You can’t question the effort in defence. It was a gritty and determined display by the lads. However, it was yet another game where we had weight of possession, had decent field position and were camped on the oppo’s line yet failed to capitalise. In that first half we should have notched up at least two or three tries. In the second half our cluelessness when we were near to Hull’s line meant that we spurned decent opportunities to score points. It’s a win we have let slip through our fingers because let’s make no bones about it - Hull were there for the taking.
Gutsy / unstructured / no finesse - the commentators say the same things every time they see us play. And they are right; for far too long now we seem to have a ‘turn up and it will be alright on the night’ mentality when it comes to our attack. It’s so obvious what is missing from our game – CC, or someone, needs to instil some rigid structure into our attacking play. We need to take it back to basics on the training paddock if we are going to start winning games. We need to be watching the top ESL and NRL teams when they play, identify the plays they put on to unlock defences and replicate them to the tee. We need to practice those plays again and again and again until the lads can run them with their eyes closed. Those plays will break down defences and then the lads can try some of their off the cuff stuff. However, they have to earn the right to play in that fashion by working for one another and being disciplined in attack in the first instance; and the responsibility for getting that first bit right falls fairly and squarely on CC’s shoulders.
There was one positive aspect of our attacking play tonight; our last play kicking options were much improved and better than they’ve been for some time. However, until we address the fundamental problems we have with ball in hand, it does not matter how many times we manage to obtain repeat sets because we simply don’t cross the line enough times to win games.
