Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Sat Jun 22, 2019 8:35 pm  

As much as we hoped we’d be able to impose ourselves on this division as the start of the season (with higher class help from Hull), that’s clearly not been the case. Most of the teams in this league are of similar ability, being able to beat each other on their day.

Newcastle looked very good in the first half today and deserved their lead. Gritty determination got us back into the game; all credit to the players for sticking at it. In the end the result could have gone either way even though we finished on the wrong end of it.

Jez Litten provided an extra spark and showed his class along with a good performance from Beryl. Sam Doherty took his tries very well. Across the field though, Newcastle were more than a match for us.

If we disregard Keighley’s points’ deduction, we’re now 8th out the 11 teams in the league. The league table certainly doesn’t make good reading.

We’ve potentially got a little bit of respite in the next two league games, playing Coventry and West Wales, unless the Wednesday night game against Sheffield drains our tank leaving us vulnerable at Coventry next Saturday.

There’s not much scope left for losing games if we want to get in the top five. Wins against Oldham and Workington (both away) will probably be critical, along with a home win against rivals London. Anything less could see the pack pull away.

I’m sure there will be many more twists and turns before the end of the season but there’s much to be done to even get in the play-offs, never mind feel we’re capable of winning them. To put a positive spin on it, we are capable of beating anyone in this league on our day so promotion can’t be ruled out; to put a realistic spin on it, we’re probably no better than any of the teams above us either.

Edit: Thanks to Weighman (Paul) updating me, I now know the top six make the play-offs, not the top five as I had previously believed (see the separate thread I started on the 2019 play-off rules for full details).

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Sat Jun 22, 2019 9:45 pm  

At the end of the day we paid a chunk of our money to Hull fc to have up to 5 decent players on dr and yet several times we’ve heard of players refusing to play and others we have had then going out on loan to other clubs despite this “special arrangement “ the running of the club is ridiculous but the BS that the management shout is absolutely amazing, how long can we continue doing so badly in a very poor division before the owners wake up and smell the coffee

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Sat Jun 22, 2019 10:16 pm  

To be fair, I don't think the quality of this league is bad. We're not a bad side.

As Workington have similarly found out from where they finished last year, the other teams have caught up, and probably moved ahead of both of us.

We've failed to improve sufficiently to take control of this division; that is what is most disappointing.

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:05 am  

Monday morning and the RL Express is about to drop through the letterbox and I really don't want to bloody read it.
I am reminded of that bloody woefully amateurish, inept performance at HOME at FEATHERSTONE.

If you want to take the view that the lads did well and fought back well to lose by a point and it could have gone either way, then good luck to you ... we fecking LOST.

A game eminently winnable to a professional outfit, but once again we did a Hunslet, a North Wales and to some extent a Keighley ... 4 games that would have seen us top this division.
Hardly garbage, but certainly not professional.
All 4 games were there for the taking.
Only one person at fault.

I don't see a machine when I watch the Dons, I see a bunch of, in the main, committed lads hoping for the best.
I never got that impression with Newcastle ... they looked like they had a plan and irrespective of how good they were or not individually, they seemed that each knew his job and his part in the whole team set up.
No mavericks, nobody just going through the motions, everybody focused on the job of winning the game.

Whereas we are too reliant on bits of individual flair and if it doesn't happen we get beat.
Not ruthless enough, not organised enough, not professional enough.
Why oh why do I watch this stuff run by Billy-no-mates?
Hope springs eternal ...

On a positive note Armitage was brilliant under the high ball. Did naff all else like, but then was never put into a position were he could have a run.
Mind you he was playing with a centre who had a mare.
Nothing good came down our right ... nothing!

Why I bother, or Mike or anyone who writes more than one line bothers I don't know ... catharsis I suppose.
Much easier and certainly less problematic to write 'well done lads, be very proud, onwards and upwards'.

"So why don't you?"
Just covering anticipated replies there...
lol

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Mon Jun 24, 2019 6:25 am  

Yes, I’d forgotten about Armitage.

Have to agree, looked capable enough under the high stuff.

Only time I remember him with ball in hand was driving it out of defence.

He was never used as an attacking threat, I don’t think he even touched the ball in the first 20 minutes of the match.

[Jemmo]

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Mon Jun 24, 2019 7:58 am  

I thought he looked good in defence but slow and lethargic as the game went on (I don;t know how used to playing a full 80 minutes with an up and down defensive line)

Re: Newcastle Thunder (Home) - Saturday 22 June 2019 12:30 : Mon Jun 24, 2019 5:08 pm  

Brandon Douglas ... ?
Never played.
Bastas? ... wasting his time.
RH? ... wasting our time.