You know it's a truly dire season when you are not even looking remotely forward to playing Saints.

Sure we don't beat them often but then who does? But we often play well against them, even this year we managed that!

I am a total Trinity optimist but try as I might I can only see another heavy defeat on the cards.

The only scenario I can imagine and its a massive long shot is that this game is such a forgone conclusion that the players may relax in a good way and just go for it and if Saints are also a bit complacent on the day then maybe. I did say it was a bit fantastical.

Every game I go to I expect a win or a very good effort , my passion and excitement for every game has never wained over the years ,and that goes for tomorrow, get stuck in and you never know the outcome , stand off them and it’s a bad day at the office once again .Mental toughness is the key , just as poor Hodgson alluded to last night , that his players don’t like doing the tough stuff and didn’t stand up to Cas and got what was coming and deserved. We very often have fallen into that category over recent years and wilt in the face of tough opposition. I’m still hoping for a rousing performance tomorrow.Lets hope the lads get behind Fifita and give saints hell ,from yours truly and ever the optimist .

Yes but for that to be so you have to believe this team can or even wants to do that. Hand on heart do you really believe that?

Hats off to you if you do by the way.

I'm with you.

And that's the way I start seasons believing that we can win something else what's the point, realisation kicks in when lack of effort for quality spoils that and gives the impression that I'm negative when complaining,
I find it pointless trying encourage the team unless they know where it needs improving, these are professionals and should know the basics of the game but week after week we get the most stupid errors which is beyond belief if only they could rectify that and put the effect it then I could except defeats when it happens.
All teams are beatable just depends on a full side willing to prove that

Now just go out a prove to yourselves you can do it

After watching Leeds thrash Wigan a couple of days ago, there is hope (albeit extremely faint).
If Saints turn up wanting to play, they will put 50+ points on us and it could get very, very messy.

The first thing we have to do is complete our sets and get to a half decent kick, something we couldn't manage last week.

We have the worst defence and worst attack in the comp but, we only need a couple of wins so, we have to keep trying.

There are 8 games left.
I'm supporting to the last second until we can no longer mathematically survive.
And then if the worst happens, I'll support them in the lower division in a shiny new stadium.

Of course it looks really really bad, but it's not over yet.
I'm not rallying the troops. Most have made it clear how they feel and will not change their mind, just saying where I am.
If I don't want the players to give up, then I shouldn't either.

And yet, at the beginning of the season, our first choice three quarters of Johnson, Tupou, Lyne and Lineham are not playing (for various reasons),

Out of that lot the one that we are really missing is Lyne. Defensively the right edge has collapsed without him. He wasn't playing great in attack but what it does show is what a great defender he is. For me he along with Kay is the biggest reason we are in this mess.

And Jowitt.

None of the back line were first choice at the start of tge season.
Murphy, Hall and Croft 40 career super league appearances between them.
And we have two players making debut and second game for us, both having had major injuries before coming here.

And they are playing against the current champions.

I have no doubt that Wolff will have used Wigan's performance to highlight to his troops exactly what can go wrong if you don't turn up on the day...Obviously I hope they play like Wigan did, but realistically I can't see it happening

That is spot on .I will giveLyne the benefit of the dowt in attack .The only game I have seen Lyin in space, was at Wires and he finished that off well .Kay is a big miss, was looking good were ever he played

Well if we don't win on Sunday, for a second prize I'd just like to see that clever cockney git McCarthy Scarbrook with his nose plastered across his face as maybe we won't get another chance, won't ease his pain but it will mine

We are really missing TJ this year. Lyne has been poor this year overall and I think in defence he’s not been great either imo. We have always leaked a lot of try’s on the right. There was a notable improvement in defence when he was injured and Batch moved to right centre for two games. I was hoping Lyne would pick up some form for the World Cup but the injury is cruel.

Whichever way you look at it we have yet again been struggling for injuries. Last year was the forwards but this year the backs.

Johnson.......yes any team would miss him, but lets be honest we have had long spells without him before and managed.

Tupou...... dont think so that much, up to latest injury I thought his form was tailing off. Think his best was a few years back. Plus when Hall showed up many were saying he woild have to go well to get his place back. So he has been covered in my opinion.

Kaye....yes for sure, he had some great games on wing before injury.

Lyne.... as others have said, he is the big miss and we have never been able to cover his absence.

Then chuck Murphy into the mix as cover for One of the wings, so on examination although we are weaker but not as bad as it initially appears.

Oh forgot to mention Lineham, his absence is a massive benefit

I don’t think we missed Kay on the wing we missed him at hooker. He offered a good foil to Hood and a bit like Woody he upped our tempo when he came on.

Like Lyne on the right we have found no alternative at 9 so the reliable but plodding Hood has had to do it all.

i mentioned Kaye because he played on the wing a bit this season and always played well and I was only discussing the back line.
However you are also bang on the money about his hooking role. Hood is tough and solid in defence but he looks more like a 'pocket' prop if you get my drift. His type were the norm sometime back but the modern hooker is massively important in todays game. Top teams have hookers with pace, skill,sharpness and guile. Our pack is missing that type of person and I am sure as a unit they would look better with that type of hooker. Woody gave us a bit of that and we are missing his type especially later in the game. Kaye offered that also.

I thought I read somewhere at the beginning of the season that the playing budget wouldn’t stretch to keep Kyle Wood for another season. The money wasted on Lineham, Gaskell and a few others would have covered it comfortably…

The fact that we have signed players since then implies it isn't true.
He needed to step down a level. His career will benefit from that.

And we absolutely miss TJ.
He'd have been good for 2 or 3 wins on his own.

Quote ="PopTart"The fact that we have signed players since then implies it isn't true. He needed to step down a level. His career will benefit from that.'" Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter said: “Kyle has been outstanding in his two spells at the club. “He has been a hugely popular figure within the club and departs to pastures new with all our very best wishes. “Unfortunately, it’s probably a consequence of the challenging financial situation that has left us not able to offer Kyle an extension. I wish him and family all the very best.” https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... wakefield/

Quote ="PopTart"The fact that we have signed players since then implies it isn't true. He needed to step down a level. His career will benefit from that.'" Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter said: “Kyle has been outstanding in his two spells at the club. “He has been a hugely popular figure within the club and departs to pastures new with all our very best wishes. “Unfortunately, it’s probably a consequence of the challenging financial situation that has left us not able to offer Kyle an extension. I wish him and family all the very best.” https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... wakefield/

Quote ="asmadasa"Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter said: “Kyle has been outstanding in his two spells at the club. “He has been a hugely popular figure within the club and departs to pastures new with all our very best wishes. “Unfortunately, it’s probably a consequence of the challenging financial situation that has left us not able to offer Kyle an extension. I wish him and family all the very best.” https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... wakefield/'" And another mistake there he has been a bit loss to us

Quote ="asmadasa"Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter said: “Kyle has been outstanding in his two spells at the club. “He has been a hugely popular figure within the club and departs to pastures new with all our very best wishes. “Unfortunately, it’s probably a consequence of the challenging financial situation that has left us not able to offer Kyle an extension. I wish him and family all the very best.” https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ch ... wakefield/'" And another mistake there he has been a bit loss to us

Disagree it was time for Wood to move on we just didn’t replace him.

I agree, but the error made by the club was replacing him with someone not as good .

If you can’t replace with better then retain for another year….