A very frustrating performance (or lack of). Cas got in our faces from the off and stuck to a cohesive game plan, whereas I felt we went into the game unprepared tactically and didn't have a plan B when it was clear using Brough's kicking game just wasn't working. How many times in the first half did he just launch the same nothing punt down the field?

Credit where it is due and Cas were by far the stronger, hungrier and better of the two sides. I am unsure about Lawrence and Cudjoe playing centre, I think they both look better out wide but if they were to revert to those positions then it could not be to replace McGilvary as he looks outstanding IMO. He has pace to burn, an eye for the try line and he looks solid enough to take the knocks. I often felt Lawrence is a bit lightweight in that department, although he is a very talented athlete. So for me in would be Jermaine and Leroy in the wing spots next week against Hull. Grix looks assured at Full back and I can't believe the stick he is copping from some of our supporters. Brett's gone and although he set a very high standard, I don't think we can go too far wrong with Grix replacing him at least in the short term. O'Donnel was poor but I'll reserve judgement until he's had a good couple of months to bed in. Fa'alogo needs to deliver this season, fair enough he suffered injuries last year but this time around we need to see more from him to justify his wages. Faiumu was woeful, as was Hodgson, Lawrence and basically all of the lads except Grix and McGilvary. Brough was clearly frustrated as the energy was there but the performance had been left at home.

Also, did anyone get the feeling that Brown doesn't look a natural or quite ready captain? I worry that the burden may hinder his game...could be wrong as he is without doubt one of the best stand offs in the SL. I do feel someone like Gilmour would fit the captain mould better at this moment in time with his vast experience.

Lunt had one of his worst games today and it'll be great when Robbo is back as he is such a pivotal player for us. Anyway, onwards and upwards and I am sure we will get a good response next weekend. Larne needs to be involved, he really does add a bit of spark and pace to the pack.

I've an awful lot to reflect on but have posted it in a different thread where my ire was raised!

just a bad day at the office - Cas is always a hard place to go and get something from especcially night games.

Heavy pitch, wet conditions and the home team in the ascendency made sure it was always going to be an uphill struggle.
just gotta roll our sleeves up and concentrate on Hull now

Definitely and by the looks of it Hull are there for the taking. I'm not bitter about the loss, just the fact that we didn't ever really get going and make a serious game of it. We were bossed by Cas and with the pack and back line talent we have I expect more. Oh well.

As I posted on another forum, I do think you had a plan B - it just backfired miserably.

It seemed to me that plan A was to bulldoze us up the middle with the pack and boss us that way. For the first forty minutes our pack fronted up and you struggled to get any ground off the back of it.

After half-time it seemed you came out with an element of risk decided to try and throw the ball around in a bid to go around us with the pace of Cudjoe and McGillvary. This resulted in you making more handling errors and giving us the ball more often than not just inside our own half or in yours.

Just out of interest, what was Cudjoes problem after Youngquest scored his 2nd try? He was squaring up to him like he had just run over his dog or something. All he did was fall on the ball and score.

Question.

Which of our two games would you rather have won?

Both

TBH I'd say the wire one

Exactly. Come the end of the season we should be clear of Cas in points. Wire will be close to us, so we won the more important game.

And consider this, Cas played as well as they could (according to their coach and fans) and we were rubbish. But they only just beat us and with the help of an utterly terrible VR call.

winning against wire was wasted now we went on to lose at cas



but i agree cas had a completion rate of 94% , hardly missed a tackle, ganson gave us two pens to there 9.

they had a 'try' that shouldnt of been given and other tries were from kicks!

yet we were poor and only lost by 6 points

Exactly my point.

As I've stated elsewhere, to win against Wire shows we can beat a top side. To lose to Cas ought to give us a kick up the backside.

all good points fellas !!

agreed

I wouldn't want to disrespect Cas and the squad they haved assembled. In my opinion they do it the right way, bringing through talented local lads who usually end up fleshing out many other clubs from Yorkshire and beyond. Wire have shown that success can be bought, but I'd rather be a Cas fan than follow Wire...just because I like what the Castleford club stands for.

I don't think Cas will do all that badly this year and I'm sure they'll shock one or two sides, who like us will probably go into the games underestimating them. Arundel, Youngquest and Walker all look top prospects and I wish the club well. As for the Giants, we'll be back and it should be a cracker against Hull because they will be desperate for a point nevermind the win.