Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 9:58 am  

We said before the start of the season that we looked light in the forwards. I agree that Patton was poor but any halfback is going to struggle behind a beaten pack.
Our pack is going to come off second best in most games this season so we need to be far better with ball in hand if we want to stand any chance of winning a game.

Holmes isn't a fullback, and he shouldn't play there again after last night. On the few occasions he managed to hold onto the ball, he did nothing with it except kick early and hand possession back to York.

That is a poor York side, playing with only 16 men on the night, and they were completely comfortable for the entire second half. Dunning was outcoached last night, probably won't be the only time that happens this season either.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:24 pm  

He’s had 20 games in charge and won 8. Hasn’t beaten any of the teams who finished top 5 last season (Leigh, Fev, Batley, Halifax and Barrow).

Had some shockers in there too. Widnes and Whitehaven last season. And York this season. I know York are usually a good side but for gods sake they lost their main man in Matty Marsh early doors. People kicked off about Kear losing to Fax last season after they were reduced to 12 men in minute one. This is York’s key playmaker. And we were shocking.

I said I’d give Dunning a chance even though I know he’s not fit for the job. But I’ve got to say, we need a proper coach. Because on paper this squad (although a touch light in the pack and a winger and centre short, which again, is Dunning’s fault). The first choice 17 is as good if not better than everyone bar Fev.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 3:59 pm  

I sat and watched it last night on Premier Sports and I have taken the time to sit and digest what I saw so that I cannot be accused of having a knee jerk reaction.

So my overall match report is as follows.

We were utter pish.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:08 pm  

We proved all last season that Patten & Lilley don't work well together. But obviously we just had to check & confirm it last night. So hopefully the coach will believe it now. Other than that, we dropped the ball (or otherwise gave possession to York) 8 times on the first tackle Dunning said in the interview. That is shockingly bad and means that 80% of our energy had to go into defence, then you get the mess that was the 2nd half. I don't think we can be that butter fingered again, can we?

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:12 pm  

Bulls Boy 2011 wrote:

He’s had 20 games in charge and won 8. Hasn’t beaten any of the teams who finished top 5 last season (Leigh, Fev, Batley, Halifax and Barrow).

Nah. He's had 18 games in charge with last season's squad and 2 games with this squad. I don't think Wayne Bennett could have got many more wins with last season's players.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:17 pm  

Problem I think Dunnings got is if we lose against Widnes, we won't beat Toulouse or Featherstone so that will be 1 win in 5. I think it would be very difficult for him to get through that. Don't think the fanbase will put up with it.

I can see glimpses of his stamp on things. But results are decided on the pitch not the training ground (even if things have improved) Think Sunday is massive for Dunning.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:34 pm  

Not even necessarily about winning or losing for me, it's the performance. As well as all of the errors last night, our lot were out-enthused which isn't good enough. For the entirety of the second half only a few of them looked interested.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 4:43 pm  

They looked gassed rather than uninterested, which if you've been asking the opposition to attack you continually for 35minutes, that's to be expected.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 7:24 pm  

New faces but same old issues. Pack defensively weak. Dunning needs to decide on his best team so that they can work together. They looked lost last night and not motivated. Dunning was outcoached last night and I have real doubts about the future despite all the fanfare about new signings.

Re: York (A) Monday 13th : Tue Feb 14, 2023 8:22 pm  

Just seen Dunnings interview hes watched entirely different game to myself.