It is.Have to say Hardaker has started the season a shadow of the player who won MOS. I can't recall a line break yet, it seems like he is trying too hard to be involved in everything and he is no creative force that much is clear and he stifling a lot of our plays especially in the opposition red zone. He needs to get back to doing what he did best last year which was being a rock at the back and elusive in his kick return game.

Last year we had two half backs I think he is trying and failing to help the team. It would be burrow and sutty doing that which they aren't. I think when mags gets back we should look a little better hopefully

What I'm struggling to understand with hardaker at the minute, is the amount of times we're seeing a guy who is judged to be safe as houses under the bomb and solid on the kick return, continuously look to his wingers to catch a kick that his coming towards him, which they then struggle to reach, it just doesn't make any sense.

I haven't read through the comments on here yet, but imo we were kept in the game largely by child's and his touch judge at times, I was in the corner for that last try of the first half and couldn't believe we got away with that forward pass from Walters.

Where do I even begin with Galloway, we didn't get going at all until he went off in the first half, absolute penalty machine, I'd try him off the bench or not at all at the minute, mullally seems a far better option.

Brian Mac highlighted in his interview that the forwards looked like they'd been playing 3/4s of a season not a quarter, maybe the penny still didn't drop with him that may be something to do with his interchange policy?

I agree, but at least he's trying. Is it too much to ask Sutty or Burrow to at least try a last tackle kick close to the line, have we even forced a drop out this year? Burrow should be doing it as the senior half, and I'd rather see Sutty try and fail than not try at all.

I have to admit it's Watkins that's really annoying me at the minute, looks a shadow of his former self, and only so much of that can be blamed on those around him, Moon still looks quality despite the teams failings.

barely noticed moon in attack last night

Firstly, what an entertaining game. Two sides who were desperate for a win and it showed.
On the main issues:
The referee - he's the worst of a pretty bad bunch at the moment. However, he isn't biased. His is just incompetent. However, I think his biggest mistakes went in Leeds' favour, in that Hardaker knocked on at the start of your long range try, and he disallowed the McShane try that clearly wasn't forward. I do think in general play Cas got some undeserved penalties, particularly a couple of time when we clearly just dropped the ball and he gave us a penalty.
Injuries - it is clear you miss McGuire's influence and direction. However, remember that we had a number of first-choice players missing (Shenton, Roberts, Dorn, Holmes, Cook) who would have strengthened our team too (and meant the unsless Ryan Boyle didn't have to play).
All in all, I thought we deserved to edge the game.

There was the total reckless head shot from Mcshane on Burrow.

Galloway had a few pens for high tackles, arm hit shoulder slipped to head. I have no issue with those being pens. But to not penalise Mcshane in the middle of that run of head high penalties against Leeds is just baffling.

Leeds did get a few moments of luck but in general Child is (for both teams) shocking.

I take your point, but was talking more about the season as a whole. I also thought his defence was excellent.

if, as flex wheeler suggests, that last night was castleford's cup final, then I think they should now look elsewhere. after all they have beaten the whinging rhinos in the last three meetings including two at headingley.
BMD is right, cas did not deserve the first two tries,.......THEY EARNED THEM. have some humility Brian. I heard he didn't stop to see the cup presented after the game !!

Too stubborn is brian. Sutty/burrow create nothing in 2nd half while lilley sits on bench all night! Plus singo/garbutts no show again adds to the misery. Im convinced that just 1 try in that 2nd n we win at a canter. But hasnt got the b@lls to change things or trust lilley

Child was poor, got some very obvious ones wrong (hardaker strip had two men in the tackle for literally seconds before the strip, the 2nd defender even had time to come out of the tackle, then go back in before it was stripped, i dont know how you miss that?) for both sides. I wouldnt agree that Leeds benefited more, Cas only got sustained field position on the back of a string of penalties which led to their 1st and 3rd tries, and a few times he invented a couple when leeds had great field position.

regardless of that, we had more than enough opportunities to win and made far too many dumb decisions and executed poorly. We dont look as fit as usual, we dont look quick, but i think there is a lot of improvement to come for us, i think we might get something out of this year.

The main issues for me;

- we lose the collision in defence nearly every tackle, teams get a roll on 'up the guts' which leaves us scrambling, giving away yardage and penalties and generally leaves us gassed
- Only 1 big man on the bench, with Galloway as a starting prop, we simply haven't got enough heavy artillery, meaning Cuthbo has to do far too much grunt (as well as being our best playmaker, which is a tad embarrassing)
- Halves simply having no control. As many have said, Sutcliffe waits for the game to come to him, Burrow is not in good form. Burrow has shown his best role for the team now is as an impact sub, start Lilley (who's at least goes looking for the ball and takes some ownership) and bring Burrow off the bench..
- Speed and Strength. We simply don't look as strong or sharp as other teams individually.
- Watkins is another with a tendency to wait for the game to come to him, and as a team, we're not giving him any good ball.
- We look like a team in constant panic mode

Oh, and Child was his usual self, unpredictable and garbage decisions all round. No bias towards any team, not the reason for a loss, just completely out of sync with what actually happens in a game of rugby. But, you kind of know that when Child is named as the ref he's going to ruin the game wherever possible, so as a team you need to put in a performance that is good enough to take him out of the equation. If you're not playing particularly well, and he's reffing, you know the players will end up frustrated, and that's when Child comes into his element. I think he gets his kicks out of making decisions to wind players up - power trip! Makes him feel all strong and empowered being able to boss around the big, muscly, manly, men and them not be able to do anything about it...

Correct. JJB made 44 tackles, 20 carries and 141 metres and no errors. If only other senior players were playing with the same heart we could have ground out a win. But the glaring weakness is game management and no creative halfback. With Mags back we should see an improvement but we have no real cover for him so we need to recruit a Cooper Cronk.

Our succes for the last 12 years as been down to shrewd recruitment, some great bargain bucket signings and our great junior production line, and a tight wage bill/pay structure. Well the production line is in a minor slump and the shrewd signings have been poor. Sometimes you have to bust the budget and get the cheque book out. Wether that is this season or next off season, but we have to spend some money, for once.

With two new stands to pay for I wouldn't hold your breath.

What worries me is when you listening to the player interviews after the game there talking like there not far off but in my opinion there a million miles away from not being far off

We are miles off where we were last year. But we aren't far from having won at least 3 more games this year (Wire, Catalan and Cas). In that sense we aren't a million miles off.

you are right, but the thing is if we had got one of the scores in the second half we should have done we would have probably won the game and been talking of a well ground out win and a chance to now get on a good run. Our big names are clearly not firing at the moment, we desperately need McGuire back to control things from half back because it is like a rudderless ship at the minute.When we do which should be soon, if we can tidy some of the basics up (around the ruck and silly dropped ball) and stop giving away silly penalties that should go a long way to seeing a big improvement.If Not, panic!

Oh, come on. It's nigh on impossible [inot[/i to tackle that short-stop round the laughing-tackle (much as I hate the little bugger, I have to admit he is rather good, though).I pitty any game that has that waste of space officiating.
Not seen any of your game yet, but sounds interesting, at the very least.
What a wierd season we're having

I think what I was wanting to hear is what Jon Wilkin said after saints defeat against us ,we will have to wait and see if his captains speech worked when they play the pies this afternoon.

For all the guff our halves are getting at the moment I'd take pretty Mitch anyone over Luke Walsh. Not only can he not tackle, he completely ducked out of two attempts today (one a lame attempt at drawing an obstruction penalty when he could have definitely stopped a try) and I don't think I've seen him take a tackle yet.

The kit lady should save some money and not bother cleaning his whiter than white shirt.

I find it amusing that you think an iffy 2 on 1 strip was more of a benefit than a blatant knock on by hardacre in the lead up to Leeds' second try and an equally blatant forward pass for their third! Leeds may have found themselves in good positions, but they created virtually nothing and Cas rarely looked troubled. The real benefit though was Cas having so many influential players out as with them the game would've been over by half time.

there was nothing iffy about it. It was so blatant, so clear, so obvious a 2 on 1 strip that it managed to be two 2 on 1 strips.

i do find it amusing that even in victory your small village mentality shines through.

Ha ha! Big city bitterness oozing out mate! I'm sure you've enjoyed the sweetness of the recent successes so take the defeat on the chin.

Looks like you've got another opportunity to learn how to take defeat graciously!

Not today mate, we had absolutely everything from the ref. I have never seen such biased reffing in Leeds favour before. We lost because we are cr@p, and that is it. Every team must want to play us at the moment. We are championship standard at best.