Lawton might be more effective used off the bench,playing a couple of 15-20 minute spells. Obviously we haven't had enough fit forwards to have that luxury so far but I reckon he might just do more damage used in that way.
There is a huge gulf between full-time squads and part-time. I think that needs to be appreciated. Let alone a part-time squad that’s decimated with injuries. Salford scored 40 of their points in two very brief spells, which made the scoreline a lot heavier. I think there’s some grave overreactions, and people seem to think other Championship sides get better and better every week. Reality of the situation is our aim is the play-offs. There’s nothing to suggest we won’t be in the mix for the play-offs. Getting beat by Salford does absolutely nothing whatsoever to change that. If any one of Baker, Farnworth and Tomkins played last week, we’d have beat Newcastle. I thought Jewitt did well. If he can stay fit, then he will be a good addition. Felt a bit sorry for Tyrer who having played part-time Championship centre for a decade, was chucked in at back-row against full-time forwards. The biggest issue remains at hooker, and it seems that this will be resolved shortly. However, I think given the current situation you have to cut the club some slack – there’s barely any movement in the market, SL clubs are reluctant to release players, and Leigh have recruited very late which has taken some others out of the market. We need to get Lyons out of the firing line in the middle and he could well put some pressure on the two half-backs for a starting spot. I wish we could find a way to wind Adam Lawton up and getting him running and tackling his weight, him and Grady in the back-row should be a handful for any team in Champ. Players missing today that will hopefully be back next week: Baker, Farnworth, Cook, Dwyer, Doro + AN other. Maybe O’Neill and Hatton too?
I’m not sure it is the biggest issue.
Our prop forwards are the biggest issue for me. Firstly, we haven’t got enough of them. Secondly, they won’t stay fit for the whole season and thirdly they’re all too alike. There’s nobody who is big and will make an impact off the bench.
Not sure why anyone is disappointed or surprised.That scoreline was was always on the cards.Weak team Widnes, even at Championship level.
The squad was thin going into the season.
We have been unlucky with injuries and covid. But this is Rugby League you always get injuries.
I hope they have a plan.
The players looked thoroughly dis-heartened at the end.
Daniel Hill did well. Looks ready for Championship Rugby.
This is where we are folks
Keep your eyes on the top tier of the sport, because we will never, ever get there in our life time!
Look at the state of our halves, one looks like buster blood vessel and the other one wished he was Joe Mellor!
reckon
reckon
The funding gulf makes transfer from the Championship to SL ever more difficult and virtually impossible to manage in one season without a quite major bank balance available.
We are well below that level atm and there seem to be efforts to encourage sponsorship to swell our funds.
The shortage of possible recruits looks likely to get worse if academy units become expensive luxuries for Championship sides.
Who is the hooker we are signing then?
There is a huge gulf between full-time squads and part-time. I think that needs to be appreciated.
Well I never.Thanks for pointing it out.
There is a huge gulf between full-time squads and part-time. I think that needs to be appreciated. Let alone a part-time squad that’s decimated with injuries. Salford scored 40 of their points in two very brief spells, which made the scoreline a lot heavier. I think there’s some grave overreactions, and people seem to think other Championship sides get better and better every week. Reality of the situation is our aim is the play-offs. There’s nothing to suggest we won’t be in the mix for the play-offs. Getting beat by Salford does absolutely nothing whatsoever to change that. If any one of Baker, Farnworth and Tomkins played last week, we’d have beat Newcastle. I thought Jewitt did well. If he can stay fit, then he will be a good addition. Felt a bit sorry for Tyrer who having played part-time Championship centre for a decade, was chucked in at back-row against full-time forwards. The biggest issue remains at hooker, and it seems that this will be resolved shortly. However, I think given the current situation you have to cut the club some slack – there’s barely any movement in the market, SL clubs are reluctant to release players, and Leigh have recruited very late which has taken some others out of the market. We need to get Lyons out of the firing line in the middle and he could well put some pressure on the two half-backs for a starting spot. I wish we could find a way to wind Adam Lawton up and getting him running and tackling his weight, him and Grady in the back-row should be a handful for any team in Champ. Players missing today that will hopefully be back next week: Baker, Farnworth, Cook, Dwyer, Doro + AN other. Maybe O’Neill and Hatton too?
James I thought Doro was only on a 2 week loan? Is it rolling on then? Have you heard something definite from the club regarding a hooker then? Not expecting you to reveal a name.
We started with a centre & full back in the back row, and a second rower at prop.
The pack was too weak and got exploited. I don’t think this game will have any baring on how we go this season
Who is the hooker we are signing then?
Bringing Cam Smith out of retirement!
We are in a mess.
We have a 26 man squad of which including those who have gone away and come back (Shane Grady, Adam Lawton etc.) 16 came through our Academy. Dereck Pike and Leon Price in Our League Commentary kept talking about our Academy but that has gone now. Daniel Hill, Ollie Brooks are unless players who have left our Academy return are likely to be the last from that model. The Club spent more than a decade working on a model / system for the which the benefits would only accrue after a considerable time. That was ended mainly due to gross mismanagement by our old board (James Rule) but also due to a lack of support from Super League (not wanting to fund Category 1 Academies outside of Super League in the Heartlands) but we are where we are.
It would nice to know what the new model will be. You can run category 3 Academies without Super League Funding in conjunction with local colleges. Salford run a Category 3 Academy. I think Newcastle loaned Hooker Connor Burgess from Salford Cat 3 Academy. I think Widnes Vikings have / had a Girls effectively Cat 3 Academy in conjunction with Cronton College. Warrington have a Cat 1 Academy with Super League Funding but also a Cat 3 Academy in conjunction with Priestly College (in Warrington).
The Club will do what they will but as a fan it would be good to know what our new model will be then hopefully we can get behind it. York and Fev with their models conceding 26 and 34 against what are likely to be 2 top Super League sides this year was in my high view highly creditable. To concede 68 against that Salford Side, lets call a spade a spade is diabolical.
You lost me at models but have to agree about conceding 68.No matter if it's part time v full time,one on one tackles in RL is basic stuff.Very weak team this.
Swinton putting up a fight against Wire: 8-26 with about 12 mins left.....interesting comparison.
Watching the post-match with Finnigan, he said nearly everyone should be available for Dewsbury. If we lose to them, it will be panic time. I think we will win though.
Swinton putting up a fight against Wire: 8-26 with about 12 mins left…..interesting comparison. Watching the post-match with Finnigan, he said nearly everyone should be available for Dewsbury. If we lose to them, it will be panic time. I think we will win though.
There’s no excuses next weekend- we’ve got to win and it’s got to be convincing. Fed up of hearing excuses.