4 or 5 injuries would be catastrophic given the squad we took into this season.
I still don't understand how we arrived at that starting point but anyway the performances over the last few weeks have been better. Fair play to the players and the coach for that. Fingers and toes crossed we don't suffer further injuries and for the rest of the season. We look a mid table side my hopes for a push towards the play offs would realistically be focussed on recruitment in the off season and into next season.
Trouble is "hard luck" losses are still losses and if they mount up it's a slippery slope. Although we played pretty well on Sunday and had it not been for Jacks brain fart, before half time we could have been relatively comfortable, sadly after that we never were, despite holding the lead several times. We need to put the game to bed if we can against Sheffield as soon as we can and not risk another late comeback. My first game live since they wound up the previous season and I was impressed by the improvement from the previous league performances that I'd seen the highlights of. Hopefully our loanee hooker will be back to give us that extra zip and drive!
Agree, hoping O’Neill is back. Think we would likely have won if he had played on Sunday and that’s not a criticism of Lewis Else who had a decent game.
We also need Grady to pass his head test and be availab le, we missed his defense in the middle last week.
Agree, hoping O’Neill is back. Think we would likely have won if he had played on Sunday and that’s not a criticism of Lewis Else who had a decent game.
Yes - he's in the squad. Spedding still out.
Else hasn't let us down and shows up well considering his lack of experience. Edges tackle to drive the London full back into touch was impressive too. A great deal to build on if we hold onto them.
Time for a plan and get lads committed sooner rather than later. A number of late signings being made atm, we can't afford to be left behind.
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30 years since we lost at home to Sheffield...
We will need to keep an eye on Thackery all the time.
He will need to keep an eye on our forwards
Major focus is to finish moves clinically! No brain farts !!!!!
More often that not an awkward game against Sheffield who I always think are well coached by Aston.
As for Thackeray, he has been doing the same stuff since he played for us over 10 years ago (albeit very well in the main!): we were hopeless at dealing with him in the 1895 Final, you would hope we have learnt from that!
No daft sin-binnings and a more ruthless approach close to the tryline should see us win IMO.
There’s certainly a stark (if unsurprising) difference between our record against the top and bottom half sides. Excluding Cup games we have won three, drawn one and lost one against teams in the bottom half. Played 4 and lost 4 against top half teams. Remaining games v bottom half teams are – Sheffield (H) Dewsbury (A) Whitehaven (A) Oldham (H) Swinton (A) Win these and we won’t go down. But as you say, we badly need some points against the decent sides. Top half fixtures to come – Bradford (A) Halifax (A) Featherstone (H) London (A) Batley (H) York (A) Halifax (H) Bradford (H) I would say we have some tough games ahead, with 8 out of 13 against top half sides. Hence why I think making the playoffs could be a tall order. Batley and Halifax at home look our best chances in that list and they certainly are not gimmes.
To be honest with our current squad & assuming we will get injuries from time to time I can only realistically see 6 or 7 more wins for us this year. However that should see us finish above the drop zone which I know is not where we want to ideally be . Let us just enjoy watching the individual games & stop torturing ourselves with unrealistic hopes. The people running the club now have the interest of our club at heart unlike the previous lot but their job with limited resources is difficult. People should appreciate that & that our task to gradually improve will not be an instant fix. IMO it is unreasonable to expect a club that has been close to extinction within the last 2 years to be ready to beat everyone before them.
Well we will move at least one place up if we win, so that's a start.....
Totally agree with GeoffW. Well said. Do our best in each game, put in the effort, make it as entertaining as we can and fans will be appreciative.
Light in forwards with Cook and Farnworth missing today. Again moe evidence for a better forward/team depth - surely Doro would fit the bill???