Doncaster (A) : Wed Aug 21, 2024 8:22 am  

All feels a bit flat after yet another implosion. Up against a Doncaster side that beat Toulouse, yet lost against 16 players of Whitehaven. Expect a response from us. Then a comfortable win against Dewsbury, before a season defining game against the Eagles. If we don't get a response from the Fev game, Doncaster will put us to the sword and the wheels will have well and truly come off.

Re: Doncaster (A) : Wed Aug 21, 2024 11:36 am  

Certainly feels a bit make or break against a Doncaster side who on their day are very capable. I've no idea what to expect from the Bulls (apart from inconsistency).... Slip up again and we are in some jeopardy....Really hope we bounce back with a touch of style in the next two games ready for the Sheffield (who have a real tough run of fixtures).

Re: Doncaster (A) : Wed Aug 21, 2024 6:04 pm  

Whitehaven a couple of weeks ago was billed as ‘make or break’ by EOC. This week’s game is of a similar stature. Doncaster will pose a greater threat than a wounded and depleted Whitehaven team. I think we have enough to get the win but we cannot have any slip ups. Bottle this one and it’s looking like a limp to the finish line.

Widnes play Sheffield so hopefully we can grab 3rd place or cement a gap between us and 5th place.

Re: Doncaster (A) : Wed Aug 21, 2024 10:22 pm  

Taking the Wakefield games out of it, there's only the York (A) and Widnes (A) game for me where it sounded like we weren't within a sniff realistically.

Widnes (H) 13-14 - better game management would have seen us win
Batley (A) 21-20 - as above
Toulouse (A) 12-12 - arguably a fair result?
Barrow (A) 24-24 - better game management would have seen us win
Fev (H) 21-22 - as above

If you were to add those 7 points to our tally, we'd be comfortably 2nd!

I know its all ifs and buts; think what I'm trying to say is there are some positives to build on though the results are disappointing....

Re: Doncaster (A) : Thu Aug 22, 2024 8:16 am  

I think the above highlights that while fixable, they're probably not fixable until next season as the current lot aren't learning. The fear is we completely implode this season and have similar to 2021, where we threw away what should have been a good season, limped out of the play-offs without a whimper and that carried on the season after.

[Bullseye]

Re: Doncaster (A) : Thu Aug 22, 2024 8:25 am  

The frustrating thing is that the shortcomings seem to be mental weakness rather than anything else. We've been in winning positions then crumbled. There's a soft underbelly that is exposed when we're put under pressure. Players start acting as individuals or get drawn into indiscipline.

Re: Doncaster (A) : Thu Aug 22, 2024 9:43 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

The frustrating thing is that the shortcomings seem to be mental weakness rather than anything else. We've been in winning positions then crumbled. There's a soft underbelly that is exposed when we're put under pressure. Players start acting as individuals or get drawn into indiscipline.

Perhaps EoC understands this too and is recruiting with that in mind? James D for example will hopefully bring some of that professionalism and mental toughness to the dressing room.

I get the impression the "soft centre" has been an issue for some time, well certainly since the return to championship.

Culture isn't an east thing to change in any business and I guess that's even harder with a sports team based business.

[Bullseye]

Re: Doncaster (A) : Fri Aug 23, 2024 8:38 am  

I remember Matthew Elliott saying it was easier to weed out people you didn't want in a sports team than in an office environment. You can't sell Dave from accounts to another firm

I think it's harder to build a decent roster of players in the championship because the player pool is so small and the best will always end up in SL. We're left with players who for a variety of reasons aren't wanted by SL teams. I used to admire the culture at Batley a few years back as they used to punch well above their weight. We need to do the same, at a higher level. It'll be harder because we'll keep losing our best to SL.

Re: Doncaster (A) : Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:44 am  

Bulls 21 man squad. Dan Smith is back from injury and could feature:

Re: Doncaster (A) : Fri Aug 23, 2024 11:51 am  

I've been lucky to be able to meet and listen to some great coaches and leaders from across sport in my work and one that sticks out in my mind was a presentation by Sir Clive Woodward who shared his experience of building the team morale in the England team prior to their 2003 World Cup win.

He explained that talented teams fail because they make allowances for Sappers... those kind of people that sap all the energy from a room because of their negativity. You can have all the talent in the world, but you stand a better chance of success by having a group of less talented team players working towards a shared goal than you do with a group of gifted but difficult individuals.

There is one very good example of a player who played for us not so long ago, who was Man of Steel but never got a look in at international level (for England) or even at a top competing SL side.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist that we have had our fair share of those Sappers and still do. Some have left during this season but I can name 2-3 more that are still in there who are not bringing the right energy needed.

EoC needs to keep weeding these players out otherwise our culture won't change for the positive.