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| Here's my thougts on the season FWIW.Please feel free to add your opinions.
TEAM.
After an opening day victory over Celtic, we put in a series of poor performances when we were quite frankly,embarrasing.We were well off the pace,made too many mistakes,and conceded too many penalties. To put it bluntly,we looked completely out of our depth and it was difficult to see us winning another game.To their credit,the team buckled down,got some unexpected victories and by the end of the season we were looking competitive against anyone. We were still being penalised far too much but the defence had improved immeasurably,especially in the last game against Leeds.
We were unfortunate with the injuries to Willie Talau as I feel he would have made a big difference to our attacking play,and in the early part of the season it was a different 3/4 line in every game due to injuries.This obviously didn't help the team settle down in the higher level.
Therefore on the whole not too bad for our 1st season back but next season will probably be tougher as I can see Celtic improving if Brian Noble is coach.
PLAYERS
KARL FITZPATRICK
A poor start to the season from Karl who appeared all at sea under the high kick. He then missed a large part of the season (either left out or injured) and came back towards the end with some decent performances.Still not back to the form he showed before his bad injury and I'm not sure if he is really up to Super League level anymore.
Marks out of 10----- 4
JOHN WILSHIRE
Played a large part of the season as fullback and was generally ok if a little inconsistent.Fairly reliable goalkicking.Not offered a new contract.
Marks---6
MARK HENRY
Started the season with an injury but improved as the season went on.Looked like a decent signing.
Marks--7
JORDAN TURNER
Played at centre rather than loose-forward this season.Didn't really impress,showed a few nice touches but wasn't strong enough defensively.Has signed for Hull for next season.
Marks---4
STUART LITTLER
As always Stuart gave 100% every game.Always willing to run the ball out to help the forwards and gets stuck-in defensively.Doesn't give as many penalties away as he used to.However he is strictly limited attack-wise and is sadly no longer Super League level.
Marks--6
WILLIE TALAU
Our big hope for the season never really got going.Was injured in one of the 1st matches,missed about 8 matches,played a couple of times and was then injured again and out for the season.Lets hope for better things next year.
Marks---4
DEAN MCGILLVRAY
Started the season injured and then got injured on his debut and missed more matches.When he did get a run in the team he looked very promising.He knows where the try-line is,is quite pacy and is prepared to run the ball out of defence.A promising start.
Marks---7
PAUL WHITE
Came into the season injured,played half a game,scored a try,injured again,missed the rest of the season.A year he'll want to forget.Not offered a contract for next year.
Marks---4
STEFAN RATCHFORD
Didn't make the team for the 1st few games,started on the wing a few times,then centre and finally stand-off where he had a great game against Saints,and he's not looked back since.He could become a top-class player,he's quick,got a good kicking game,can kick goals and is a good defender.It really is up to him,lets hope we keep for a few years.
Marks---9
RITCHIE MYLER
Oh what could have been. Started in Super League as though he'd played there all his life.He scored tries,set up tries and called the shots.Not the finished article(defence a bit weak at times) but what a talent.I'd hoped for a Myler/Ratchford combination to rule Super League for years but it wasn't to be.His form went down the pan once it became clear he was leaving and he's left under a bit of a cloud,but I'd have him back any day.
Marks--6.5
JEREMY SMITH
Started ok against Celtic but then went rapidly downhill(along with the rest).I thought he was trying too hard at times to make things happen and was therefore making mistakes.A section of the crowd then got on his back,partly because they thought Ratchford should be stand-off and partly because of the mistakes he made.It got to the point where he wouldn't try anything and just passed the ball along the line.He did improve however when Myler was left out and finished the season reasonably well.
Marks--5.5
RAY CASHMERE
Ray didn't look all that impressive at first but as the season went on he improved tremendously.Made plenty of yards and always looked to offload.
Another good signing,lets hope for more of the same next season.
Marks--8
MALCOLM ALKER
Another good season for Malc.Once again his tackling performances were immense,he really bottles up the middle of the field.However his distribution from dummy-half is slow and somewhat erratic although he did put in a few 40/20s from that position.Still worth a place in Super League but probably not as hooker.
Marks--8
ROBBIE PAUL
Came on as replacement hooker and speeded-up the play-the-ball.Always enthusiastic and encourages the others but time is catching up with him.Signed for Leigh for next year.
Marks---6
CRAIG STAPLETON
Good honest prop,carries the ball in well,good in defence,consistent,rarely has a bad game.Not offered a contract for next season,I will be sorry to see him go.Perhaps his age is against him.
Marks---7
LEE JEWITT
In and out of the team due to injuries.I think he is steadily improving and is a useful assett to the squad.Still prone to give away silly penalties(not as many as he used to).He could do with an injury-free season to really kick-on,let's hope he gets one
Marks--6
ADAM SIDLOW
Shown considerable progress this season.Adam seemed to get better as the season went on.Although he appears a bit static at times,he is always looking to get the pass out and he gave a terrific defensive performance against Leeds in the final game.With this seasons experience behind him we should look for more good performances next year.
Marks--6
LUKE ADAMSON
Great season from Luke,always in the thick of the action,good tackler,runs hard and capable of touches of real class.Signed a new contract last season so more of the same please Luke.
Marks--9
STEVE NASH
In and out of the squad,suffered a few injuries and could never cement a place in the team.Unsure whether he is really Super League standard.
Marks---4.5
PHIL LEULUAI
Came on as sub in most matches and always made ground with the ball.Big favourite with the crowd.Another player I'm not too sure about because of his age although he always gives 100%.
Marks---6
IAN SIBBITT
Steady and reliable,nothing outstanding,valuable squad member.
Marks---6
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ROB PARKER
Started the season slowly but gradually improved and was playing really well when he suffered a season-ending injury.Could have a big season next year.
Marks--6.5
LUKE SWAIN
Tremendous season.Deservedly won the player of the season.Never took a backward step,ran the ball in hard and tackled anything that moved.Another good signing from Australia.
Marks---9
Apologies for anyone left out.
THE COACH
I think Shaun was surprised at how far we were off the pace at the start of the season when we were blown away in several matches.He didn't panic and gradually we improved to be a competitive unit in most games.We had some real shock victories but weren't consistent enough to capitalise and build up a good run.
Shaun came in for plenty of abuse during the season(unfortunately some of it personal) mainly for persisting in playing Smith rather than Ratchford at stand-off and for the style of play.My take on this is that he did not want to start Super League with two inexperienced halfbacks especially as we had signed Jeremy Smith.Once Stef forced his way into the side I think he wanted to play all three and thought Stef was more versatile than the other two.
Regarding the style of play.Yes it is boring at times but after the start we made we had to go back to basics,get the defence right and play low-risk rugby.Shaun said as much and I tend to agree,we must hope that our younger players improve next year and that we sign players who are a bit better than those we release.Lets face it,we won't be signing many world -beaters.Hopefully then with slightly better players we will be more expansive.
I don't know Shaun,have never met him or spoken to him,but he comes across on TV as very knowledgeable and articulate and given time I think he will improve the team,Whether we as a club will be given time is another matter.
THE CLUB
As everyone knows the club suffers from lack of financial clout and cannot spend the full salary cap.This handicaps us when we try to sign players or try to hang on to the ones we already have,making the coaches job even harder.
To get to a position to challenge for honours the club must get more money in,hopefully when the stadium is built the attendances will improve enabling us to spend the full cap and compete on a level playing field.
THATS ALL FOLKS
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