Certainly no humble pie for me, on the contrary, if you were wanting to be perfectly frank, then you would have to ask how come everybody eventually seemed to want to play today? One element was of course that as we started the comeback, you could see some confidence returning and to be perhaps too fair, obviously confidence is a big factor in any team. But frankly, the effort on display across the side once we got going, was what we should be entitled to see every week, even if we don't always win.
It was a bit like watching a video backwards. So many times we have seen us build a healthy lead, only to squander it in the second half and end up losing to a late score.
It was also looking like it could be yet another scene from our long-running play where we start the game level and with hopes, but 20 minutes later it's as good as over.
I think one thing that certainly made us grow in confidence was moving Gaskell to FB. He had a fine game there.
I was one of the few to stick up for Gale, although I have wearied of his erratic form and too many indifferent games, but at least today you could see what I see in him, that is, a halfback that can actually play well at SL level, can get the team around the park, make the plays, and generally control things. In fact today Gale was my MoM. Of course the issue with him even if anyone is now converted to accepting that he can actually play, is the many spells when he plays poorly or anonymously. Maybe that's something to do with confidence too. Maybe our resident psychiatrist has a lot of work to do but he could surely have a foundation to build on from today.
If he could play something like that consistently, would you be happy with him? Catalan are not mugs, and he produced that performance in adversity, and when we were a fair way behind, and got us out of a hole.
In the other thread I think it was bugs who criticise Manufakoa and Sidlow, and I agreed. Maybe they read it, but whatever, both were very much improved today, especially Sidlow. Anyone know what Manu has injured? Looked not good.
I didn't get many agreeing with my kite about Cup progress either, but having taken advantage of the home draw and beaten Catalans, we are now down to the quarter final in which we could still be playing Keighley, and then be just a one-off game away from a Wembley payday. Our (relative) luck in the draw may desert us, and the shoite we have become accustomed to means that it probably will and Keighley will be away at Wigan, but the draw overall has worked reasonably for us, and if by some chance it holds, what a cash bonus Wembley could be.
If I'm honest, what i would like is a home draw in the QF against Widnes or Cas, on the basis that Leigh and Keighley get drawn together, and if we made the semis we would have a 2/1 chance of the non-SL opposition game. Which possibility is what I predicted at the start. We'd still have to win the QF but if we draw either of the two in the QF, that may leave us, Leeds, Wigan and Wire in the semis, and I think our Cup run would be over.
But at the moment I can still dream, and my 80/1 bet is now a maximum 28/1 bet so at least I have the bookie worried
