The basics....shouldn't we make it a criteria? If you can't do them all, (a) we don't sign you
(b) we no longer want you

Pass
Catch
Tackle
Run

Now there are nice extras such as kicking, but I wouldn't say its basic.

Which of our members of our team can tick all 4 boxes?

Now I'm not saying they must be full of awesomeness...just proficient.

So for 'pace' be mindful as to be fast for their position. I would say a player like Dave Chishall sets a good standard.

Westerman I would say ticks all 4

Complete your set, kick well and apply defensive pressure. Wait for a mistake from the opposition and Bobs your uncle!

Failure to do the basics is what's killing us at the moment, because we surrender possession, momentum, territory and inevitably points.

Senior players who are unable to play the ball without knocking on, who take their eyes off the ball to look at defenders and knock on as a result or who faff about at the play the ball virtually begging to be penalised should be tarred, feathered and flogged.

My current favourite is our inability to defend kicks in our in goal or police a bouncing ball, with Russell and Lineham serial offenders. Put the bl**dy thing in row Z for gods sake.

Too right morriseyisawire
I think Ratchford Clark Hill and Lineham can also tick 4 boxes.
Would Patton and Penny tick 4 boxes or is their defence suspect?

If they are all so deficient in the basics, how come they made two finals last year and topped the league?

Who said anything about "all"?

We didn't have Kevin Brown playing for us then.

We beat a struggling Saint Helens, Oldham, Widnes and Wakefield to make those finals.

Maybe we should not congratulate ourselves too much

Pennys bad defence was so many years ago now that it's like an England soccer fan talking about 1966...

Lineham still has the reaction speed of a ocean liner. He will get beat on every kick that makes him turn around. ...so how does he tick the pace box. ...

It shouldn't be about ticking those boxes. .. Darryl Clark is getting on my nerves a bit now. hookers should have a little bit of mongrel or at least some vocality in them if that's a word..or at least organise your defensive line. He is obviously class but he's not organising defence or attack and just pops up when a dummy half run is required. ...he's so far behind Josh Hodgson its unreal...

We can't pick four names and say these are ok because every man jack of em are playing poorly. ...in my head ive just said the phrase "stand up... be men" I'm sure Murphy said that in his famous changing room rant....
but its quite apt...

The players are currently choosing not to stand up and be manful in their approach, their effort is lacking in many areas. In the sply populated "false fag stadium" I can recall two counts of Ratchford not trying to get to balls heading for touch, which last year would have been taken very straightforwardly. They are a team that are making themselves look very mediocre for whatever reason. We need the board to be manful in their approach and deal with this quickly and strongly whatever they decide and let us know so we can each deal with the outcome.

Was one of those the accidental forty twenty by Jon wilkin by any chance?

Which was shocking, hilarious, and disappointing all at the same time. For both sets of fans.

Yes it was, the other being at the end of the first half to which the commentary team noticed the lack of will to try and get the ball.

I'd say he ticks the pace box because if it wasn't for his pace and ability to chase and catch a break away runner we wouln't have been anywhere near the other teams in both finals and we wouldn't have won the LLS.

It's not his fault he has a turnstile for a centre.