If you're talking about 3 of their 4 as 6, 7, 9, and 13 as it appears, then so did we. You can't choose to ignore Fitzgibbon as a first choice pivot just because our coach decides our 13 doesn't play as one.

Bottom line is, we were missing:

First choice stand-off - so were they
First choice fullback - theirs lasted about 10 minutes

That's it. That's all we were without in the first half, and they had to work with exactly the same. But they were also missing half their first choice pack and still cruised through us.

The loss of Long was the only extra for us, but in all honesty we were no stronger with him than we were without him. We actually drew the 2nd half without him thanks to Leeds' fatigue.

I will still be there, until the bitter end like usual. Huddersfield looked awful last night and although they'll want to turn things around next week, I fancy us to at least give them a run for their money.

Our attack doesn't concern you? For much of Friday night, we again looked clueless near their line. 2 of our 3 tries came from a prop barging over and the other was near the end of the game, when it was already lost, and we were throwing the ball around in desperation.

Similarly, against the dobbins, our last tackle plays were awful

Add to that if Moa's effort had a different outcome also. Route one again.

It looks like pre-match festivities in Rickys Bar seeing as the Working Mans Club on the corner has now shut down.

Bar in station is top notch, real ale heaven, its more appealing than the rugby

Head of Steam? Great place!

Indeed, part of the great real ale trail!

It needs work yes but there are some promising signs there.

Really ?

To be honest its a chore going to home games let alone a away game, I,ll shall not be going until i see a team giving 100% effort and not that sh@te were having to watch at the moment, I dont mind us losing providing we give 100% but the manner in which were performing at the mo is painfull to say the least.

There were in the first 15 minutes against Rovers. Can't say I saw much against Leeds, but then we never got on top of their pack and they defend much better than Rovers.

The most optimistic I can be is to say that we have players with the skill sets to execute some good attacking play if only we could get them coached properly.

We broke their line plenty of times but lacked the support to turn them into tries, that is why Leeds beat us, they took their chances due to their superior support play. I can think of a Yeaman break, a Briscoe one, two from Whiting off the top of my head.

Yes!

We lost to Leeds (and KR) primarily because our defence was poor. No line speed, poor structure particularly right side and regular failure to win the collision. As a result they made plenty of metres and played on the front foot with fast ptbs. We abjectly failed to do that in return. Defence is our biggest problem this season - 66 points against in 2 games. Fitness and strength appear to be well below the required levels.

hopefully phelps will get clearance to play, he did say 5-10 days

Spot on!

Can't see that changing by next Sunday.

No you're right. For me defensive line speed is a massive marker on how a team is motivated for the game and how they are approaching it mentally. Leeds didn't play rush defence as such but still moved quickly towards our attacking line - sometimes pinching a yard from the ref but that's how it should be - set after set. Apart from a big set in the second half when we tried to pen them in our defensive speed was poor and at times non existent. It's an easy comparison for fans to make when watching and it's a basic part of the game. It's like we don't have the confidence in our fitness to defend with the necessary aggression for the full match. Fundamental shortcoming if you ask me.

We've made plenty of breaks for the last 3 seasons and failed to back them up. leeds beat us because they were better than us

Just had a look and we have scored less points so far than 10 other teams. Seems like a problem area to me

It was one step and wait for the Leeds player to come to us where as we were painfully slow and same old same old I'm afraid.

Not if we defended better. I am not saying our attack is great but it's not the problem, out defence is the issue right now.

Yes because they support breaks and convert half chances into tries. Plus they have a higher skill factor.

Usually go to most of the Away games including Catalans for a week and London weekends,Just can't get myself motivated or enthiusiastic about attending games now,think the coaching is now affecting us fans.
for those reasons my cash will be staying firmly in my pocket for the forseeable future regarding away games.