Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:20 am  

[quote="Bull Mania"]

From smiths interview it sounds like he's installing an "us against the world" mentality. So Wakefield will come out all guns blazing. quote]

He doesn't need to, its been part of Wakeys culture & folklore for a few years, just remember the times they've been written off and ground out the results they needed.

Smithy wont make the mistake of treating the Bulls as a Championship side, so expect a full on Wakey from the whistle, the Bulls just have to soak up any pressure and then start to control the game, the 2nd half will prove to be pivotal and nerve wracking! I still expect a Bulls win by 1 or umpteen I don't care!

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 9:54 am  

Said in another thread I'd be happy with a good performance and build to the games coming up.

Don't think its a must win, but we a certainly in with a shot.....

If we do pull it off, we'll have put ourselves in the frame for an automatic spots, especially with 3 home games still to come.

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:01 am  

Wigan Bull wrote:

Said in another thread I'd be happy with a good performance and build to the games coming up.

Don't think its a must win, but we a certainly in with a shot.....

If we do pull it off, we'll have put ourselves in the frame for an automatic spots, especially with 3 home games still to come.

It's all about winning IMO. It's not must win for us, but it would then make Widnes or Salford must win IMO. It's more the damage it would do to Wakefield in their season.

[Bulliac]

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:34 am  

Ferocious Aardvark wrote:

Our current team probably IS worse, on paper, than the one that went down, but fortunately the cliche that games aren't played on paper is still true. The team that got relegated could easily (in my opinion) have been a top 8 team, but for whatever reason, zero confidence, coaching, tactics, whatever, played a whole lot of miserable stuff.

I would agree with that, even though the team which eventually went down was very short on forwards and had been running with constantly changing, 'in and out', loanees since the loss of Scruton, Winterstein and Carvell right at the start of the 2014 season. Our current side is maybe a bit short of top level experience in a few places, but much better balanced imo and stronger where it needs to be; in the forwards.

In terms of the Wakey match, we've also lacked the hardening coming from constant high level competition which Trinity have had - too many easy wins and even sloppy performances often coming up with the two points isn't the best diet in the run up to these season defining games - the idea that every minute has mattered has been a bit of a joke for a pro side in the championship.

Of course, on the other side we haven't, 'got used to losing', as Wakey undoubtedly have. So is the confidence gained by winning, more important than not having a strong fixture list? - guess we'll find out at the weekend.

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 10:50 am  

Tbh only position last years team was definitely stronger in was scrum half imo. And gale could be good one week then missing for a few. Undoubtedly some of that was due to lack of forwards. Whilst addy isn't as good a scrum half he's certainly more consistent. Every other position is either the same players or an equal or better replacement plus we have an adequate set of props this year which was main deficiency last year.
Only ones who left last year I'd have like to have kept were Kearney and Donaldson but mullaneys a decent replacement for Kearney when fit with shaw/mendeika as backup. Think olbisons stepped up a level this year and filled gap left by Donaldson.

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 11:33 am  

We're definitely weaker at Scrum Half compared to last season. Gale's been good for Cas this season and has thrived in a team with a dominant pack. Apart from that I think we have a better team than last season and we're playing with a lot more confidence, which is so important in any sport.

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 1:07 pm  

I also think the whole team is better this year. Gale and Kearney are the exceptions buy a fit Mullaney pushes Kearney close and don't forget he was also prone to long spells out injured.
I think our pack is equal to Wakey but our backs may be quicker and at least as experienced.
I expect a close win on Saturday - but I can also see a convincing win if all goes well. It is very difficult to predict this game but we all said Wakey are the team Leigh and ourselves really do need to beat.
My mate somehow managed to record their game at the weekend on his laptop and I thought both teams didn't look great. They are beatable if we play to our best ability.

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 1:27 pm  

I've also watched Salford v Wakey and I thought it was 20% quicker than our game. Some of Wakey's defending in the opening half hour was hopeless. Then out of nowhere Smith and Miller combined really well, fashioned a couple of tries, Morley went off injured and for all the world they looked like they were going to win. Chase broke away and nobody got within a mile of him.

I think it's all about the arm wrestle in the middle. Get into them and make them kick out of their own half and there's not a lot going on. Give them ball in our 20 and Smith will open us up. If we step up again then I think we'll do it.

[Bulliac]

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:04 pm  

Speed of the game depends very much on the referee and, sad to say, you're not going to get quick games with championship referees. On Sunday, Thomassons steely determination to keep the game to the level of the slowest team was outstanding and well in line with what we've had all year.

This cuts both ways, of course, and if we're slower than the SL sides we may be glad when we've got a championship ref....

Re: Super 8's Game 2: Wakefield Away : Tue Aug 11, 2015 2:09 pm  

Bulliac wrote:

Speed of the game depends very much on the referee and, sad to say, you're not going to get quick games with championship referees. On Sunday, Thomassons steely determination to keep the game to the level of the slowest team was outstanding and well in line with what we've had all year.

This cuts both ways, of course, and if we're slower than the SL sides we may be glad when we've got a championship ref....

Ben Thaler referee Saturday