Are we honest about the rugby we watch? : Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:22 am  

Do we really believe that if Halifax played Barrow ten times away from home this season, the result would be much different to last night? I for one expected a Barrow win. This is not because I think they are a much better team, but purely based on the fact that nearly every team in this league is going to be very tough to beat on their home ground this season. I really do believe that we are kidding ourselves, when we consistently claim that if only we had been at 100% we would have won so convincingly. I think deep down , we do realise that in any sport, a day when we perform 100% perfectly is exceptionally rare, if it ever happens at all. We must start to be more honest about our league, otherwise it is cheapened. This season Widnes have lost at home to Oldham, away to Barrow etc, Leigh have lost at home to Batley and Halifax have struggled for forty minutes against Blackpool, hardly hammered Hunslet and scraped through against Barrow. What is wrong in facing facts. The point in the season when the more fancied teams are to play at 100% every week and are to have fully fit squads is never going to arrive. Let us accept a lot of teams in this league are similar. Surely if certain teams were miles better than others, then after several friendlies, a whole round of Northern Rail Cup games and 2 or 3 league games, one team would be winning consistently by at least 50 points. To suggest that no teams in this league could live with the so called top teams in this league does seem a little foolish and inaccurate when you look at the evidence. I may be wrong, but I think we are going to see a lot of tight battles this season, involving most teams and these are to be more of the norm than the battering that Widnes gave a naive looking Toulouse outfit. Let us be honest in our judgements and make this a richer league. I realize, that now that the best two teams from our league, in Salford and Celtic have been promoted, it is tempting to get carried away and over exaggerate the superiority of our chosen team, but in the words of Roy Walker let's start to say what we see.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 11:48 am  

i agree with you etoile1. i sometimes think that some fans are a bit blinkered.Yes a full strength Fax team playing well does whet the appetite and can beat any team in this league; however a full strength Widnes team, a full strength Haven team , a full strength Fev side can do the same.Teams are going to suffer injuries etc and most will not be at full strength all season; we are already without Worrincy , Goddard and Gleason from our top side.Sometimes its not just about having the best players ; teamwork , committment etc are just as important - thats why teams without the star men like Batley , Leigh , Doncaster will often turn over more fancied sides.As I have mentioned before this league is ultra competitive and anybody can beat anyone.This is why we love sport - it is so unpredictable.I am not a football follower but did anyone expect Liverpool to put 4 past Man utd and Real Madrid and did anyone expect Fulham to ease past Man utd.

Re: Are we honest about the rugby we watch? : Sun Mar 29, 2009 12:18 pm  

etoile1 wrote:

Do we really believe that if Halifax played Barrow ten times away from home this season, the result would be much different to last night? I for one expected a Barrow win. This is not because I think they are a much better team, but purely based on the fact that nearly every team in this league is going to be very tough to beat on their home ground this season. I really do believe that we are kidding ourselves, when we consistently claim that if only we had been at 100% we would have won so convincingly. I think deep down , we do realise that in any sport, a day when we perform 100% perfectly is exceptionally rare, if it ever happens at all. We must start to be more honest about our league, otherwise it is cheapened. This season Widnes have lost at home to Oldham, away to Barrow etc, Leigh have lost at home to Batley and Halifax have struggled for forty minutes against Blackpool, hardly hammered Hunslet and scraped through against Barrow. What is wrong in facing facts. The point in the season when the more fancied teams are to play at 100% every week and are to have fully fit squads is never going to arrive. Let us accept a lot of teams in this league are similar. Surely if certain teams were miles better than others, then after several friendlies, a whole round of Northern Rail Cup games and 2 or 3 league games, one team would be winning consistently by at least 50 points. To suggest that no teams in this league could live with the so called top teams in this league does seem a little foolish and inaccurate when you look at the evidence. I may be wrong, but I think we are going to see a lot of tight battles this season, involving most teams and these are to be more of the norm than the battering that Widnes gave a naive looking Toulouse outfit. Let us be honest in our judgements and make this a richer league. I realize, that now that the best two teams from our league, in Salford and Celtic have been promoted, it is tempting to get carried away and over exaggerate the superiority of our chosen team, but in the words of Roy Walker let's start to say what we see.

totally agree i expected a tight game yesterday and i fully expected us to get the win in a close game. will be tight and we will lose games this sason.

we will beat haven 60-0 at haven

[triran]

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:45 pm  

There is a difference between foolishness and confidence. If we didnt feel any form of confidence, whats the point?

So we have won quite a few games so far this year regardless of the opponents - so we should feel not so confident? Dont be daft.

I personally would like to think Halifax can win every weekend but just like it has already been highlighted, this is a tough league this year and there will be banana skins - still doesn't mean I am not allowed to be confident.

Well done to all those clubs who have raised the bar this year but I am still going to be confident in 'Fax without foolishness.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 2:47 pm  

If Fax play anything like most weekends we'll beat most teams in this league but it doesn't work like that no doubt we won't play well at a game (e.g Sheffield last year) and probably not turn up at Whitehaven

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:42 pm  

ads7fax wrote:

If Fax play anything like most weekends we'll beat most teams in this league but it doesn't work like that no doubt we won't play well at a game (e.g Sheffield last year) and probably not turn up at Whitehaven

As bizarre as this might sound; I don't mind if we lose the odd game this season, it will add to the excitement of the league. Winning week in week out is great, but a little repetitive and predictable. I would much rather watch unpredictable games where we will be challenged all the way to the end, and if we raise to the challenge I feel we can beat them too. If we lose, no problem, but if we don't turn up (ie Sheffield last year) that is where the problem lies.

I can see us giving our all this year, and I can see us going all the way, so lets get behind the boys and enjoy some rugby!!!

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:47 pm  

ShayFax wrote:

As bizarre as this might sound; I don't mind if we lose the odd game this season, it will add to the excitement of the league. Winning week in week out is great, but a little repetitive and predictable. I would much rather watch unpredictable games where we will be challenged all the way to the end, and if we raise to the challenge I feel we can beat them too. If we lose, no problem, but if we don't turn up (ie Sheffield last year) that is where the problem lies.

I can see us giving our all this year, and I can see us going all the way, so lets get behind the boys and enjoy some rugby!!!

This could be the most successful season in many many years

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 3:51 pm  

ads7fax wrote:

This could be the most successful season in many many years

I am confident it will be too.

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 8:29 pm  

Jesus Etoile1 & Rickster, did someone p**s on your bonfire or what?

As fans of one of the more fancied teams in this division we are allowed to get carried away if we like and make outrageous claims and in some cases behave like complete n*bs on other teams boards. It's expected, look at Hull KR

The truth is when we get near 80% let alone 100% this team should lay waste to any of the others in our competition. We already had a top quality attack and now we've got a defence that will back it up, all we're waiting for is little more cool with the ball in hand.

When this team does click, it's going to be awesome. I want to win everything!!!

: Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:41 pm  

Most say I was exspecting a very tough game and Barrow didnt disapoint but not many teams (if any) will beat them on their own pitch and I feel we havent performed no where near as good as we can yet this season and played 2 very tough sides and got 6 points and I do beleve Barrow will finish top 4 (defently playoffs)