Trinity have Tom Johnstone Bill Tupou Max Jowitt Mason Caton Brown Joe Arundel David Fifita Craig Huby Danny Kirmond and Tinirau Arona ( 9 players ) injured and are forced to play Danny Brough ( unable to train this week) Matty Ashurst and James Batchelor ( both not fully recovered from previous injury ) and a 19 year old making only his second appearance . Then both Ash and Batch have to go off because they have aggravated there old injury so interchanges are limited. Kelepi just still settlitin has to play 80 minutes in 2 different positions.We have one of the lowest budgets in the league but apparently we are crap ! Some people !

All of the above is correct but, with the amount of possession we had, especially in the first half, we were unable to execute a play to score ANY points.
Yes, the game all swung on the interception (the only try of the game) but, against a very, very poor Leeds side, we couldn't get over the line and although Brought may not be fully fit, our other play makers, Miller, Hampshire, Wood and Randell were all playing
.Defensively we were good, with the interception the only time that our line was breeched but with ball in hand, we were so far from good enough, I can hardly speak.
With the quality of passing skills on show, the whole squad need to go to an under 8's training session and learn how to catch and pass a ball.

Despite thinking that we were play off contenders, we could yet find ourselves battling it out at the wrong end of the table

Because 'some' fans have delusions of grandeur and can't take losses well. Everyone is frustrated and disappointed about last night. We struggled with basic passing and creation. Our defence was only breached once via an intercept. We can give in or muck in to change our fortunes.

It's worth noting about patience. Leeds fans complained many years ago for 2/3 seasons about their youth. They persisted and had a golden generation of success. We've blooded some youngsters which will bear fruit! Really pleased with Kersh and Croft. An example of patience, Tom J had loads of areas to work on, he made mistakes, he was thrown in, dropped, came back in and now is arguably in the top 5 best finishers in the world.

I bang on about patience in youth. It's also worth noting our coaching team are young and developing. They'll make good and bad decisions but getting rid of folk at the drop of a hat is rubbish. MC isn't going to do that, so we need to get behind them. If you say to a coach before the season you'll have half your salary cap out, go and manage it, I think most would find it tough. I'm still disappointed but have emapthy with their predicament.

Let's regroup and go again.

Even when we had a poor team and Leeds were unstoppable, we were capable of scoring a few points. Last night was just dire.

We forced what, three, four, dropouts in the first 10 mins and didn’t score from any of them with our first choice 1,6,7,9. We still had Reece Lyne and BJB with Sau another first team outside back. And you can’t understand the criticism?

To sum it up we are the first team to be nilled by Leeds this season. Just take that in.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Some utter nonsense being spoken over last night. It was hugely frustrating to watch and playing the walking wounded has put the season’s hopes on the skids. Not sure what choice there is otherwise and I’d have taken the gamble against what is a poor Leeds side this year.

The one criticism I will make is not playing the conditions. Leeds did that, took the points on offer from kicks and their big chance with the ball in hand. Excellent defence from them towards the end of the game as well. Fair result in the end.

It’s probably more born from frustration than anything.

Losing twice to London and that last night even with the numbers depleted meant we could have been sat on 22 points, in a strong position, with all aforementioned players to return at the business end.

Now we look like missing out on the opportunity (again) and that’s the frustration.

It's worth saying we weren't playing the Leeds team that has lost so many.
They had fit players in where we had busted players.
I knew it would be harder than people thought when I saw the team and the big point for me from OP is they players who are playing injured.

We didn't score because of poor execution but we did create.
It needs to be fixed but it doesn't warrant the noncence some are posting.

I think the opening poster is totally wrong. yesterday was dire and injuries are no excuse and if I’m shot down so be it.

However put in context hopefully this is a low water mark in what’s been an incredible 3 - 4 years.

Last night aside injuries have played a huge part this year, combine this with the sticky patches all teams have it not so bad. In truth we have been spoiled of late. Not that long ago holding Leeds to ten points would be considered an achievement.

It’s simple and rather like Leeds we need a win and the only people who can manufacture that are the players.

To the OP, it’s mostly not criticism it’s an honest appraisal from most. We can’t kid ourselves, even taking injuries into account we are playing quite badly at the moment.

It will change but hopefully sooner rather than later.

But who's going to change it Fisherman we've been playing the same way now for a long time other teams know exactly what we're going to do & it's the same every week a lot of people on here won't have a word said about Chester but him & his coaching colleagues have to come up with some variations. we look so flatfooted

I'd like to disagree if that's ok.

Firstly injuries may not be an excuse but they are a reason. Changing formations and partnerships will always affect execution and for me that is what is wrong at the moment.
Also, there was no lack of effort yesterday. We forced 4 drop outs from the off so there was no slow start, we just didn't execute the play correctly and put a poor pass out that ended up in touch.
Same with the moans about wet weather rugby. Leeds defended the middle well so one out rugby wasn't working. Brough's kicking was exactly right. We just messed up the play to get the ball with Miller trying to catch on the full rather than letting them make the mistake or Hampshire trying for the ball and catching the player off the ball.
Again the game changing move was great in that the ball went to the new guy out wide who broke free. Hampshire made the effort to catch up but ran rowards him rather than leaving a passing option so the fullback has the intercept and pass within reach.
BJB not diving. It's all execution.
Sau could have had 3 tries if the ball had been a good pass.

It was the quality of passing that killed our attack last night.
This is clearly not down to ability as EVERY SL player is more than capable of passing a rugby ball but, we need to find out just why we are "passing the ball anywhere" rather than execute a decent pass.
Are we frightened of taking a hit or under so much pressure that we cant perform.

The best players can make the right calls and execute their skills under the severest pressure and the lower down the shaft you go, the ability to perform as often or, under more pressure, reduces.

I have to say that I really thought that the players that we have, especially the pivots / spine were way better than they showed last night and some of our last tackle plays were just not good enough, which ordinarily you would say is down to our main organiser (Brough). He and Miller look like they cant/ dont want to play in the same side, which, based on their early season form is just bizarre.

Frankly I’d be amazed if you didn’t disagree, it’s certainly your style where I’m concerned.

You’re not totally wrong nobody is. However your desire to be contrary on last night is somewhat contradictory. Read your post from half time last night and unless I’m mistaking you’re pretty much calling it a dire performance, am I wrong?

Repeat of his cock up at Cas earlier this year. He just doesn't have the acceleration to get close enough in those situations



Missing Jowitt ?

we just didn't look to grind a result out, maybe we don't have the grunt and determination to do it. Last play potions very poor but not much wrong with our kicking game. Nothing came from the half backs and the pack seemed overpowered. The squads been sunk by injuries to key players and we still need to get back to anything like a full squad.
for me the biggest disappointments Miller who at the moment can not seem to get in to gear, his game times been limited but I expected more from him.
The swap with Salfords proved totally ineffective and I didn't seen the need for it in the first place.
Its been a frustrating few weeks and once again we need the players to step up in general and the senior players to get a grip and perform like we know they can. Leadership seems non existent.

Warrington have easily beaten Catalan & had 7 first team players missing but the players that did play were all singing from the same songsheet that surely has to be down to the coaching staff or the players are just not good enough to coach

Well the coach told us why he shipped Pauli out, and told him in no uncertain terms didn't he?!! I partly agree with you, nothing against Sau, but now he's picked Croft, he could have played him before. Now Sau can't play next week, then unless we don't know something, Tupou will be back, what then for Sau? Pretty pointless, unless of course Pauli does come back fitter, faster and the best back row in the comp......

. He and Miller look like they cant/ dont want to play in the same side, which, based on their early season form is just bizarre.'"

Very good point, maybe he's just lost that yard especially in the first few strides........next year TJ & MCB to start as first choice wingers??

Chester said after the match there were 4 or 5 players who did not train last week so they could play last night,Weather was a big factor last night making it a level playing field,making it easier to defend and much harder to grip the ground this is why B J B could not dive for the the corner .Thought new forward went well and can not wait to see him on a dry track and think Hampshire would have scored of is break but seemed to near for is pass. .Think the time as come to get behind them instead giving them criticism

But that’s boring

Watched it again today.
Could have , should have won.
Created opportunities, but failed to capitalise.
Unlike some, do not feel it the time to pick out individuals to blame.

By the way , it was Miller who created the break for Kelepi.