Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:12 pm  

Leeds gave it everything yet lost four tries to one.
Our forwards had a difficult time first half in gaining ground but I think we miss backs who get us out of our own half with fast scoots and quick play the ball. I do feel though Bullock and Singleton should be starting props.
With probably French and Manfredi back next week then our attacking ability.
Defence is excellent and though mistakes and penalties are happening too often maybe with better attacking players out there pressure will be eased and those mistakes can be reduced.
A good win by the team and Lam sounded very happy indeed.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:13 pm  

As much as he battered us at points in the middle, I’m happy to see Oledzki starting to fulfil his potential. He’s a huge bloke and played big minutes tonight. He’ll be good news for England on that form and if he does keep that up I’m sure NRL eyes will be on him in droves.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:14 pm  

jonh wrote:

I know Leeds were missing a few but it has to be said our defence was outstanding.

Probably a boring stat but Wigan have only conceded more than one try in one of their last eight competitive games.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:16 pm  

The pattern of sleep walking in the first 20 minutes continues.

Lack of go forward continues and we’re getting murdered at ruck every week.

I’m unsure how Zak Hardaker is such a media darling given his past. He’s not in the same league as French or Tomkins (two players he’s competing with current). He’s always in the wrong position on the block play. His off the cuff is great but maybe not against the better teams.

Ultimately this game and the other 3 will never be remembered and the only thing we have to do is tick off wins.

Hastings and Farrell were class.

Sterner tests the next 3 weeks

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:19 pm  

Egg Chasing wrote:

3/3 and not playing well

Against the two worst teams in the competition and team missing 12 players
We will come short against better teams due to our lack of go forward.

As always a great defensive stint again tonight but our props are just not good enough and will get found out against Saints and possibly 3 or 4 teams with a better pack.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:25 pm  

Unfortunately I didn’t manage to watch the full game but from what I did see;

1/ There isn’t right going to be a selection headache when French is fit. Surely you couldn’t move Zak on this form?

2/ Can we give Faz a centres shirt yet?

3/ (broken record time) If we had more firepower in the pack we’d have put 50 past them.

Cracking result and cracking performance (from what I saw). Not sure why Clubb was picked as a starter but it’s irrelevant in reality, probably just me nit picking.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:27 pm  

You'd think non stop defending in our own half for the first half hour of matches is eventually going to catch up with us.
Can't fault the commitment and fitness levels but I wish we could play in the oppositions half once in a while.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:35 pm  

jonh wrote:

I know Leeds were missing a few but it has to be said our defence was outstanding.

Definitely. No one seems to talk much about Powell, but he epitomises that with his fitness and workrate. Losing the territorial battle and relying on defence/fitness to see us through every week is a bloody hard way to make a living though. It's going to really take it out of us over a season (physically and mentally) if we are having to take 60 mins to grind teams down every week before we start to pull away. You can bet Saints will have many games won by half time this year and often be able to spend the latter stages playing at a lower intensity.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:38 pm  

That's going to be helped a lot when we get our backs back, though.

Re: Team V Leeds : Thu Apr 15, 2021 9:43 pm  

Grimmy wrote:

Definitely. No one seems to talk much about Powell, but he epitomises that with his fitness and workrate. Losing the territorial battle and relying on defence/fitness to see us through every week is a bloody hard way to make a living though. It's going to really take it out of us over a season (physically and mentally) if we are having to take 60 mins to grind teams down every week before we start to pull away. You can bet Saints will have many games won by half time this year and often be able to spend the latter stages playing at a lower intensity.

I think there is a lot more on this side to be honest.

I’m pretty comfortable with where we are at the moment.

We have yet to click, we are winning and we are getting the basics right. The finer points need work but so far so good.