2nd. Place is secured so in reality this week and next week actually no there is nothing to play for and it has to effect the approach to the game.
This is where hendo and the leaders in the squad show what they are made of, getting it through that winning or losing can be a habit.
Batley on the other hand are playing for top 4 slot

First of the two pre-season friendlies out of the way.

That's one way of looking at it is suppose

Don't try and put a positive spin on it.

We are going to get hammered in the middle 8's, absolutely hammered.

My synopsis of a day in Batley

Decent run up and down

Really enjoyed Batley's ground, only ever seen it in the wet before, and fans very friendly

A very good Broncos turn out

We played up hill in first half and competed really well for 20mins, as we were put under huge defensive pressure with ad hoc penalties against, and held strong.

Reverting to type, carved the Batley defence and failed to convert a 3 v 1, terrible execution.

Scored first, deservedly, little lucky but lets take anything, but self destruct with flimsy defence and an embarrassing inability to catch the bomb - albeit twice perfectly placed from the Batley half.

Soward's kicking from hand top class.

The error strewn show continued in the second half sloppy tries conceded (one from Bussey kicking out on full from a kick off), but pretty much every time we got decent field position we scored.

Batley players dropping like flies at critical times, to slow the play down.

Didnt like the refereeing, the new soldier bloke, seemed intent on pinging us every time he could and not Batley.

Heard a few of the players have been told there future lies elsewhere so maybe todays show was a partially down to this.

That all said - and I dont lije losing - but really pleased for Batley and their top 4 ambitions. I'd much prefer to see them and Fev in the top 4 and Bradford nowhere near. We can turn Batley over of that I have no doubt.

No Harrison, Foster, Naiqama, Eliab and Leatherbarrow 'rested', a new half back combination, not enough drive from the forwards, Macani and Walker out of their depth.

Not a good day, we shouldn't be losing to Batley but we did and deservedly so. We need to improve massively and player unrest is causing an issue, Hendo needs to address it pronto.

Quite possibly and I doubt going into them on the back of a few half hearted performances will help us one iota. However I didn't have the chance to go. Batley had points to play for, did we, do we next week? Yes they need a hot prong up their jacksy

How about pride, how about commitment, how about wanting to win, how about turning out for the supporters who continually make the long journey so they can turn out for the team.

They need to buck their ideas up,they have had some great results but they need to work harder and show strength of character to play SL it is not a walk over

And you know that how?

Take the point pride is one thing, but who us to say that we didn't go into that game half hearted from the top down. It's easy to say they should play for pride and for the shirt and as a supporter I agree.
However if we did rest a couple, maybe Hendo looked at it and possibly saw it as a game to lose, said it before, it's z dangerous game to play trying to influence who else will be in the top 4. But I am pleased for batley and would prefer them to Bradford, same with fev, I hope they turn over the bulls and get the last slot. Why? I think Bradford are starting to show some form and look dangerous.
Next week I hope we don't hold back and get a decent win to get us vack in the habit of winning. I suspect Hendo might again rest anyone still carrying any knocks ready for who ever we face in the 8s.

Thats worrying with 4 SL teams waiting for us

Yes, but surely, realistically, our aim is 5th, MPG, and more than likely a stronger Championship campaign next year ?

I have faith that Hendo knows where we need to strengthen, has more than likely lined players up, has realised who wont cut it - its all about planning, unusual in Bronco world.

PC agreed, I think you're right that this year we just aren't strong enough to realistically compete in the middle 8's- Leigh you would think are the team in the championship who may give it a go.

Am I hearing correctly they've lined up Jerrod Hayne- NO I've not been drinking just something someone text me yesterday!!

Hitting 5th spot is not that straight foreward if we are so convinced that Leigh are the ones in with a chance realistically we are likely in 6th spot. I a gree 5th should be the aim.
I think the question we should be asking is are we as a club ready to go back into SL? Look how widnes did it, and look at Leigh! they have been building slowly over a number of years, it is not just going up its a question of survival once you are up there. leigh are probably better set, decent stadium, decent squad thats been pretty dominant and learning from mistakes. Us well the reality is we despite temporary stands etc is ealing acceptable? do we have depth in the squad? is the back room set up good enough yet?
My thoughts as much as I would love to see us back in SL, lets target a good run in the 8s, then next year take the shield in the championship or whatever it is!
As for players moving on, its that part of the season where contracts are discussed so its going to be a factor.

is that JH possibly being lined up at Leigh?

Can't see it myself Micky..But you never know.

I agree mate but i didnt think the soward rumour could be right with us and look what happened!

They've got Tickle!!

11 - 5 penalty count against, any side would struggle with a bias like that.

Do we have idea of who's signed up and who maybe off next season

Plummy why do you say bias when it's an 11 5 penalty count. Teams get penalised when they are getting beaten by a better team, quick ptb results in offside or attempts to slow the ruck down. Believe it or not the officials do not go out with any bias, they purely make sure the players are penalised when they infringe. Blame the players not the officials.

Mickey I agree with what you say in principal but it has been proven previously that London very rarely get the positive number on the penalty count. This is something Mac has spoken about in the past.

I also think crowds can sway judgment, human pressure etc

So its not as B & W as you make it out to be

I had used the word bias quite innocently ie not in the bent sense, but on reflection he probably was.

Have a look at the penalty count of any game at the weekend, and you will see evens or 1 or 2 in it.

This bloke was one sided in his views - sorry but have a look at the video and then comment. Now I am not saying we didnt give 11 penalties away, what I am saying is on the basis of his decisions against us, Batley didnt only give 5 penalties away.

Referees are inextricably linked to the ebb and flow of the game. Piggy back penalties help an attacking side and hinder the defence. It works both ways.

We didnt deserve to win, but the referees decision making certainly influenced the game.

Plummy you know I thought about this last night and was gonna come back on and apologise anyhow, I assumed you were saying the ref was biased and that was wrong of me.
What you might not know is with such an imbalance at the penalty count at review that will be looked at really closely by the RFL so actually it goes against a ref if it us so one sided, it had a discussion with Chris kendal about how it is viewed if one team gets pinged so much in a game and I am not saying it's frowned upon but unless in review they are bang on then it is noted.
Referees decisions do influence a game but referees majestic decisions on what the players do don't forget.

And having been in the middle a fair bit and with quite a few games with people shouting from the touch line, it's never a call from the touch line has never slewed my decision making, and these guys are much more experienced than me.

Still too many tired forwards: Battye dropping off loads of tackles recently; Cunno and Garside need a break. Some of these lads aren't suited to hot weather either.

Think there is a bit of grasping at straws here, I agree with worrying trend of missed tackles in last couple of games. As for players needing a rest Aw bless em! Pretty sure Monday morning was pretty relaxed recovery day for em most of players in championship probably put in a ful shift at day job.
As for it being too hot for them, firstly it's. a summer sport and second what makes it harder for them than any other player