Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:22 pm  

PopTart wrote:

We were far from error free against Warrington.
What we did do though was cover each other.
There were a lot of missed tackles on the stats but I don't recall them breaking through because there was always someone else to get stuck in.
Both half backs defended well.

Unfortunately the Cas half backs are capable of making us look silly. We need to be on them. We have the speed to do that.
I do really want Westerman playing but only if he is fit.

Can I also request some new hair styles.
I can't tell Kopi from Westerman or Tanginoa and Tangata when they play is down the other end.
Hampshire and Wood too in poor light.

Wood and Wood are easy to tell apart. A few more gingers please.

That, unfortunately, is where stats fail to tell the full story, that's why there use is limited. Yes, the errors were there but very very few were in places or at times that were ever going to cause us problems. Errors and penalties are only a problem if you concede them at the wrong moment. Penalties can even be a good thing, conceding two points or some metres for a bit of time can change a game in your favour.

That's what was right about yesterday, nearly all the errors were forced, credit to Warrington and only one of the penalties we conceded was what I'd call stupid. Same stats in the same situations against Cas and we are in with a shout, start making silly errors and giving away stupid penalties and we can wave the game goodbye.

As for gingers I have to say there are far less in th game than there used to be but then there are quite a few more 'strawberry blondes'

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:53 pm  

No silly penalties keep the half backs quiet and get in their faces . I can see a win.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:58 pm  

Fishermanscap wrote:

That, unfortunately, is where stats fail to tell the full story, that's why there use is limited. Yes, the errors were there but very very few were in places or at times that were ever going to cause us problems. Errors and penalties are only a problem if you concede them at the wrong moment. Penalties can even be a good thing, conceding two points or some metres for a bit of time can change a game in your favour.

That's what was right about yesterday, nearly all the errors were forced, credit to Warrington and only one of the penalties we conceded was what I'd call stupid. Same stats in the same situations against Cas and we are in with a shout, start making silly errors and giving away stupid penalties and we can wave the game goodbye.

As for gingers I have to say there are far less in th game than there used to be but then there are quite a few more 'strawberry blondes'

Exactly - it was the polar opposite to the HKR game. Every mistake we made there was just as we were getting a foothold in the game or when they had sent the big kick up from being penned in their own half.

Much better yesterday.

As for Cas, its always a tough trip there and it rare they have a bad game at the Jumble. No reason why we cant win though, keep that level of defensive effort up and get good set completion and its anybodies game.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:08 pm  

TrinityIHC wrote:

Exactly - it was the polar opposite to the HKR game. Every mistake we made there was just as we were getting a foothold in the game or when they had sent the big kick up from being penned in their own half.

Much better yesterday.

As for Cas, its always a tough trip there and it rare they have a bad game at the Jumble. No reason why we cant win though, keep that level of defensive effort up and get good set completion and its anybodies game.

I always think that Cas play far better at BV and it's at the Jungle where we seem to do better. Don't know the numbers but all the great victories I remember against Cas seem very Jungle orientated, might be wrong.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:44 pm  

Fishermanscap wrote:

I always think that Cas play far better at BV and it's at the Jungle where we seem to do better. Don't know the numbers but all the great victories I remember against Cas seem very Jungle orientated, might be wrong.

Yeah theres truth in that - definitely historically, I think its just the games at Cas it seems like no matter what we do lately we cant get the win.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:49 pm  

Not the team they were, but still a very dangerous side.

We came close last year, and also in the home fixtures in 2017 and 2018, and it does seem a mental thing, as in both games we were winning for long periods.

The last time we beat them in a competitive game was 2015

We need to get in their faces from the off, and not stand off their danger men. Unfortunately, I feel it is a trait we have done too often in the past, against all sides, not just Castleford

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:15 pm  

McShane is the man that makes them tic, his decision making and game management are first class, he is tough in defense, gets his forwards on the front foot. His kicking is excellent especially attacking kicks near the line.

[PopTart]

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:18 pm  

bellycouldtackle wrote:

McShane is the man that makes them tic, his decision making and game management are first class, he is tough in defense, gets his forwards on the front foot. His kicking is excellent especially attacking kicks near the line.

I agree. They have a lot of match winners but it all starts with him.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:45 pm  

I'm not buying the mental thing, maybe our fans have that affliction but I highly doubt the players have.
Cas is a big game, bigger than Wigan ?, bigger than St's ?, I don't think so, they're all big games one way or another and the players will be approaching each game accordingly.
You could argue the team has a mental hoodoo for big games generally and rationalize that, but a particularly heavy hoodoo for Cas....Nah, they've just been better and luckier when it counts.

Re: More of a test on friday : Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:10 pm  

It most certainly is a mental thing against Cas. Wasn’t there recently a home game where we were 12 or 16-0 up at half time and they scored something like 28 unanswered points.