: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:21 am  

Mild Rover wrote:

That's a fair comment. We've marshalled our resources well this year, done the basics well and had good cohesion. We've got a handful of very good players and the whole squad works really hard. Against most teams in the league that gives you a decent chance. Against Leeds, when they get into their stride, it still usually isn't enough.
Even with a full squad on form it'd have been an uphill struggle tonight. As they sing there 'that's why they're champions'. They are a great team and that is the level we all have to aspire to.

No shame in losing at Headingly in the playoffs. The fact that you were playing there is enough. Rovers IMHO, are not a great side, but have a good coach and players who are going to be committed to the cause and play for each other.
When Hull decided they would be bothered this season (maybe twice!) we actually looked half decent.
You might win next week, but that will be the end of it for another season. Saints and Leeds in the final again.

[Mild Rover]

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:43 am  

Mrs Barista wrote:

I think you're under-calling it there, personally. Makes it sound like Rovers are a workmanlike side when you've played some great stuff.

Morgan is the key to it all. What he is able to create through selection, playing players seemingly out of position and getting them to deliver at this level, and creating excellent gameplans is brilliant - he is the most canny coach in SL. I've lost track of who you might play next, but hope it's Wakefield as this will be a great coaching contest - Kear's the next best tactician to Morgan for me and an excellent one-off game coach. Neither have sparkling squads on paper, but both wring out every last ounce of what they've got.

Good post. We have shown some class on occaision, from Dobson, Briscoe, Galea, Newton, more sporadically from Cooke and from one or two others. The efforts of the slightly more workmanlike players - Netherton, Colbon and Lovegrove, have really made the team more than the sum of its parts though, IMO.
Leeds in comparison ooze class. Most teams have maybe 3 or 4 players capable of turning a game, the Rhinos have 8 or 9. They are also more than the sum of their very impressive parts - strong in defence and with great understanding in attack. They ran an, admittedly somewhat makeshift, HKR team ragged in the second half. We had whole sets where we went about 10 metres with ball in hand - I can't recall that happening before this year, in the games I've seen.
I agree with you about a potential Rovers-Wildcats tie - could be a really good contest.

[Mild Rover]

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:00 am  

hull smallears wrote:

No shame in losing at Headingly in the playoffs. The fact that you were playing there is enough. Rovers IMHO, are not a great side, but have a good coach and players who are going to be committed to the cause and play for each other.
When Hull decided they would be bothered this season (maybe twice!) we actually looked half decent.
You might win next week, but that will be the end of it for another season. Saints and Leeds in the final again.

Yes, I think Rovers have really fulfilled their potential so far this year. Same goes for Huddersfield and Wakefield. I think several teams, including Hull, have similar potential and could do well in 2010. Doing it isn't easy but with hard work and, in fairness, a bit of luck it is achievable. I'm not sure getting to Leeds' level is. The play-off format gives other teams half a chance at least - and they might eventually fall off their perch in a Bradford stylee. We can but hope
Hope Hudds give Saints a good game today and ideally beat them - I don't want another Saints vs Leeds final, personally.

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:40 am  

Mild Rover wrote:

Leeds in comparison ooze class. Most teams have maybe 3 or 4 players capable of turning a game, the Rhinos have 8 or 9. They are also more than the sum of their very impressive parts - strong in defence and with great understanding in attack.

The impressive thing about Leeds this year is that they've won the league pretty easily with big name players like Burrow and Buderus being disappointing and Eastwood not getting a visa.

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 12:03 pm  

Absolutely loved it last night HA ha ha ha

Backed Leeds at 1/4 with £400 - EASY £100 FOR ME as it was last weekend at Belle Vue !!!!!
Should be Saints or Wigan at home next week and £££ time again for me , oh and the bonus of Drovers losing !!!

That's what you get for finishing 4th not 3rd - don't worry about FC , you can't have the sweet without the sour and I know we will be in a major final before 2011.

[Mild Rover]

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:05 pm  

Tarquin Fuego wrote:

Should be Saints or Wigan at home next week and £££ time again for me , oh and the bonus of Drovers losing !!!. That's what you get for finishing 4th not 3rd

Might be Wigan, if they beat Cas and Catalans beat Wakefield. Definately won't be Saints. The play-off format has changed this year - for example Hull would had to have finished only 4 places higher than they did to qualify.

Tarquin Fuego wrote:

don't worry about FC ,

I won't - I'll worry about Wakefield/Wigan/Cas

Tarquin Fuego wrote:

you can't have the sweet without the sour and I know we will be in a major final before 2011.

That'd be 2010 then. You'll want longer than 1/4 for that, I imagine.

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 2:20 pm  

This thread is pi$$ing me off. Can all the Hull fans bugger off back to their board as the cheerleaders thread has stalled. Simply not good enough!

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:13 pm  

blakeysrobin wrote:

This thread is pi$$ing me off. Can all the Hull fans bugger off back to their board as the cheerleaders thread has stalled. Simply not good enough!

Don't be too hard on them, this is the highlight of their season .

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 3:19 pm  

tiger2000 wrote:

Don't be too hard on them, this is the highlight of their season .

Harsh. Admittedly the Briers drop goal was up there.

: Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:05 pm  

Mrs Barista wrote:

Harsh. Admittedly the Briers drop goal was up there.