: Sun Feb 15, 2009 9:55 pm
I've finally calmed now and will give my honest opinion.
I thought we lacked ideas on attack. We seemed to think that Big Joe was still with us and we'd just barrel over when sat on their try-line.
I can't remember a game where one side had so much territory and ball yet failed to win the game.
Players wise:
Platt is lacking confidence and you can see it a mile off. He had one good run (which resulted in a penalty to us when he took a high shot) and was being ultra careful not to have a brain fart..........until he thought he had twinkle toes and decided to take his man on in a space that even a bad woman driver wouldn't try to reverse into
Jeffries had a mare. Not sure how much the clattering he took off the ball early on had to do with it but why he was taking the second(?) drive in at 13-12 I do not know.
Newton threw more forward passes than an NFL quarterback - I have no idea how he got away with so many.
Burgess, Morrison, Scruton and Menzies had good games for me. I thought the try-saving tackle from Menzies near the end was world class. I wish we could have signed this guy 10 years ago. If he stays fit he'll be a great player for us.
A "minor" gripe or two.
McNamara said before the season started that "overweight / unfit" players would not make the side. Yet Solomona was in the 17 ahead of Worrincy. Granted Sol wasn't on long before he got injured but he didn't look that slim. I know this point is probably harsh but what statement does it give to the rest of the side?
A couple of situations during the match I wondered what Macca was thinking:
At one point we had Kopczak and Langley at prop (for all of about 3 mins before Langley got injured).
We had Godwin, Newton, Deacon and Jeffries all on the pitch at one point.
Menzies played 2nd row, stand-off, centre and probably loose forward too.
I know some of the above may have been forced due to the injuries but Kopczak played a solid 15 mins and was then withdrawn - for Jeffries I think - leaving us with one prop on the park.
It was depressing as it's the first game of the season and we were at home and had heard a lot of things from the club about how good we were going to be.
I'm sure we'll play better, I actually think that if we'd got a try early on in the second half the floodgates might have opened, but we will never know.
As an aside, I thought the catering options had improved and the prematch entertainment was better too. I think the "rock" music will work alot better when there's a big crowd on a Sky game (such as Leeds).
Rant over.
Oh - and well played Hull KR - most teams would have been dead on their feet making that many tackles.
car parking is crap tho 
