News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 1:26 pm  

Dons boss Miller spells it out to squad DONS boss Tony Miller held clear-the-air-talks with his players ahead of last night's training session in the wake of the club's 26-0 Challenge Cup third round defeat by top amateur side Siddal at the weekend. Said Miller: "The players' pride was dented by the defeat, as was mine. If that hadn't have been the case then there would have been something wrong. "I told them that we have to stick together and work hard to try and put thing things right and that only ourselves can dig us out of the hole that we are in. "The players also had an input into what had gone wrong and what we need to do to put things right. It was a good meeting and hopefully we can move on from here. "Obviously confidence is low and we badly need a win - I had been hoping that we would get that against Siddal - but they were the best team on the day. "But without making excuses, we had seven players out and three making their first appearances of the season. Hooker Kyle Kesick, who has joined us on loan from Sheffield Eagles, had only trained with us once. "In saying that I thought Kyle had a good game and I'm sure that he'll prove a good signing for us, as he did last season." Miller was bitterly disappointed at his post-match press conference on Saturday that his side had failed to score. But after studying match footage, he claimed that the Dons were denied three tries. "The video shows quite clearly that all three should have been tries," he said. "The one three minutes before half-time, when it is clear to see that the balll was on the line, was particularly crucial. It would have given us a 6-4 lead, but it wasn't given and they scored a minute before half-time to make it 10-0. "I'm not saying that we would have won, because they played very well, but the score would have been much closer. It is typical of our season so far - nothing is going right for us. "We are having to make changes every week because of injuries and play people out of position, and our cohesion has been hit." Source http://www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/Do ... 6138500.jp

Dons boss Miller spells it out to squad DONS boss Tony Miller held clear-the-air-talks with his players ahead of last night's training session in the wake of the club's 26-0 Challenge Cup third round defeat by top amateur side Siddal at the weekend. Said Miller: "The players' pride was dented by the defeat, as was mine. If that hadn't have been the case then there would have been something wrong. "I told them that we have to stick together and work hard to try and put thing things right and that only ourselves can dig us out of the hole that we are in. "The players also had an input into what had gone wrong and what we need to do to put things right. It was a good meeting and hopefully we can move on from here. "Obviously confidence is low and we badly need a win - I had been hoping that we would get that against Siddal - but they were the best team on the day. "But without making excuses, we had seven players out and three making their first appearances of the season. Hooker Kyle Kesick, who has joined us on loan from Sheffield Eagles, had only trained with us once. "In saying that I thought Kyle had a good game and I'm sure that he'll prove a good signing for us, as he did last season." Miller was bitterly disappointed at his post-match press conference on Saturday that his side had failed to score. But after studying match footage, he claimed that the Dons were denied three tries. "The video shows quite clearly that all three should have been tries," he said. "The one three minutes before half-time, when it is clear to see that the balll was on the line, was particularly crucial. It would have given us a 6-4 lead, but it wasn't given and they scored a minute before half-time to make it 10-0. "I'm not saying that we would have won, because they played very well, but the score would have been much closer. It is typical of our season so far - nothing is going right for us. "We are having to make changes every week because of injuries and play people out of position, and our cohesion has been hit." Source http://www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/Do ... 6138500.jp

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 3:46 pm  

We'll get it right, but it will take time By Carl Hall Midweek At The Dons LET me start by tacking a a few issues right here. Yes we lost to Siddal in the Challenge Cup, but they were a good, well-drilled amateur side. People are asking the question what happened to the side we had in pre-season games? Well it does not take a genius to work out since those games, then a lot of people were getting carried away, we have had a real tough time with long term injuries. This week we had six of our best 13 players sat in the stands with long term injuries and another three making their first start after being out injured since pre-season. Take that many players out of any team and they are going to have it tough. However, we will still not make excuses for the result and we will take it on the chin and get on with it. Another thing to bear in mind is we will not go out and spend money on players putting the business at risk. We are into game six of our business plan which in year one is to secure the finances of the club. We are aware we will take some knocks along the way, but we will also have some fun as well. We must all buy into this and stick together as a group - supporters included - because I can assure you all we will get this right - I'm very confident of that. But it won't happen overnight. We entertain the newly-formed South Wales Scorpions at the Keepmoat Stadiuum on Sunday which will be another tough encounter as they are very lucky to be given some players from their big Super League brothers, the Crusaders. Head coach Tony Miller and myself have tried getting a few players on loan from the big boys, but they all say the same thing: "We will have a think about it and get back to you."' Most of the time you don't even get a call back, so we just have to get on with business and play the cards we have been dealt. Quote: "The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide" so they tell me." Source http://www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/We ... 6138459.jp

We'll get it right, but it will take time By Carl Hall Midweek At The Dons LET me start by tacking a a few issues right here. Yes we lost to Siddal in the Challenge Cup, but they were a good, well-drilled amateur side. People are asking the question what happened to the side we had in pre-season games? Well it does not take a genius to work out since those games, then a lot of people were getting carried away, we have had a real tough time with long term injuries. This week we had six of our best 13 players sat in the stands with long term injuries and another three making their first start after being out injured since pre-season. Take that many players out of any team and they are going to have it tough. However, we will still not make excuses for the result and we will take it on the chin and get on with it. Another thing to bear in mind is we will not go out and spend money on players putting the business at risk. We are into game six of our business plan which in year one is to secure the finances of the club. We are aware we will take some knocks along the way, but we will also have some fun as well. We must all buy into this and stick together as a group - supporters included - because I can assure you all we will get this right - I'm very confident of that. But it won't happen overnight. We entertain the newly-formed South Wales Scorpions at the Keepmoat Stadiuum on Sunday which will be another tough encounter as they are very lucky to be given some players from their big Super League brothers, the Crusaders. Head coach Tony Miller and myself have tried getting a few players on loan from the big boys, but they all say the same thing: "We will have a think about it and get back to you."' Most of the time you don't even get a call back, so we just have to get on with business and play the cards we have been dealt. Quote: "The lowest ebb is the turn of the tide" so they tell me." Source http://www.thestar.co.uk/rugbyleague/We ... 6138459.jp

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 3:53 pm  

A number of fans I have talked to , had stated Tony deserves this season to prove his worth with his squad.

However , this has been forgotton after the Rochdale & Siddal games .

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:21 pm  

Well said Carl. Now is the time to stand firm. COYD !

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 4:42 pm  

I think i will keep my comments to myself. but yes we will be there on Sunday.

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 5:00 pm  

I was obviously waiting for the wrong news.!!

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 8:49 pm  

We must all buy into this and stick together as a group - supporters included - because I can assure you all we will get this right - I'm very confident of that.

i think we have heard this so many times before,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
when i was a director with the club the one thing i learned was that no one will put up with paying good money to watch a team that is not up to it,

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:18 pm  

slowwalkinprop wrote:

I was obviously waiting for the wrong news.!!

Re: News : Wed Mar 10, 2010 10:42 pm  

donnylad wrote:

i think we have heard this so many times before,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
when i was a director with the club the one thing i learned was that no one will put up with paying good money to watch a team that is not up to it,

There has to be evidence of getting it right......anything else is just hot air.
Currently there is no evidence.....
If rubbing along is the plan B.....with no timescale attached ....no short term, medium term aims and plans in place.....apart from a nebulous long term plan of 'we will get it right'.....then that is, I would suggest, not a good business plan.
I accept that injuries have crippled us and that a fully fit squad probably would compete.....but by the time that happens another season will have come and gone with abject failure.
In other words if nothing is done personnel-wise then what we've had is what we'll get.
How on earth can that side that played those two dreadful games become good?
It would take a complete transformation in fitness and mind-set to achieve that....something I would love to witness....but it would need a complete change of ethos.
We will see......but I can't see where that will come from.
COYD
And also what fans can't accept is that there are good players out there that can be brought onboard to change things.....a team of them just stuffed us Saturday FFS. How much would a team like that cost?

Re: News : Thu Mar 11, 2010 12:04 am  

I was laughing at this, yes some may acuse me of being a part time fan, you try getting from St Louis to Doncaster to watch games on a regular basis. Heard this garbage before sorry losing to an amateur team is not acceptable however well drilled they are an however many injuries we have. 22 games without a win time for excuses over time ofr action starts, I don't have the answer I haven't seen them in a while but I can imagine how bad it must be. Tony the team should be ashamed nothing else than that ASHAMED to have a Dons shirt on. I will be there in April to see the only rugby team I have ever supported and will support I hope you put on a better performance than the last one.