You fail to mention Glen Stewart in your summary Harold, I take it you must appreciate his contributions to the team?

We should have taken 2 earlier on from a penalty.That would have least made kr not concede penalties for fun in the last few minutes..The older members on here will remember Murphys winning teams would take a drop goal score rather than come away empty handed

No, no and thrice no, it always amuses me that people refer to that taking penalties and gaining 2 points will have a bearing on the final score of a game, the simple matter that after the kick is taken - other than playing on - the game will restart on the half way line not were the penalty was awarded then we will have a completely different game, the only way it will not alter the rest of the proceedings of the game is if it is the very last action, a kick is taken and the ref blows for full time.

Points on the board win games,if we had taken those 2 on offer all the penalties given against kr in the last couple of minutes could have resulted in us getting at least a draw

Off course, if there is no more scoring, my point is the game will be an entirely different one, the time continument will have been altered, the game will take on a whole new script, who knows what would happen?

The Watcher believes that we the best we can hope for now is the MPG, probably away at HKR. On this basis The Watcher is predicting we will be back in the Championship next year. If we do ever get promoted back to SL again The Watcher would like to offer some advice to the player recruitment person..... rugby league is a young mans sport.

The reason we did that at the end was that going for two points meant a loss for you. There would not have been time to restart and get back to our line.

Didn't kr take 2 points from a penalty just before half time,

Add to that, why do we keep persisting with the idea of Stewart being an "organising 13", reduces our go forward and turns a one dimensional attack into a half dimensional.

As for Drinkwater or Reynolds, I honestly don't know, I think Reynolds' reputation enhances more when he's not in the team than when he is, but would probably pick him over Drinkwater.

If Stewart is going to be picked as an interchange 13, then Hopkins may as well have that role. I think there's a case of interchanging 11 and 12 however.

Are both wingers good enough? No. Higson simply makes costly bad decisions. Could see from 80 yards away that his offload in the first half wasn't going to end well, at a point when we just needed some possession. And I don't know what he was thinking for Shaw's try. I thought Hampshire was now back in contention? He should be playing wing. If Clare is fit, would say there's a case for replacing both wingers.

Undone by one attacking threat, and our goal line defence with multiple defenders on one attacker is found wanting again.

Worse still is we have again failed to close out a close game. Need to treat next week as a free swing, hopefully not as many forwards getting the ball with a standing start and playing with less fear. There's a difference between play off rugby and turgid dross.

No. Leigh did.

Lawler mercilessly policed Drinkwater whilst Addy hounded (and pounded) Mortimer. TBH this is the first time I have seen Rovers deploy this tactic this season; it was highly effective in that it rendered them ineffective and allowed Ellis the space to control the middle.

They took 2 in the second half , but that's the point , we are/were the SL team at home , I'm all for taking a penalty when it increases pressure on the opposition

In poor conditions where completing sets is difficult , not in perfect conditions

If the scores are level , ie taking a lead

If leading by 6/12 or 18 , ie increasing the converted try margin

All those increase pressure on the opposition

All we did was hand confidence to Rovers

Yes we were struggling to break their line , so force repeat sets , tire them out , a large % of try's in SL are scored on the back of penalties and repeat sets

Agree with all of this. Our second penalty goal smacked of trying to defend a small lead, when we had to go and win the game still.

I was so pleased you took the two you were on a roll we were blowing a bit all it did was relieve the pressure on us

On the subject of the two wingers Higson and Dawson, can anyone please explain to me why Jukes has decided to reverse the wings for them, Dawson I seem to recall scored his great number of tries from the left wing position, whist Higson was employed on the right wing in previous years especially in the Liam Kay era, just another conundrum from the mindset of coach.

Indeed , I won't criticise individual mistakes made during the turmoil of a game , Similarily refs will miss things ( different interpretations of the same offence is an issue ) , but basic game management by either players or coaching staff isn't free from criticism IMO

Yup. One of many strange decisions which defy logic. I guess we can put this down to a coach under self-inflicted stress. If it aint broke, lets fix it.

Dawson is no more a SL winger than I am. He is a spot player due to his defensive frailties. He lacks pace and conviction going forward, his centre never knows where he is. Anyone who saw the opening stages of our 2017 SL debut at Castleford will know what I am talking about.

Willie Tonga's undoubted class and ability to draw in players and free him space covered him for a little but he is not up to this level.

We have better options.

oookay...



Willie was class. But I'd say Dawson has performed incredibly well under testing circumstances. He's been shifted left and right on a weekly basis and has played with a myriad of different centres with zero consistency. Plus, he carries the ball well making good yards. Last season, I thought keeping Kay may have been a better option, this year, Dawson looks the better option. That's my perception.

We have taken the tap a number of time this season, can't remember once where we have benefited from it. You see the Cas and Leeds of this world take the 2 in similar circumstances on a regular basis

At home against Championship opposition ? , no chance

Hard to say, it's very rare we pass out them.

Don't talk tosh, Saturday was always going to be a close affair, don't make it sound like this was a Leeds v fev type game

That was my take on it. We 'should' be beating Championship teams fairly comfortably. But Rovers are a full time squad, the game WAS close, and we had to take the two points, in my opinion. For the same reasons, the ref's mistake on their final try, was absolutely crucial - whether we should or shouldn't be relying on the accuracy of decisions to beat teams.

Absolutely, we were hardly cutting HKR to shreds. If the Ref calls the incorrect the PTB from Scruton that penalty for two points slotted home by Drinkwater would have been the difference between two points and the match won. Or a draw. Full stop.

No doubt in my mind it was the correct decision at the time.