am  

Eastern Wildcat wrote:

Mentioning Smith at 9, I'd like to see Smith get a chance in the halves. I know Hood is injured, but we also have Bowes and Kaye. I know it was only a friendly, against what was mainly a Leeds reserves, but when he moved from hooker to half back, we looked a totally different side

Smith may have a chance this week. I feel that Lino may get a ban for what happened after we had scored, the Catalan player kicked the ball away, stopping Max getting it, whilst Lino had a go at the player.

Re: Wakefield Trinity Vs Catalan Dragons : Sat Feb 18, 2023 9:45 am  

Major area of concern for me is the pedestrian distribution and forward passes from hooker, smith tried but isn’t a hooker kaye is good when running from dummy half but is absolutely not a hooker, fill in yes but go to no, as his passing has a slight delay which then led to a couple of forward passes and any quick play the ball is lost.
Distribution seems pedestrian across the pitch too many players can’t/won’t pass and kills any play/momentum been wingers must be incredibly frustrating in this team as you only get the ball in impossible situations or running it back out after a kick return.

Kick off was poor same kick off inviting a 20m start every time allowing the first runner loads of time to wind up to running on to the ball

Turning point of the game as said was Lyne running in to touch from the middle of the field not once did he seem to look to pass and just coughed up possession ultimately killing the momentum we had. Golden chance to win ultimately poor on field choices cost us.

For all the bashing Lineham seems to get, thought he made himself busy of course having Johnstone to deal with was always going to be a no win for him but he showed effort in attack