In pre-season, we all read what Harrison Hansen said about training being tougher than the previous season, and that they would benefit from it. Yet some simple stats suggest we fade alarmingly in the second half:

v Wigan: 1st half draw10-10; 2nd half lost 4-12
v Saints: 1st half lost 10-12; 2nd half lost 8-10
v Toronto 1st half won 12-10; 2nd half lost 0-24
v Batley 1st half won 18-6; 2nd half won 16-0
v Barrow 1st half won 20-12; 2nd half lost 0-12
v Toulouse 1st half won 14-6; 2nd half lost 12-26

Four of those games have been against fellow full-time teams, but the second half against part-time Barrow was an eye-opener.

I'd say a big fat yes to fitness being an issue. As it was last season too I might add.

Well, for me, it's either fitness, or what's being said at half-time! (in both dressing rooms)

Probably both.

If players are not physically fit then they'll struggle mentally too. Like not being able to take on board instructions or even just to keep hold of the damn ball.

Yes, they are not fit enough to play error-ridden rugby with poor completion rates and too many penalties conceded, and expect to win games. A SL side would probably get away with it in the Championship, more often than not, but we wont.
The second half performances this season are proof of that.

Not fit? I thought these men were supposed to be the dog's gonads and the answer to all our prayers? They're professional sportsmen for God's sake, if they're not fit they should be fined or dropped or sacked.

As an outsider we, at Widnes, look a lot fitter this year under our new fitness coaching team, whereas you seem to be tailing of at the end of games.

The bloke who was with us last year, and is now your head of performance, Chris Baron, looks less fit than me and I've not exercised since the early 90's.

Surely your head of performance/fitness should at least look the part?

If it’s not fitness it might of been the coach losing the changing room this is worse as players won’t play for you trying get you the boot. I bet Cunningham sat there quiet today in the meeting thinking hope I dodge this bullet here. Cunningham going to have to let purtil and ando do it there way if he wants his head off the chopping block.

Fitness to me looks like it is an issue.
Thankfully it should be one of the easier things to fix.

They are struggling badly in the last ten minutes - Toulouse actually scored their last 16 points in the final 8 minutes - and look shattered. Maybe the pre-season conditioning that was raved about, wasn't all it was cracked up to be? Or maybe their confidence is shot, and that's why they fade away?

The Toulouse lads were out on their feet at the half time hooter, (two or three of them struggled to get off the pitch) yet somehow were completely revived in the final forty minutes, cut out the errors and eradicated their indiscipline. I'd love to know what was said in the respective dressing rooms at half time, or what was put in their respective half time 'brews'!

Makes no difference what was said at half time. If you don't have an enforcer on the park to carry those spoken words,not much point speaking them.

Our halfbacks are a mess. This will take more than a new coach to solve.

Edit: Sorry,should not have used the word "enforcer" leader should be the word.

Forgot myself for a minute.

Enforcer is an unofficial role in ice hockey. The term is sometimes used synonymously with "fighter", "tough guy", or "goon". An enforcer's job is to deter and respond to dirty or violent play by the opposition.

Hows our disciplinary record going so far this season? Hows Acton? Didn't see him returning to the field after the red.

Agree with you about the half backs, and the leader. Presumably (as usual, nothing said by 'official channels') Jamie failed the 'head test'? He was amongst the crowd in the West stand, having his photo taken. Actually, not being able to call on his services again, was possibly a significant factor in what happened late in the game.

Alan

i agree with all of the above but would also add that regardless of fitness if you are without the ball, giving penalties away, backing up on D, you will always struggle.

I think losing our half back today was a probably a factor but the players look like they haven't have a Pre season with some only just showing signs of getting up to speed.
The coaching appointment will be critical.

Are the current players good enough whoever becomes the new coach?

I still can't understand how anyone thought releasing so many players from last years squad was a good idea. I do understand some wanted to go and some weren't happy with a reduction in pay, etc. But the sheer naivety of thinking that 19 new players could replicate the 2016 effort.

Atomic at 6 and Montyburns at 7 next week please.

I totally agree releasing so many was crazy, I also think we lack players who know just what the Championship is all about and what you need to do to get out of it however I do believe the current batch will get better as the season goes on.
Some signs today that can be used by the new coaching team as positives to build on for next week (another tough fixture though!)

Been along time since I played half back but I reckon I’m in better shape that drew don’t think me and atomic would make a good pairing would get sick of getting warned

What's gooin on with this forum? it's doin my fookin yed in.

As a long time leyther when the team is playing with no heart it usually means trouble behind the scenes and players wondering if they are going to get paid. Now rumours db is quitting. Wish we had a team of leythers and adopted leythers again. Not bothered what division. Absolutely sick of DBs ego.

The only heart missing is a half back who can take the team round the park. That's why sheep have shepards,but failing that you can always use the dog.

100%!

A few fans last year were saying that Ridyard isn't a SL player and he's too slow and can't tackle. When you have a rugby/football brain like he does, you don't have to be the fastest nor tackle the best. He showed in the 2016 8's -- and with his spell at Huddersfield -- that he can play SL rugby. We also have the Drinkwater bashers, and by the end of the year he was definitely spent. But contrast the 2016 8's where he partnered with Ridyard superbly and 2017 whereby he had a different HB partner (and backline) each week it seemed. Drinkwater was asked to do too much I felt last year.

Also, look at Finn at Wakefield, orchestrating things, ex Championship player. Wasn't good enough for Daryl Powell. Well Wakefield are 2nd in the SL tonight.

Time for DB to step up now, forget Mr. Nice Guy and all this loyalty b*llox - go and raid a good 6 and possibly 7 from somewhere and take the club to the next level. WEIT - Whatever It Takes!

I shake my head & giggle when fans tell me ridyard isnt good enough

[size=150LIKE.[/size.

Riddy stepped over the mark. Regardless of what he did/didn't agree with. He forgot the fans looking out for him and took the situation into his own hands. There was a lot of players spitting the dummy out at that point,unfortunately Riddy was one of them.