Finishing games off : Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:07 pm  

I've not seen a thread dedicated to this but I think that some of the issues will probably have been discussed but anyway. Am I the only one that is really concerned that we very rarely finish games off? It seems to me that no matter how well we do for 60 minutes, the opposition most of the time seems likely to come back into it.
The first game we played a terrible Wigan side, and we really should have put about 20 points between us if we played to our best.
Second game against Celtic, we seemed to be controlling the game but still let them in with sloppy tries.
The third game against Catalans was probably as close as we have come to closing a agem out and is really example of what we should be doing in the games we dominate.
The forth game against Hudds we always seemed to be letting them back into the game despite dominating them all over the field. Their last try typified our problem.
The fifth game against Bradford, we were 30-12 up with about 15 mins left on the clock (give or take) we let them score a couple of silly tries and although we got the win with another try, still we looked very shaky.
On Friday it is where we got stung and this issue finally caught up with us. We were 18-12 up, 4 tries to two, kick to come, a very vocal crowd behind them and they end up throwing it away. We didn't dominate this game but the game was there to be won with 2 penalties in front of goal and 2 attempts to get a drop goal (one which was fluffed by Horne iirc). Our defence also let us down and we didn't hold on and lost.

My main concern is that while we are winning most games, this could really come back to haunt us come a cup semi-final or final, and nailbiting play-off games, and even the Grand Final. Look at the past few Grand Finals. Leeds got their noses in front of Saints and killed the game of in 2007 and 2008. Saints went in at half time against us in 2006 and ended up killing the game off in the second half. Saints also did this in the cup finals of 2006 and 2007, and to an extent against us in 2008.
We are generally playing well this season. The effort is much higher than last year and so are the peformance levels, especially from many pack members. Do others think that the inabilty to kill off games could be our downfall? What needs to be done to improve this?

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:09 pm  

Our attack isn't good enough to turn posession and field position into points. Likewise, our defence isn't as good as some would believe. 11 tries conceded in the last 3 games isn't great IMO.

We lack leadership on the field and until that's sorted, we'll continue to lose games we should really have won

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:19 pm  

We seem to be lacking a cutting edge in the backs, a bit of pace or a threat to attack teams and look like we will score every time we get into the opponents 20. Hopefully, when Raynor returns, and we start to use Calderwood properly, this will sort itself out.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:20 pm  

Cardiff_05 wrote:

We seem to be lacking a cutting edge in the backs, a bit of pace or a threat to attack teams and look like we will score every time we get into the opponents 20. Hopefully, when Raynor returns, and we start to use Calderwood properly, this will sort itself out.

You been watching the same Raynor and Calderwood as me for the last 2 years!?!??!?!

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:20 pm  

Cardiff_05 wrote:

We seem to be lacking a cutting edge in the backs, a bit of pace or a threat to attack teams and look like we will score every time we get into the opponents 20. Hopefully, when Raynor returns, and we start to use Calderwood properly, this will sort itself out.

I don't think we lack cutting edge in the backs tbh. I think its more that they don't really have the chance to show much skill

[Kosh]

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:25 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

Our attack isn't good enough to turn posession and field position into points. Likewise, our defence isn't as good as some would believe. 11 tries conceded in the last 3 games isn't great IMO.

I'd agree with that, although I think I'd insert the word 'consistently' into the first sentence. We can produce good attacking moves and score points (our 'points for' tally is pretty good so far this season) but we do seem to lack the ability to really put sides under sustained pressure.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:27 pm  

Kosh wrote:

I'd agree with that, although I think I'd insert the word 'consistently' into the first sentence. We can produce good attacking moves and score points (our 'points for' tally is pretty good so far this season) but we do seem to lack the ability to really put sides under sustained pressure.

Well, we have a half back that can't pass right, a centre that won't pass, wingers who don't see the ball and a fullback that knocks on a lot.

'part from that, we're fine!

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:52 pm  

Standee wrote:

Well, we have a half back that can't pass right, a centre that won't pass, wingers who don't see the ball and a fullback that knocks on a lot.

'part from that, we're fine!

our half back can pass right, he just manages to pass it a foot behind our right winger!

FWIW we arent as bad as it feels currently. We were 8 or 9 dropped balls off hammering Cas on Friday!!

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:54 pm  

Big Dave T wrote:

:) our half back can pass right, he just manages to pass it a foot behind our right winger!

FWIW we arent as bad as it feels currently. We were 8 or 9 dropped balls off hammering Cas on Friday!!

we were awful agaist Cas mate!

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:56 pm  

Standee wrote:

we were awful agaist Cas mate!

Have you not read any of my other posts this morning? (and did you not detect the mickey taking in my post)