I'm not blaming Thewlis
Goalkicking is a specialist job
It's something he can do, but it's only to a certain standard. We've had plenty of those kind of kickers.
For every Hesford, Woods, Davies, we've also had Rudd, Hicks, Westwood.

Although, that first miss of Thewlis was pretty poor

I'm not blaming Thewlis because it isn't his fault we haven't got anyone better at goal kicking than him in the team, but in games like that you need someone with the precision that Ratchford has had in the last few years and we had before him with Brett Hodgson. The likes of Sinfield and Pat Richards had it in the big games and we need someone who can do it.

That try before half time absolutely robbed us no matter what anyone says though. Yes, they had been a lot better than us at that point in the game, but we had held them to four points and that's a lot more surmountable than ten points, as the second half proved. Disgraceful decision.

I hope Mikey Lewis gets a Luke Gale 2017 level showing up in the final. Wigan all the way for me now.

And duftys disallowed try...nowt wrong with that...i.ll be routing for hull KR next week over Wigan....

I don't mind losing fair and square...thats sport and what makes it so compelling and entertaining. Tonight was not decided by a piece of good skill or powerful physicality. It was decided by a totally inept official using the rules of a totally inept ruling body. And to add insult to injury, the so called expert analysts employed by Sky TV revelled in it, laughing and joking about it. Livid doesn't cover it. Robbery.

Agree with this, yes we were robbed but we also didn’t do enough to win without the dodgy call. Overall it’s been a better season than a lot expected and il take it as a building step towards an even much more improved season next year.

Burgess not playing Vaughan for much smacks of Smith not playing Hodgeson in the GF. Don't get it and it didn't work.

Wigan by 12 next week IMO.

[del[/del

You don’t deserve to be going into a Grand Final if you’re conceding barge-over tries from dummy-half
Sam Burgess.


Thats a problem we wont have next year with that individual who was at fault on both tries.

I blame Vaughan.

His indiscipline cost us the win at Leigh, and ultimately 2nd place.

And to add insult, he’s been bang average at best in the last 2 games.
Obviously not match fit.

Shock!! Is he having it away with your wife?!

Terrific performance by Wire tonight especially 2nd half.

I thought Rovers had the better of an an attritional 1st half and expected us to kick on and dominate the second half but the opposite happened It became a case of can Rovers hang on.

As the second half wore on I was more and more convinced that Wire would end up winners. One or two decisions went our way and Rovers looking out on their feet gave everything. Those last 15 minutes were torture probably for both sets of supporters.

I'm delighted to be in a GF featuring Hull KIngston Rovers but I'll admit the better team lost tonight.

Congratulations on a brilliant season and good luck for 2025.

Tough on Wire I'd say but a much better season for you and something to build on for the next one. Well done to your team! (Saints fan).

It’s disappointing but it’s also progress under Burgess. Moving in the right direction.

I’ll always try to never blame a ref because if you’re good enough you can get over any bad decisions - and we weren’t good enough last night. There were a lot of points Moore shafted us on though - Burgess try, Duftys disallowed one and Ashton’s should’ve been an 8 point try. Woeful Moore.

I'm still furious to be honest, and I hate Mikey Lewis.

I'm still livid over that I try to be as fair minded as I can be(possibly to a fault at times) and not be like saints fans who never accept anything.

We were getting battered and pinned back first half, why we didn't try the expansive chip over early to get them to stretch I don't know.

However the try, shouldn't have been sent up, non of the officials saw ANYTHING that looked close to a ball touching grass.

Lewis and whoever else it was that took turns pushing george after that offload, including one in the face, with force. That's a penalty they brought that in years ago to stop taunting and causing flare ups.

The fact he didn't even consider going to the video ref for duftys try.

So many match swinging decisions I hope they get pummeled next week by wigan, proper shown up.

Although moore will probably get the gf as well

Two moments by Moore, screwed Wire over, the Dufty (obstruction) no try. And for the life of me I still can’t figure out where the obstruction came from. Then we all know the Burgess no try which he gave, Moore was in no field position to see any grounding of the ball. So why give a try? Ray Charles could see that was no try, he’s blind and been dead for twenty years. Ray Charles could see that was no try, he’s blind and been dead for twenty years. Ray Charles could see that was no try, he’s blind and been dead for twenty years.

When Hall knocked on 10 yards from his own line with 4 mins to go that was a golden chance. But we dont have a right centre when attacking and the opportunity was lost despite a great finish by Thewlis. The good thing is that there are a few positions we can improve on for 2025.

I've not watched it back and don't think I will (once was enough) but for me the Dufty obstruction was soft and a bit of defensive gamesmanship by the KR player.

There's always that air of discomfort when the dummy runner breaks the line and I think it was Nicholson that 'got in the way' as Dufty broke to score. I'm biased and often wrong but the ball had gone the defender wasn't getting anywhere near and targeted our player to feign making an attempt.

I'm not sure overall we deserved to win that's subjective but we should have won outplayed in the first half but should have gone in level at least and to rally in the second half like we did was a case of small margins and fluffing our lines.

BTW how annoying was (their) Burgess he was grinning all the way back to the reset after his 'try' Whilst it's not his responsibility to offer himself up, in addition to Mikey Lewis the Pinocchio jibe is another reason to support Wigan next week

I really thought that was going to be game set and match

Indeed. A Superleague quality right centre is a must (perhaps Wrench can stay fit or Lindop can break through), a fully fit Fitzgibbon in the back row with a big pacy back up forward as well, an organising scrum half with a kicking game and a tackle breaking front row forward. We don't have a Tanginoa/Mago/Satae/ type player to come off the bench and cause some damage although that's what Musgrove should be capable of. We'll see what close season brings.

Wire were far the most dangerous side but just could not get field position in the first half , the obstruction try was soft and i do not agree with the decision , but unfortunately that is a regular call .

No way could Moore call on the Burgess try as he was not in a position to see anything . It was at least a 90% no try .

Musgrove is a waste of an overseas spot in reality, a disappointment, doesn't offer anything above average. Tai, bless him, is too limited in attack. See you later Drinkwater, thanks for the memories and the crap tackling.

The new signings for 2025 will be crucial.

Yeah we can certainly improve. Believe we’ve signed a second row from the NRL, no idea who. We scored 3 fair tries last night and they scored 1, it’s going to stick in the craw for a bit

Yes it will stick in the craw, we also blew two conversions that would have won it, and a chance with 4 mins to go. But I could not see us beating Wigan in the GF anyway, perhaps spared more disappointment. In truth we peaked attacking wise on 26 July in beating Wigan 40-4.

I hope we push on in 2025 as Hull KR pushed on in 2024.