Look at the results since magic weekend (when Brough came back in) where we lost 25-18 but could have gone either way.
Saints A 48-10 Brough targeted ruthlessly.
Leeds H 10-0 no creativity whatsoever from both halves.
Salford A 44-20 again Broughs edge targeted
Hudds H 36-10 vital win against out of sorts Huddersfield improving when Brough went off.
Catalans A 44-10 again Broughs edge ruthlessly targeted
Cas H 36-16 decent game with the boot but again cas targeting Broughs edge with success.
Wigan A 46-16 pathetic enough said.
It's seems to me that Brough hasn't fully recovered from his thumb injury so cannot tackle correctly leading to these one sided games obviously Pauli, lyne & Bishop accountable too. He might be putting his hand up but it's doing us no good.
Brough didn't play at magic, it was Hampshire & Miller together, with Reynolds the one dropped from the week before which was the London debacle, Reynolds hasn't been seen since. I do take your point though, he's been pretty ineffective both in attack and defence. Maybe there is something at the club not being done right as re. recovery from injury, the strength and conditioning of the players in general? It seems to me all the players who have come back from injury seem to be taking ages to get back up to full speed, or seem to play one then miss two? ie MCB, Randell, England. Brough, Ashurst, Miller, Tupou all nowhere near their best after coming back. Not gonna slag Jowitt & Batch too much, but looks like they are going to take ages to get back up to full speed as well. The whole team just looks lethargic and slow, so is it physical or mental.......or a bit of both??
Possibly players rushed back, or putting hands up when they know they're not fit, no reserve games to help get sharp & match fitness. Further knocks etc. I don't think team selection is helping. Eg Crowther a decent defender not selected but Arundel played in 2nd row when he's only just back should have been centre with tupou wing. Also why persist with Pauli? Poor week in & out,too slow and ineffective as an edge defender. Chester doesn't rate or want him so why bother? But fundamentally the basics aren't being done right, and our 1st choice spine 1,6,7,9 simply isn't working.
Possibly players rushed back, or putting hands up when they know they're not fit, no reserve games to help get sharp & match fitness. Further knocks etc. I don't think team selection is helping. Eg Crowther a decent defender not selected but Arundel played in 2nd row when he's only just back should have been centre with tupou wing. Also why persist with Pauli? Poor week in & out,too slow and ineffective as an edge defender. Chester doesn't rate or want him so why bother? But fundamentally the basics aren't being done right, and our 1st choice spine 1,6,7,9 simply isn't working.
The whole Pauli thing has been weird, especially going public with his reasons. I'm sure there is a destructive forward in there who if used right could be a real asset......but his body language and his general demeanour just give off negative vibes, I agree he's persisted with him for long enough now, but maybe he won't be playing anyway after his injury at Wigan.
Don't understand why Arundel and Pauli played on Friday when Hirst and Crowther were fit. Surely Crowther is better than playing a centre in the second row and Hirst although lacking the tackle busting ability of Pauli at least doesn't go missing in defence and is always available to take the ball up and doesn't wander around the pitch as if it's just a Sunday afternoon game if touch and pass
Don't understand why Arundel and Pauli played on Friday when Hirst and Crowther were fit. Surely Crowther is better than playing a centre in the second row and Hirst although lacking the tackle busting ability of Pauli at least doesn't go missing in defence and is always available to take the ball up and doesn't wander around the pitch as if it's just a Sunday afternoon game if touch and pass
Prob better posting before the game starts... Hindsight is a fantastic thing.. Which alot of people possess...
Chris Chester must no by now that Pauli Pauli can't be relied on to defend the line . He is just a turnstile.
It is sad that he could have had so much potential as a prop forward but he is so overweight if he could lose a couple of stone and get on the weights he'd be unstoppable, But sadly he is a turnstile and is targeted accordingly.
Broughty again it's a shame he's been a great player but sadly age and injurers have caught up with him and the same as pauli he is targeted accordingly, He probable would make a great H/B coach if they were a position available at Wakey if not i think he would be better served now a bit like finny with a championship club ie Bfd/Halifax.