17 for tonight v Wakey

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Caboosegg
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by Caboosegg »

Few match reports keep mentioning Isa's tackle on Johnstone, I thought it was something of nothing at the time. Johnstone gets stuck between Isa and tommy( I think) and the only reason it hits his Jaw( as it wasn't his head) was Johnstone falling.
These are two reasons not to trust people.
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2. We do know them.
josie andrews
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by josie andrews »

Caboosegg wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:19 am Few match reports keep mentioning Isa's tackle on Johnstone, I thought it was something of nothing at the time. Johnstone gets stuck between Isa and tommy( I think) and the only reason it hits his Jaw( as it wasn't his head) was Johnstone falling.
I thought it was an innocuous tackle, & couldn’t believe he went off for a head knock & then when he failed the HIA! Then we have Chris Chester complaining it was caused by a high shot off Isa!! Beggars belief at times 🤨
Anyone can support a team when it is winning, that takes no courage.
But to stand behind a team, to defend a team when it is down and really needs you,
that takes a lot of courage. #18thMan
Wintergreen
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by Wintergreen »

josie andrews wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:41 am
Caboosegg wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:19 am Few match reports keep mentioning Isa's tackle on Johnstone, I thought it was something of nothing at the time. Johnstone gets stuck between Isa and tommy( I think) and the only reason it hits his Jaw( as it wasn't his head) was Johnstone falling.
I thought it was an innocuous tackle, & couldn’t believe he went off for a head knock & then when he failed the HIA! Then we have Chris Chester complaining it was caused by a high shot off Isa!! Beggars belief at times 🤨

I'm getting annoyed by the constant bleating from Chris Chester.

He's always at it (especially when it comes to Wigan).

Crap coach, whines like a baby.
medlocke
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by medlocke »

bertina wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 12:04 am
medlocke wrote: Thu Apr 01, 2021 6:32 pm Craig Bellamy for 2022
Meds, I do enjoy some of your posts, but this is getting a bit childish now.
It where a joke, I am more than happy with Lam
Southern Softy
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by Southern Softy »

Game of two halves - finally that cliche works. That first half must have been one of our worst and the second? Well, maybe fitness works and if you can keep Wakefield out when they are on top, they lose heart and become petulant. Fifita's slap off the ball near the end anyone?
Never rated Bibby but he was outstanding last night and Shorrocks must be our most improved player. Not yet convinced by Byrne who seems to run in a straight line all night, die with the ball, not make massive yards and rarely passes. Smithies, who has such a massive amount of talent, looks a bit of a lost soul at the moment. Someone on the staff needs to get hold of him, structure his aggression and get him back to where he was a couple of seasons ago.
Agree with Bilko - Zak is a bit wasted at centre and stunningly good at FB. French will be dangerous wherever he plays, so centre or halves (if John Wells was right) should give us the best of both players.
Something a bit contentious. I don't know what we do in training - it's obviously not tactics or set plays but someone needs to have a quiet word with Bateman. He's one of the world's best and his try last night was brilliant but he can't win matches all on his own from everywhere on the field. Sometimes the simple pass is what is needed and is best for the team. Still wonderful to have him back though.
nathan_rugby
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by nathan_rugby »

Southern Softy wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:51 am Game of two halves - finally that cliche works. That first half must have been one of our worst and the second? Well, maybe fitness works and if you can keep Wakefield out when they are on top, they lose heart and become petulant. Fifita's slap off the ball near the end anyone?
Never rated Bibby but he was outstanding last night and Shorrocks must be our most improved player. Not yet convinced by Byrne who seems to run in a straight line all night, die with the ball, not make massive yards and rarely passes. Smithies, who has such a massive amount of talent, looks a bit of a lost soul at the moment. Someone on the staff needs to get hold of him, structure his aggression and get him back to where he was a couple of seasons ago.
Agree with Bilko - Zak is a bit wasted at centre and stunningly good at FB. French will be dangerous wherever he plays, so centre or halves (if John Wells was right) should give us the best of both players.
Something a bit contentious. I don't know what we do in training - it's obviously not tactics or set plays but someone needs to have a quiet word with Bateman. He's one of the world's best and his try last night was brilliant but he can't win matches all on his own from everywhere on the field. Sometimes the simple pass is what is needed and is best for the team. Still wonderful to have him back though.
Byrne is a prop, he cannot be judged on passing the ball.

Zak brilliant at FB but it’s a better team balance to have French FB, Zak Centre and if Hastings does go we have Harry Smith.

On what basis are you suggesting French to centre?
Bomhead - "Lockers to prop."
Southern Softy
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by Southern Softy »

If you are a prop and don't pass, then you need to make vast quantities of yards and punch (not literally) holes into the opposition defence, which isn't the case with Byrne at the moment.. Don't see why he can't be coached into being a prop who looks to make the ball available - our other props do.
As for French in the centre - it's more a case of making the most of Hardaker. He's been our standout player in these matches at full-back, much more so than when he plays in the centre. French, as I said, would be dangerous wherever he plays - on the wing - in the halves or centre - loose-forward even (if ball-playing loose-forwards ever come back) - depends where there is somewhere we can fit him in. A specialist centre is always best - Gildart, for example (and I'm not suggesting that he doesn't play when he's fit) but Zak does more for the team at full-back and if Faz can do well at centre where he's never played before than why not French?
Caboosegg
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by Caboosegg »

Zak has had an okay match vs Leigh and a good game vs Wakefield and suddenly he better than French at GB?

Zak has played well but it's to early to say he deserves the spot of the season, especially when French for better or Worse was our main focus of attack from FB.
These are two reasons not to trust people.
1. We don't know them.
2. We do know them.
nathan_rugby
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by nathan_rugby »

Southern Softy wrote: Fri Apr 02, 2021 11:45 am If you are a prop and don't pass, then you need to make vast quantities of yards and punch (not literally) holes into the opposition defence, which isn't the case with Byrne at the moment.. Don't see why he can't be coached into being a prop who looks to make the ball available - our other props do.
As for French in the centre - it's more a case of making the most of Hardaker. He's been our standout player in these matches at full-back, much more so than when he plays in the centre. French, as I said, would be dangerous wherever he plays - on the wing - in the halves or centre - loose-forward even (if ball-playing loose-forwards ever come back) - depends where there is somewhere we can fit him in. A specialist centre is always best - Gildart, for example (and I'm not suggesting that he doesn't play when he's fit) but Zak does more for the team at full-back and if Faz can do well at centre where he's never played before than why not French?
French to loose if ball playing from that position returns?

Heard it all now, will stop responding because it’s getting silly.
Bomhead - "Lockers to prop."
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EagleEyePie
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Re: 17 for tonight v Wakey

Post by EagleEyePie »

It was a pretty good game all things considered. We started very slow and were under pressure an awful lot but some of that was down to errors and penalties gifting Wakefield good field position. We do sometimes struggle to get out of our own 20 early on and we kept putting ourselves in that situation.

Much like last week our two starting props didn't do too well and we only started to kick into gear once our younger forwards came off the bench. I was critical of Byrne at the end of last season as he really seemed to lose his way but he's looked pretty good in the first 2 games this season. Havard ran the ball well too.

However, despite our perceived weakness in the backs they were probably the most outstanding aspect of our performance. Farrell and Isa were strong in the centres and Bibby excellent once again on the wings, while Hardaker was great at fullback.

The pack are maybe just a bit short of match fitness and Lam may be right that we'll only get up to speed after 5 or 6 weeks. Plenty to be optimistic about so far.
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