I thought we played well after last 2 weeks hard game next week don't expect us to win that one but confident we will beat fax in cup

Nothing in the match, but the Fax winning try was a soft one to concede. There had to be a game where we ran out of steam after a tough few weeks. I thought we definitely lacked a bit energy in attack and seemed reliant on kicks to the corner. I think the Oakes/Fogg side looks vulnerable in defence. What has happened to the likes of Gibson?

Bit of pressure on now heading to Fev next week to keep pace with the top 5 chasing teams. It will take a very good performance to win there especially given Chisholm is guaranteed to have a good game.

As mentioned. We weren't far off and we had the opportunity to score points in the second half but couldn't find the last play. That terrible pass on the left side and letting the drop goal go near are own 20 killed some momentum's as has been said. We were asserting pressure at that point. I wish we would mix the kicking game up a bit. Try a grubber kick from time to time as we always go high. We don't have to score everytime by plucking it out of the air.

For me the flanks look vulnerable in the air. Neither have gr at catching or positional ability and I'm just waiting for Ethan Ryan and one of the wingers to collide when going for a ball.

Anyway, at 1-1 in the fixtures Vs Fax it certainly sets up the Challenge Cup QF nicely.

Here's hoping we are a bit fresher and well drilled.

Agreed with others. Think we just ran out of steam. Mentally just as much as physically. I didn't think we played bad and there was plenty of effort there. I just thought we made some tired choices (Wildie trying to barge over on the last tackle)

Their last try was poor considering we had plenty of time to get set. Crossley making a bad call.

Despite scoring tries, I thought our wingers were poor. Knock-ons and failed to catch high kicks all night. Why he kept kicking high when it didn't work all night god only knows. We grubbered once and got a drop-out.

One to take on the chin. Can't see us winning Fev with them playing well and at home, and them probably smarting from 2 1-point defeats against us. No need to panic. Everyone's capable of beating each other as proved already.

Does anyone know why we were plying in a shirt that had the Coral Challenge Cups sponsors patches on the sleeves rather than Bet Fred Campionship ones?

You lot are far too kind, we were awful with ball in hand . Absolutely awful. Halifax will watch that back and be furious at conceding the two tries we scored - so poor is our attack that we hadn't even created any space or overlap for our wingers, they were just poor 1 on 1 efforts by the Fax defenders.
I didn't count a single offload until the last ten minutes when we were chasing the game. Our kicking game is absolutely atrocious, what is the point in throwing these bombs up and then not contesting them? It's the same thing every set - 5 boring drives and then pass it to Milnes for a pointless bomb that goes far too deep.

We have to get some new halves for next season, we can't carry on with these two. I am convinced that Lilley will end up at hooker. If Flanagan is not retained I can definitely see us going with Wildie/Lilley/Doyle as our hookers.
I'm not even sure Milnes is a half back, I think he'd make a pretty decent loose forward once he fills out a bit.

You are a typical John Kear side and I should imagine its pretty boring to watch every week. You are right about the offloads and you looked far more dangerous in that last ten minutes than you did all the game once the reigns had been taken off. Same goes for Lilley, he just has not moved forward with his development and Ive said elsewhere you may have won that game with Chisolm in the halves. I bet most people could name 10 better half backs in this league at the moment.

Agree with many comments regarding our standard of play in attack. The final play of our sets, particularly, would cause me concern as their coach. Too easy for opponents to read our plays and deal with them. As has been said, high bombs with no pressuring runners, or speculative kicks into the corner (without a waiting Ethan Ryan to collect) are proving ineffective.
In terms of the result, since there's little to choose between the two teams, skill-wise, it was always going to be difficult to win this one. The effect of 2 high profile games in 2 weeks would have tested far superior teams to ours.
A bigger concern for me than the Fax match, is the one next week with Fev. After watching the "Chizzy Show" yesterday, and the overall speed of Fev, I really can't see us coming away with a win. Let's hope he overplays and ends up running down cul de sacs

Leeds were haunted by Jordan Lilley last weekend. Perhaps the ghost of Dane Chisholm will haunt the Bulls next weekend. The thing with Chisholm is confidence. If he’s playing well, the team play well. When he’s lacking in confidence the team is usually rudderless (which we have witnessed first hand). JK will know all of his flaws and should be exploiting them next week.

Were they really though? Lilley did nothing against Leeds other than that floated pass to Grant. Milnes sets up three tries and kicks a few goals but Lilley gets all the plaudits because it was against Leeds. To even hint at suggesting we won that match thanks to Lilley is laughable.

I'm not sure how many of you watched the Fev v York game yesterday but Featherstone were red hot in all aspects of their game.

Agree 100%. Awful. Grinding out wins against Leeds is a fantastic achievement BUT as has already been said, the style of play is awful to watch.

I think its affecting attendances too, and for sure the Summer Bash turnout (while good) was lower than in the past so we are losing spectators for some reason.

Featherestone were on fire as were Leigh, Widnes look like the impetus/passion from the survival era has evaporated.

We are in for a tough time.

I'm not a huge fan of the way Kear is playing the team (both tactically and squad selection) and I don't think he's the guy to lead us back to SL but I really don't get all the doom and gloom.

"We are in for a tough time?" Really? After all the club have been through over the last 10 years you think this is a tough time?

Those who think the club should be top end and pushing for promotion are living in cloud cuckoo land. We are right where should be. We aren't getting relegated and we aren't getting promoted so why not blood some kids, take the wins and enjoy them and the rest will take care of itself.

We are in for a tough time in terms of upcoming games - to be precise. I have stood on those terraces since 1964 so you have no need to explain knack all about tough times.

I dont think we should be top

I think we should be competing for a top 5 place and I would like to see a brand of rugby that gets people excited and talking about the club.

That way we may get more supporters back and more cash in the coffers - which in turn mught go some way to retaining our talent by paying enough wages to keep them. Rather than continually losing them to the vultures down the A62.

Hope thats clearer now.

Absolutely I think much of the disquiet on here is down to the way we are playing not the results because doubtless we will win some and lose some. Our defence is quite mean generally but could be better if we moved up more quickly at the play the ball. We often move up and then wait for the attack to reach us. Just keep moving. As for the attack it is very poor most of the time. This may be down to the fact that our two halves are young and inexperienced, in which case we need to bite the bullet and stick with them as I'm sure they will come good in due course. COYB

We are exactly where I thought we would be i.e mid-table.

We certainly won't be relegated, and whilst I think we actually are challenging for the Top 5, it's impossible to predict whether we will end up in the Top 5, since it is very tight between us, Sheffield, Leigh, York, Halifax etc.

It would be nice to finish in the Top 5, but I don't really expect it, and its a bit immaterial IMO opinion as nobody is likely to get close to Toronto anyway (replacing Rowley with a proven winner in McDermott means they won't choke like last season)

TLicon_biggrin.gifR if we get smashed by Featherstone on Sunday (as I fully expect) it's not really going to make that much difference to us eventually ending up mid-table at the end of the season.

Crikey! Vultures down the A62, talk about what goes around comes around. I can't speik! Lol.

Ah, the old "I've been stood on the terraces since the 60's" line... bad me for only being born in the 1980's as I could be as good a fan as you







In all seriousness and joking aside (and I was joking above... honestly), your response is a bit clearer now in the fact you were talking about the run of games. And I don't disagree with your statement about the brand of rugby. I won't ever complain about losing a game if we give it a good go.

That said, there is an awful lot on here who do think we should be challenging higher up against teams with better squads and bigger budgets. I like the stability that mid table is bringing and maybe that's what we can build from next year.

Vultures will always circle when we are down a division but its better now IMO than the boom or bust game the previous owners played.

Why, who did we swoop on from the Giants? Cos I can't seriously remember you having anyone worth poaching in the first place

Allowing McNally to leave at Xmas was the morally correct thing to do, but it's impact has been significant. Too late to replace him properly, our attack was immediately hampered, requiring adjustments. The halves situation also has been problematic, also requiring adjustment. And then 2 of our better strike players with SL experience, also both out for 4-6months.

I'm basically happy our defence is generally effective, as JK has had one arm tied behind his back, trying to improve our cutting edge.

Echo what others have said for the most part, we are boring to watch and it does become a chore at times.

Halifax where far the better team and wanted it more than us, stupid penalities cost us, and when we get dragged into an arm wrestle we lose our cool and give them what they want, thought Webster swinging arm in to a tackled player was the epitome of this we gifted them 30m to escape there where going anywhere.

Our D line speed is poor like said, we advance a couple of yards then stand and wait, the last 10mins of the match we actually bothered and where all over them, similar to last year we look tired, I know we have had 2 hard games in 2 weeks prior but we where like this at the start of the year.

The last tackle option is easy to defend against why can't we put some grubbers through, tried it once on sat and came away with a drop out.

Very one dimensional in attack when Fax came they had multiple runners to choose from and support we bundle up field then run sideways when stuck, have an idea what will happen next before it does we are easy to read.

Start of the season I'd be happy with anything from 8 up and still would just wish we where more inventive, even if this meant losing.

Kear is the right man to steady the ship and get the defence right but it isn't fun to watch like the Big Sam of RL.

That said I do expect us to beat fax in a couple of weeks.

Pre-season who would have taken a top 7 finish and a cup quarter (if not semi) appearance?

I'd have bitten your hand off and it isn't an unlikely scenario

We aren't playing amazing attacking rugby, but we a building a club from the bottom up here guys and given where we have been; slow and steady defo wins the race.

I expect a stronger team to be assembled for 2020 and a real push for the top 5

In my view we’re going very well and considering where we’ve come from as the 2nd best side in L1 last year some people on here need to manage their expectations. We are in the mix for the top 5 with plenty of rugby to play. Sure, we’ve got a big budget but we’re a club that’s been rebuilt from nothing and it takes time.

The style of play is pretty conservative and anyone can see that we have issues with our last tackle options. We do line up too flat and we don’t offload enough or support the ball carrier enough.
However, we have two very young halfbacks and they’re learning the game. Many of the rest of the side are very young too. In many ways this is the ideal season to get those kids we’ve invested in up to speed. We’re not seriously in the mix to get promoted with Toronto streets ahead. Does a fancy style of rugby attract more fans? I’m not sure of the evidence of that. I’d say winning rugby is more important and we are a difficult side to beat. I’d sooner have this side that gives 100% over the fancy dan side we had under Rohan Smith that couldn’t perform under pressure. Remember that play off game at Fev in 2016 when we had a great team on paper but got nilled?

This season we’ve seen amazing games away at Fax and at home to Fev and Leeds in the cup. It’s been superb entertainment and better than anything we’ve had in years. It’s going to take time to get the casual supporters back and it won’t happen overnight. Kear is building a foundation of players that can perform consistently at Championship level. I’d certainly take a top 8 finish. Top 5 would be very good indeed but it is a very tough division and I think really it’s beyond us this year. Next year perhaps with some astute recruitment?

In the meantime I’m loving the rugby this season.

Fax were far the better team? Really? Don't get me wrong they were worthy winners and performed better than us but I actually thought it was a very close game performance wise. If we hadn't have taken a few poor options we could easily of been on the right side result wise.

I think we are doing pretty well so far this year and I will always take the a winning result before performance. What is the point in playing expansive rugby but losing? I said this year would be deemed a success if we were there or thereabouts for a top 5 finish. We are still well in the mix for that and have the chance of making a CC semi final if we can gain revenge on Fax next weekend. Let's see what the next few weeks bring..

Last 2 posts spot on.

Fax were certainly the better side on Saturday IMO. However we were going set for set with them for long enough. It was only their more clinical kicking game and a few bits of ill discipline by us that was the difference IMO. There’s no reason to suggest that our next game won’t be as close. They have improved since they got rid of Marshall but we will be better too with Peltier’s go-forward and hopefully a bit more quality at the end of sets.