Having a fit first 17 for most of the season changes your mental approach, there was also a heck of a lot of pressure on LR to perform this year.
Due to that even though rotating players more than he did could have actually benefitted us MORE during the regular 23 games and definitely in the S8s without having an effect on the CC run he didn't, he couldn't risk it in his eyes.
Those back up squad players are able to give more than a fatigued first 13/17 player, this was apparent a few times in certain games BEFORE the S8s There was also a lack of actual minutes for some of those even when they were selected, especially the forwards which is were we were effected most in the final third of the season.
This is inexerience combined with fear factor, fear because if you lose, it's because you rested too many, there is no sure fire way of knowing, however the end result showed that the forwards were very fatigued and a once dominant pack tailed off (by comparison to our earlier performances) quite considerably.
Trying to say it was all down to Wembley is really not accurate, it will have had an effect, it's an extra game, it's the celebration afterwards, however Warrington played vastly better in the 8s than we did and come the decider even without some of their better players we were run ragged. If having a few shandies was that big a difference maybe the coach should be saying no celebrations until after season end, then get blotto'd.
Now that LR has a win in the bank there is a huge amount less pressure on him so maybe he will trust more to the youth and balance things out for next season. By his own words he must realise that continually playing your best 13/17 players all the time isn't always the best solution to get the best end results.
