Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 9:10 am  

Reading the comments on this thread and others is most depressing.

Does anyone else get the feel we are going through the motions, ready to wind up and pack in?
Has the distinct feel of when you're working your notice.

I still keep an eye on the scores but haven't been to a game now for a while and can't say I'm feeling any excitement or motivation to do so.
It's so sad from the days of super rugby in a packed odsal to this....

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 9:36 am  

Well I had a fantastic time at the game yesterday. Great performance, great atmosphere.

Glad I went to the football and not the rugby!

[Bullseye]

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 10:33 am  

Wigan Bull wrote:

Reading the comments on this thread and others is most depressing.

Does anyone else get the feel we are going through the motions, ready to wind up and pack in?
Has the distinct feel of when you're working your notice.

With so many leaving at the end of the year I think you've hit the nail on the head Wigsy. Watching the recent videos about our 2005 season you see an unbelievable contrast in every way. Those players wanted to go out on a high note. Many of the current group seem to be less motivated. Dunning said the players "gave everything" but and they may have done but looking at some they could certainly give a lot more if they were fitter.

Some players do definitely care but yesterday it wasn't channelled properly. For example when we were chasing the game in the 2nd half we got a penalty on our own 30m line. Flanagan elected to take a tap rather than put the ball into touch. Why? We would've made much more ground if we'd taken the kick. In the first half Lawford gained 40m on a penalty with a great kick. Flanagan obviously wanted to speed up the tempo but he let his enthusiasm cloud his judgement.

In the post match interview there was some discussion about our disallowed tries from Mick. Maybe one was harsh but Dunning at least correctly said it wasn't the reason for the defeat. He did say the lack of cohesion was down to having Hallas, Lawford and Kear as playmakers. He also said the large field at York gives players margin for error whereas that's not the case at Odsal. He said we find it difficult at Odsal. I think that's the first time that's been acknowledged officially. Not that it seems to hinder the opposition as much. We apparently have a different gameplan for home games that needs us to be "absolutely meticulous" which also looks to be beyond the current group.

Dunning said Whitehaven are a "good team" but I'd say that their league position says otherwise.

The club have a herculean task to sell season tickets for next year. We need a huge clearout of players and a change in culture.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:00 am  

Wigan Bull wrote:

Reading the comments on this thread and others is most depressing.

Does anyone else get the feel we are going through the motions, ready to wind up and pack in?
Has the distinct feel of when you're working your notice.

I still keep an eye on the scores but haven't been to a game now for a while and can't say I'm feeling any excitement or motivation to do so.
It's so sad from the days of super rugby in a packed odsal to this....

This has the ring of truth to it. I've been to a few home games this year, but its a chore, not the highlight of the week like it used to be (even for plenty of times after Super League) and I prefer away games to home games now. Odsal was never great, but it had its unique charm in the past, now the field size is an absolute disgrace (that under sizing surely cannot be allowed long term??), the stands and hoardings are covered in dirt, its just an unpleasant place to spend the afternoon now, embarrassing.

I'm not local, so the travel, costs and time just dont stack up any more at the moment. Restore a proper sized pitch and give me a sense of hope for the future with the team and investment from owners and I'll be back, but for now I'll stick to attending the odd away game closer to me and following the Odsal demise from a distance.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:02 am  

We need some good signings to stimulate season ticket take up. Not sure if the budget will be enough for this to happen but with talk of two tens for the following year it could be s**t or bust.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:10 am  

The "there was effort" line will start to wear thin very quickly. Trying should he a minimum. Our effort level seems to be accepted to take the ball in or make a tackle and that's it. I'm also fed up of hearing the pitch as an excuse. Considering our current HB situation it should actually be an advantage to us.

Agreed we desperately need some good recruitment. Players that will make something happen whether it's a big run, an offload or whatever. We've got too many players going through the motions. I really hope we get Sammut, yes we can get rocks or diamonds but at least we'll always have a chance with him. You just knew we weren't going to come back yesterday, even though it was only two scores against a team two from bottom, which tells you everything.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:27 am  

I'm trying hard to give Mark Dunning the benefit of being able to recruit his own side under the Bulls budget. But some of the comments he comes out with, worry me.

Blaming the pitch, that we play on regularly and presumably can train on occasionally.. it surely should be an advantage rather than an excuse for another poor showing? But if the coaching staff cannot get our players to play a decent game of rugby on it, I see little point wasting anymore money attending at Odsal. As Duckman says, it's a depressing experience and I'm all out of blind loyalty.

[Bullseye]

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:42 am  

People like us will only take so much before deciding it's not worth it and with cost of living going up it'll be nigh impossible to justify £20 to stand at a crumbling Odsal in all weathers watching the most sterile RL possible. The club can't expect people to attend out of obligation. It's a two way relationship.

I too am trying to give Dunning the benefit of the doubt and I realise he's not going to publicly criticise his players but I would like to see a bit more from him about what he's going to do to turn things around and give us a reason to want to come and support the team in the future. At the moment it's all very dour and littered with low expectations.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:55 am  

I remember a game JK talked about maybe Swinton? He said they have a lot of penalties away when they were under pressure, in order to get their defence set. So jk directed Keyes to kick all penalties. It was once Swinton were 10-0 down they began to realise they were in trouble. If we’d done that yesterday we could have added 10points to our score, assuming Kear could kick them.

Re: Whitehaven (H) : Mon Aug 22, 2022 11:57 am  

Hookem played ok. But the Doyle/Flanagan axis would have been better, and again, I think we would have won. But agreed, all very dispiriting.