Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:03 am  

Yes, we are conceding too much ground at times. We are being too passive, but is it a deliberate tactic? I would be doubtful. Maybe they are not being coached to be more consistently aggressive in defence though?

Low completion has become the main problem IMO. Hopefully an extra week of training without a game will help iron out some of this.

I hope we can sign an experienced UK forward mid-season, but I suspect that patience in the current squad is the only answer short-term.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:20 am  

For me the 'passive' defence is made of two factors - line speed and numbers in the tackle. The team have almost no line speed in D for the majority of games. We also appear to only want to have two in the tackle for most tackles. That to me is clearly a tactical move, which can be really easily address. No defence is truly passive in RL, as the collision is still there, but I think Smith has a philosophical view point on the way the game should be played, which doesn't really fit with how to create a winning side in this era of RL.

Aside from the coaching, we also need to address the pack. Belive Mike McMeekan is OOC for next year- should we be throwing the cheque book at him? Currently much better than any of our FR options in my view.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Apr 08, 2024 11:30 am  

Our front row is pretty good on paper but… Mik hasn’t looked quite right since Salford and his shoulder re-injury, although he did have a good go at Warrington. Tom needed a good pre-season and just can’t seem to stay fit. Sangare has been good this year but he’s ideally a rotation prop. Lisone is all action but plays too loose at times and can be a liability in D.

Hudson could be a SL player but who knows when or if. Ruan looks more like a big back row than a prop to me. TNW looks like a 13… we need a pack leader type prop I think.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Apr 08, 2024 12:29 pm  

Did anyone see any footage of Smith's team that won the NSW cup? Do we play the same way?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Apr 09, 2024 2:20 pm  

The whole culture seems to be off. Players simply going through the motions. I highly doubt the likes of saints Wigan etc would be OK with players still being offside on tackle 3 or 4. When conceding it's like the team think nevermind maybe next time. Oledski and holroyd are England international players but seem like different players in Leeds colours. That's simply down to the coach/Gary hethrington. Need players to have a bit of whack in both defence and attack aswel. Not catch the ball still, allow the defence to come up then try a miracle play. Get extra men in the tackle slow them down. These are really basic things but we don't seem to understand that

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Apr 10, 2024 2:11 am  

Jack - I haven't seen much of Norths, but I don't remember anything being said about them playing in some unique way under Smith? The defensive strategy we have now seems to have been developed in his first season, and it worked very well. I think its been worked out and is now a weakness rather than a strength. As we saw last season, if you give up field position even poor sides will feel enthused, and better teams will just take advantage of it. I disagree entirely that its not a tactic, as no other side seems to try to do what we do, and I have no doubt all our players could play a much more aggressive (dare I say normal?) style of defence if asked.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Sun Apr 14, 2024 5:43 pm  

Bombed out massively not getting Fitzgibbon awsome today he's got everything we are missing.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Apr 17, 2024 12:46 pm  

exiledrhino wrote:

For me the 'passive' defence is made of two factors - line speed and numbers in the tackle. The team have almost no line speed in D for the majority of games. We also appear to only want to have two in the tackle for most tackles. That to me is clearly a tactical move, which can be really easily address. No defence is truly passive in RL, as the collision is still there, but I think Smith has a philosophical view point on the way the game should be played, which doesn't really fit with how to create a winning side in this era of RL.


Signed

Aside from the coaching, we also need to address the pack. Belive Mike McMeekan is OOC for next year- should we be throwing the cheque book at him? Currently much better than any of our FR options in my view.

Signed for wakefield along with Johnstone

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Apr 17, 2024 1:20 pm  

supercat wrote:

Signed for wakefield along with Johnstone

Wakey are going for it!

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Apr 17, 2024 3:03 pm  

Hopefully they get relegated then we can sign him xD