I personally do not think our squad is strong enough. In my opinion i don't think we have replaced players like Penky with suitable replacements. I am also still scratching my head as to why we let Aizue go!

Again, i hope im wrong but i think this is going to be a long season for Halifax RLFC

In my humble opinion Aizue did nothing more than our forwards yesterday, but you are right about Penky. We nead someone who can create chances, make a break with pace, perhaps that's Murrell?

Can't blame Penky for wanting to join a bigger club.



Aizue is devastating when he's in the right mood, but that only ever appeared to be for a ten minute spell every three games so I'm sure there are plenty of able replacements?

He didn't or why did he go to Leigh? Needed a couple of years to wind down prior to retirement.

I did think we missed Murrell yesterday. From what I saw of him at Keighley, in his first game for us, he showed real promise and could well be an able replacement for Penky.

As for Aizue, he is nowhere near as devastating as he was and, with all due respect to him, I think it was probably the right time to let him go.

We shouldn't be placing all our eggs in one basket, re Murrell;

IMO we should bench some of the existing half backs (or move them to FB), and get someone in, who is hungry and has some pace and obvious talent, I am thinking about taking a punt on some young aussie, who wont cost us big bucks, but is looking for a break through.

If only we could get Branighan back. I know alot of people will disagree but Ben Black was a match winner and tore us to shreds at times when we last played Batley at home

Aizue was probably released with the future in mind and young Davies will get more game time and become better because of it.

No one could have replaced Penky but it is a good point.
Apart from Penky what I thought of as our X factor players from the Calland era such as him, Blacky,Shad Royston, Miles Greenwood who could make a break at anytime in the game and get us on a roll have all gone now.

Our style of play is not based around that attacking winner takes all approach.

There will be more games like yesterdays where we have to slug it out and as KH mentioned we will have to run harder and tackle harder than the opposition or we won't get the result.

one of the youngsters coming through may be the one to light up the halfback position.
as faxcar says the previous stand out players have all gone so time for a new set to come through.

My brother is sure he spotted Branighan in town earlier which i find strange as he's supposed to be coaching Young Cherrypickers over in Aus.

he is here, was at the game yesterday with ben black, he is here on holiday till the 15th when he goes home,,

Can not comment on your friendly but that is exactly what it was. Friendlies are for players to get a run out and for the coach to see how the pre season is going I know one thing your team looks a very strong one and your pack looks great which is the way KH will like it You will be there at the end of the season challenging for silverware again people who went to Keighley seemed happy enough when it counts the players won't let you down not long now

Im not sure who though. I did think Davies went well yesterday and he looks like a big unit so will be interesting to see if he does get any game time once the season starts. Back to our halfs again I honestly think KH`s downfall may be that he signed both Thackery and Handforth on 2 year deals which is all well and good if they settle and play well together but they have played together for a full season now and its obvious to anyone with half a clue that it isnt working which is a problem because there is no competition for their places and no chance of bringing someone in early to replace them.

I hope they prove me wrong because our season probably hinges a lot on how they perform. Im usually a pretty good judge of a player though.

Our half backs are going to get roasted on here all season. Basically whenever we lose it'll be them that get the flak because they aren't up to the standard of Black and Brannighan and in no way at all make up for the loss of Penky.

Those players were exceptional. What can you do? Who WOULD be good enough to replace them and are readily available?

KH has already admitted Thackray isn't the real deal by touting him as the next big thing at FB.

This tells me he has a number 7 lined up.

Gotta agree with Rich, a theme is developing, if we lose, blame the halfbacks, when we win we dont praise the halfbacks though do we?
Give Dewsbury some credit, they are moving in the right direction, and theres no points on offer pre season.
And as for replacing Penky, there are no players like Penky about, there is only one and hes at Leigh, get over it. Give the new lads a chance, we have an awesome pack, loads of local lads and a backline that will hurt sides if were on the front foot this year. The season hasn't even started and were doomed, i thought it was my job to say those things. Lets back what we have and see Sundays as a day out and a couple of drinks if thats your poison, there'll be highs and lows as every year brings.
If we could sign Jonathan Thurston or lure Lockyer out of retirement im sure we would have

That explains it then cheers

Neither Black nor Penky wanted to leave it were KH choice. When Penky found out we were after Ellis it all kicked off and we ended up with neither, that situation probably wasnt handled well. Not really sure about half backs tbh but I watched the game for long enough to recognize when a half back pairing isnt working.

Yer because we have a strong pack yet the field position gained is not used by the half backs so where else does it go wrong?
Karl likes to mix it up front and wear the opposition down but you also need some creativity and sadly we seem to lack that yesterday, but it was just one game and a pre-season friendly plus credit to Dewsbury they played as if it was a play off game, like going for a drop goal!
The Batley match will tell us more about where we are, if not the Sheffield game certainly will!
We have plenty of other options of players yet to come back like Tonka, Worrincy, Rettie and Nanyn.

They will get roasted... and its not because they are not as good as black etc, but because they are, IMO, a poor partnership, I wouldn't even put them in the top 3 or 4 partnerships in this division. KH has made a mistake, and we dont appear to be looking to change it.

Given the lack of new faces in this area, and I suggest most people wont agree; but I would even try divo for a run as a half back, not sure why, just something I think could be a interesting experiment.

I can see Bowman and Murrell in the halfs too this season.

Bowman can be a good 6.

I just dont see it with Bowman. When I talked about lack of competition it was really he I was refering to. I used to think he would make a good 13 but really he hasnt developed and I cant ever see him been a top half back in this league.

Long season-two friendlies-same old doom and gloom. Nothing won in friendlies-back end of season is what matters. Simply cant win every game.If half backs dont come up trumps early doors then I am sure KH has enough rugby knowledge to make changes.
Give it time.
Keep the faith.