Fair points Spike but where would we have finished last season without the points deduction ? It's all well and good having good support but you still have to put it together on the pitch and this team are still prone to defeats at Batley and Dewsbury whose support is in the hundreds.
Fair points Spike but where would we have finished last season without the points deduction ? It’s all well and good having good support but you still have to put it together on the pitch and this team are still prone to defeats at Batley and Dewsbury whose support is in the hundreds.
Tbh I have no idea regarding where we would have finished, polarising season, started brilliantly then ended it appallingly.
Would you say the likes of Cook and Jewit replacing the twins would give us a better chance against the likes of Bately and Dews? I am not saying they were to blame but they were part of the problem, a young inexperienced, weak team been bullied around the pitch.
Classy football is usually the aim but there are times, such as at Dewsbury, when conditions aren't suitable and the opposition are determined, that it comes down to rolling up the sleeves and getting stuck in. Not attractive and if it's against your nature not very satisfying.
Our lads don't train on muddy pitches, for instance, whereas Cook and Jewitt know that game.
It will be interesting to see how Jay and Ted handle League 1 pitches over the Pennines. Of course Ottawa mighg sign their own roughnecks yet!
The Chapelhow twins and Tom Gilmore never fulfilled their potential at Widnes and have been given an opportunity to shine in a lower division. Some may well say that they have reached their level. Gilmore was particularly injury prone.
As much as I hope that Ottawa go the same way as TWP - hopefully out of the UK game as soon as possible - I will be interested in seeing how these players fare in League 1. In any event, it is a great opportunity for them to savour the delights of Ottawa (sorry Leigh) and get a decent pay day (provided the club can afford to pay them).
Regarding next season, maybe James can arrange an on-line interview with Tim Sheens to get his views on developments to date, any further signings in the pipe line and his thoughts for the 2021 season (and maybe beyond?).
Quite fascinated by Calum O'Neill.
He looks to be quite an explosive character though a bit on the small size. Certainly not afraid to hit the accelerator, judging by his limited game time to date. TS must think he has something to offer too.
Tom Gilmore is a strange one in many ways, he was always very limited in terms of ability but he had a spell where he looked like he was developing into a decent half back prior to Brown leaving.
A lot will talk about men’s mental health but what was his MH like? He was getting dogs abuse online and on match days, he looked like a completely scared shrimp towards the end of his Widnes career.
We all progress through life either learning throughout or learning enough to survive at least. Rugby, or any game is just a very publicly visible part of that.
Great players never stop learning, others are still making the same mistakes at thirty as they were at twenty. At eighty I still make stupid decisions!
I appreciate your point regarding public criticism and agree that some comments are out of order. I am sure that most players realise their limitations but young players particularly shouldn't be abused. Nobody goes out there to lose.
To me anyone who pulls that shirt on demands respect, the game is too tough for me!
We all progress through life either learning throughout or learning enough to survive at least. Rugby, or any game is just a very publicly visible part of that. Great players never stop learning, others are still making the same mistakes at thirty as they were at twenty. At eighty I still make stupid decisions! I appreciate your point regarding public criticism and agree that some comments are out of order. I am sure that most players realise their limitations but young players particularly shouldn’t be abused. Nobody goes out there to lose. To me anyone who pulls that shirt on demands respect, the game is too tough for me!
Totally agree with all you say SG. Years ago if a player had a bad game you APPROACHED him and told him (yea) and you seen what the consequences were. Nowadays key board warriors can make peoples life a misery. Remember Andy Currier scoring against Bradford and a section of the crowd booing; a great player being ridiculed like that. Tom Gilmore had some great games and scored some good tries like against Catalan and Cas but some on this site continued with abuse that was totally uncalled for to the extreme that he was terrified to go on the pitch. No wonder he wanted away.
Nowadays key board warriors can make peoples life a misery. Remember Andy Currier scoring against Bradford and a section of the crowd booing; a great player being ridiculed like that.
I'd just like to add some context to that Currier incident which crops up on here at regular intervals as well as facebook and Twitter.The game in question was played the same afternoon as Currier's transfer request appeared in that Sunday Morning's papers.He was'nt booed for no reason and before anybody pipes up, no I don't condone it.I never booed myself at the game.Just adding some background to it.
I remember when we played Salford a few years ago, Chamberlin and Burke had just signed for them. I was amazed that our away fans was booing both players, couldn’t fathom a guess why you’d boo a young academy player who wasn’t wanted by Widnes.
Weller Hauaraki now there was a rule masterclass. Brought him in when he clearly didn’t want to be here, exchanged for Burke. IIRC, we played Catalan immediately afterwards and we only had 2 fit props yet we had about 5 backrowers. Subsequently, Matt Whitley a player who never let us down and is having a decent SL career, was lambasted out of the squad and then latterly played as a make shift centre with one game, we had Craven on the wing.
What f****** mess that season was.
Spike Island 90 wrote:
I remember when we played Salford a few years ago, Chamberlin and Burke had just signed for them. I was amazed that our away fans was booing both players, couldn’t fathom a guess why you’d boo a young academy player who wasn’t wanted by Widnes.
I think that was a desperate move on the Widnes part, We gave Salford Burke and Chamberlain in exchange for a loan of Weller Hauaraki for the rest of the season. His signing for HKR for the following season was announced the day after the loan was announced. Why fans should boo Burke and Chamberlain I don’t know, it was Widnes who let them go.
For some reason certain players become the focus of abuse by a small section of spectators. Currier was the subject of constant abuse by a section of the crowd for some reason. Gilmore and Hanbury suffered similar abuse. Guess it is just a part of the game.
Nowadays key board warriors can make peoples life a misery. Remember Andy Currier scoring against Bradford and a section of the crowd booing; a great player being ridiculed like that.
I’d just like to add some context to that Currier incident which crops up on here at regular intervals as well as facebook and Twitter.The game in question was played the same afternoon as Currier’s transfer request appeared in that Sunday Morning’s papers.He was’nt booed for no reason and before anybody pipes up, no I don’t condone it.I never booed myself at the game.Just adding some background to it.
but wasn't the reason for his transfer request to do with his mistreatment by supporters. It’s what I was led to believe
I don't recall that given as a reason, Martin.I don't recall any reason stated at all.The transfer request was quickly withdrawn and Currier played here for a few more seasons after.There was a few jeers and boos in that game after he scored a try but it came from about 200 morons in a crowd of 6000.
I don’t recall that given as a reason, Martin.I don’t recall any reason stated at all.The transfer request was quickly withdrawn and Currier played here for a few more seasons after.There was a few jeers and boos in that game after he scored a try but it came from about 200 morons in a crowd of 6000.
You may be right Sinbad but the reason I remember the incident so vividly was because i was behind the sticks as he put the ball down and his face was like thunder, the rest of the team were quick to congratulate him. 200 morons or not, no need for it for a local lad done good.