Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 5:11 am  

There are obvious issues with the squad around play making options; injury record of signings, relative youth, no back up 7, no real captain etc.

This doesn't really explain why our forwards have consistently lost the arm wrestle in the first half of possibly the majority of games. We are regularly out enthused and the opposition who have apparently worked all week are more aggressive. Sidlow says in the paper that he is tired on the pitch which would explain why he has been so poor. As others have said the only prop who has regulatory won the collision has been sent to Keighley while we can't get out of our own 40 metre area for 15 minutes at a time.

The players look exhausted but apart from the front row who he has inexplicably run to water the other players haven't played too much. Are we over training? Has he upset them. They look like they don't want to be there. He repeatedly says we are turning over too much possession and therefore don't have the energy to compete but we are 2nd best from the whistle. His attitude in the press conference to perfectly reasonable enquiries is also unnecessary.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 6:00 am  

Missing from yesterday's team:
Gaskell ( our main attacking threat and organiser)
Purtell ( our best centre)
Olbison ( the most improved forward)
Clough ( with Pitts , the most consistent forward)
Williams ( top try scorer)
All of these players would be in my ( and I suspect the coaches) starting team.
Leigh without their equivalent players might not struggle to win but would not be winning so easily.
If/when these 5 return I still believe we have a decent chance in the Super 8's.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 7:41 am  

I can't believe Mullaney is injured AGAIN. Seven tries in two games and now he's crocked again. That's probably him done for the season.
I find myself wondering how this season might have turned out if Mullaney's hamstrings weren't made of tissue paper

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 7:48 am  

Is it just a bad run of luck for Mullaney or is he just one of those players who picks up more injuries than most? He's looked good when he's played but it just hasn't been often enough and I would haves some reservations about signing him up again for next year. We need our best players fit for the big games if we are to stand any chance in these ones sided middle 8's promotion dream.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 7:56 am  

If it's true that we're after Roberts from the NRL then I can see us releasing Siejka and not giving Mullaney or Purtell (or both) new deals.
Mendieka will probably be our 1 for next season, and while I don't think he is anywhere close to being as much of an attacking threat as Mullaney, I think that will be our level next season and gradually while we remain in this league, that is how the rest of the squad will go as well.
Purtell will be on a decent wedge I reckon, and the reality is that he's just not good enough. For a centre, his pace and agility are way off. Even his defence has been poor this season. I respect the guy for what he went through and came back from, but there's no room for sentiment in sport. I'll be disappointed if he (and Walker) get new deals.

[Bulliac]

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 8:54 am  

Bullnorthern wrote:

Missing from yesterday's team:
Gaskell ( our main attacking threat and organiser)
Purtell ( our best centre)
Olbison ( the most improved forward)
Clough ( with Pitts , the most consistent forward)
Williams ( top try scorer)
All of these players would be in my ( and I suspect the coaches) starting team.
Leigh without their equivalent players might not struggle to win but would not be winning so easily.
If/when these 5 return I still believe we have a decent chance in the Super 8's.

Agree with all that, though it doesn't really give any insight into why, collectively, we played so lethargically and apparently without any great incentive for the biggest part of the game. There was little doubt which team ran hardest or showed they wanted it more.

The sooner we get all the players you mention back and Danny Addy back in the forwards, where he is at his best, the better. We'll also have to hope all the [unpunished] flying elbows didn't cause too much further damage.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 9:40 am  

Perhaps Sheffield had more to play for, whereas we had already achieved our objective. If the manager has already met his objective then maybe the squad have switched off slightly. It remains to be seen whether they could switch back on.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:52 am  

Another beasting for your players this week with Lowes and Harrison in charge. No wonder they are knackered.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 10:54 am  

Bullnorthern wrote:

Missing from yesterday's team:
Gaskell ( our main attacking threat and organiser)
Purtell ( our best centre)
Olbison ( the most improved forward)
Clough ( with Pitts , the most consistent forward)
Williams ( top try scorer)
All of these players would be in my ( and I suspect the coaches) starting team.
Leigh without their equivalent players might not struggle to win but would not be winning so easily.
If/when these 5 return I still believe we have a decent chance in the Super 8's.

Some of those are injured, but our most consistent back and forward in Clough and Williams are not, which begs the question why were they not included in the squad?

Maybe they were rested, sure, but then the next question is why haven't they been rested to ensure their peak fitness prior to what is arguably the most important part of the regular season, one where we need to be finding our top form heading into the playoff mini league?

Poor selection yesterday and poor usage of the squad all season.

I hope Jimmy has learnt this lesson for next season where ever we end up, because its certainly not optimal, IMO.

Re: Sheffield (A) : Mon Jul 13, 2015 12:15 pm  

M@islebugs wrote:

There are obvious issues with the squad around play making options; injury record of signings, relative youth, no back up 7, no real captain etc.

This doesn't really explain why our forwards have consistently lost the arm wrestle in the first half of possibly the majority of games. We are regularly out enthused and the opposition who have apparently worked all week are more aggressive. Sidlow says in the paper that he is tired on the pitch which would explain why he has been so poor. As others have said the only prop who has regulatory won the collision has been sent to Keighley while we can't get out of our own 40 metre area for 15 minutes at a time.

The players look exhausted but apart from the front row who he has inexplicably run to water the other players haven't played too much. Are we over training? Has he upset them. They look like they don't want to be there. He repeatedly says we are turning over too much possession and therefore don't have the energy to compete but we are 2nd best from the whistle. His attitude in the press conference to perfectly reasonable enquiries is also unnecessary.

I'm not sure that the tiredness is something to worry too much about. It appears to me that we're in pre season mode, both physically and mentally. If the training regime is geared to achieving peak fitness for the Middle 8s, rather than the next game, then it wouldnt be a surprise if we look tired now. I dont really think any of the players, apart from possibly O'Brien, have had too punishing a schedule. It really should be a case of heavy training sessions on Thursdays and Fridays rather than too many games.

There's plenty of time to get the players fresh for the Middle 8s.