I will give Radford credit.He works hard,but his latest excuse of playing Thompson at centre left him short of middles doesnt add up.
Whats happened to the players added for squad depth?
Bienek,Levy or even Langtree could have been used but were not even considered as they played for the reserves the previous night
I wonder what they think when they see Paea selected when he is obviously carrying an injury,and Minichello picked time after time despite well below par performances.
We need some size in the middle yet he continues to use Thomson as a front row.
Sneyd,Houghton and Minichello should be dropped and not based solely on last night.
Give Litten a run,and Miloudi at half back at least until Connor comes back.Even then i would play Connor at right centre and let Carlos play left where he is much more comfortable.
Griffin can move onto the bench when the wings are fit
Pearson has a big decision to make whether to act before easter of leave it to the end of the season to change the coaching staff.

I agree , if Pearson has no intention of keeping radders for next season he needs to get rid asap so the new coach can sign his own players or else it will take the new coach another 2/3 years to get his own team . Some big decisions to make for Pearson to make .

Don't see why you are critising Sneyd and Houghton, both having decent seasons playing with a packing that isn't good enough. Although it's time to use Litten more.

In fact at full strength, I'd say our backs are good to enough to compete and I wouldn't worry about recruiting there except a winger (Where I'd look to either Lineham or any of Wigan wingers).

It's forwards (Or are least forwards who aren't injury prone) and need a leader in the pack.

I wouldn't be bothered if we didn't keep any of the main OOC players except Westy, Sneyd and possible Faramino.

Time to get better value for money.

I assumed Litten was injured when he wasn't named in the 17, crazy if he was left out and not injured as he adds a bit of spark from the bench.
Said it ages ago, Minichiello is done, cooked finished. Manu just about done as well, now is the time to eject some enthusiasm and some younger hungry players.

Who should he have played at centre against a destructive three quarter line?
We were missing Shaul. Connor, Naulago, Talanoa and Scott with Logan out on loan. The point around the middles is fair but with our starting 6 in the pack starting the game and absentees I understand his thinking personally. The consequence was obviously Thompson lacking the pace to handle his opposite number and missing 9 tackles.

Destructive three quarter line they had both first choice centres missing

They destroyed us.

No it's only us that have injuries, you're missing the point, they don't affect other teams, honestly.

knowing our luck it will be Radford out, Horne in!

Conner Shaul missing and an unfit Kelly from a spine would effect any team. Calling for LR out under those circumstances is unfair.

That's so true.

Going to stick with my homey Radders to come back strong, and hopefully with Connor and all our local front row playing together, Andre settling in, and Westy carrying on his good form, Tag returns to top notch footie, and young Litten introduced again, we will be able to push on, it was after all two points lost, not the end of the world. Warry was electric on the night, but as I say nowt won in March. Happy mother’s day to all mums on our forums.

I'm sorry, but missing your starting full back, a winger and a decent centre is not enough of an excuse for conceding 63 points at home.

The forwards were absolutely dominated. The backline was woefully out of position all night. They surrendered. I fail to see how much difference those three would have made.

Maybe we'd have lost by 40 points instead? We'd have still been well beaten when we were supposed to be competing at the top.

I'd understand if it was a one off, but we've been stuffed very heavily 3 times since July (including a record defeat), lost a joint record number of defeats on the bounce, and I think Case in May last year was the last time we beat a team above us in the league (all other wins, including this year, have been against teams below us in the league).

We're not competing. We should be. We have a good enough squad to. There is something seriously wrong for this to be happening still. You can't blame injuries this year because we don't have that many (and every club gets them).

Can't go on like this any longer.

Put your specs on Mrs b
I was not criticising Radford for playing Thompson in the centre i was referring to his after match comment that the decision left him short in the middles when we had Bienek,Levy or even Langtree who could have stepped in but he chose to play them the day before in the reserves.
Thats what i dont understand.
These players were brought in to strengthen the squad yet were not used when he is saying he didnt have any options.

Isn't april fools day the day we traditionally announce the signing of a contract by an unpopular coach?

I remember Agar signing a big extension when we were nearly as bad as we are now

Indeed he did, but it's Ok as Radford is in the HDM today saying what "we" need to do. NO LEE, IT IS WHAT YOU need to do, less talk, more action, starting with your resignation, we have gone so far backwards it is untrue.

Is it pride, ignorance or arrogance or a fact its his paid employment and would you just walk away after a bad night in the office.

One question I'd have is who controls retention and recruitment in your club. I remember when you won the cups a lot of credit went to Tony who apparently controlled who came in. Has LR taken over this or has he been let down by who ever does now.

Ellis was given Motu Tony's job but he was a square peg in a round hole and it proved he wasn't the right fit and moved out. I believe James Clarke was then given the role. What it all proves imo is that it's a specialist role and requires a specialist appointment.

Clarke has zero input on recruitment, like everyone else on this board, apart from the financial side of any deals.

I accept that but I would imagine he's the man now responsible for sorting the logistics and paperwork out regarding recruitment, not identifying players.

… absolutely, I had already edited my post to reflect that point.

whomever is identifying players is failing, or the purse strings are getting tighter?

As I’ve said a proper replacement for motu Tony is crucial especially with a squad rebuild on the horizon but it looks like we’ve missed the boat