Tactical awareness and flexibility (and iplayers)

[D Day]

We were ahead most of the game, had a few players who had never played at the NRL/SL level, overall we played well. Poor discipline cost us in the end. I would say there were more positives than negatives. Thought Craven, Ah Van and Allen all played well.

We should wait until we get all the players who were missing back before we go overboard.

[Wirralviking]

Those grapes that Thacks is eating must be very sour indeed.

Whatever accusations could be made against the 17 (which I think by the end was 15 fit players) lack of effort and commitment should not be included. Yes we lacked guile and leadership on occasion and discipline was poor in the second half, more the result of over enthusiasm than malice I think, but the lads especially those from the retained squad gave their all and two of them, Craven and Allen, as has been said were stand out performers.

Now we are into competitive matches proper it is just like starting again with the pre-season games, so lest hope we see the same level of improvement through our first 3 games.

[mick george]

Did anyone else notice how we lined up when recieving the ball from the kick off ?
Several times there was no player on the 20 yard line and the ball was allowed to bounce very strange indeed

[vikingstorm]

Ben Cockayne got a try disallowed in first 5 minutes. I guess we'll never know if the message got on, but why the galaxy wasn't Lauititi man-marked from that point onwards. You can't leave someone like that to run at centres out wide. Just asking for punishment. He destroyed us and you know what, he was knackered.

If Betts has ignored it or missed it, then why/how? and if he has, have we not got enough experience on the pitch to give someone that job.

 it was the first time ive seen lauititi move in about 3 years.........................

[bellringer]

thought allen had a top game he dfo has the class within him hopes he proves his many critics wrong this season

[Cartman]

thought allen had a top game he dfo has the class within him hopes he proves his many critics wrong this season

I agree Mrs Allen 

[Waldorf]

I agree Mrs Allen 

[J20]

Did anyone else notice how we lined up when recieving the ball from the kick off ?
Several times there was no player on the 20 yard line and the ball was allowed to bounce very strange indeed

We seemed quite happy to let the high ball bounce on that pitch all around I felt?

[mick george]

We seemed quite happy to let the high ball bounce on that pitch all around I felt?

thats what worries me

[J20]

thats what worries me

All high balls seemed to sit up nicely on the pitch and not spin off etc so was as if they knew that from practice and happy to take that risk / option to me.

[portsmouth_viking]

Cant see them wanting to take that risk, surely catching on the full with a player running on will get us further up the field than letting it bounce with the opposition bearing down??

Think it was just bad awareness and something we will work on

[J20]

Cant see them wanting to take that risk, surely catching on the full with a player running on will get us further up the field than letting it bounce with the opposition bearing down??

Think it was just bad awareness and something we will work on

Obviously if the ball is an easy take they'll take it but there was one with Ah Van were he probably could have took it at a stretch and at pace (going backwards) yet instead pulled back a bit let it bounce and then took it in.

[mick george]

As a schoolboy we was taught to never let rhe ball bounce so very suprised at the team doing this, no matter how good the pitch is you can never tell just how the ball will bounce