The ability to count!

[tiger]

Before i make my opinion i would like to say that the game panned out as i expected. With us being competitive for an hour then fading as too many of our players are not at super league speed as of yet having spent so long in the championship. Given time they may get to the desired level. Also agree with people that Ah Van and Allen were the stand outs. (and i dont know either of these 2 personally so its an impartial opinion!)

My main point is to do with 2 or 3 of the tries scored by Wakefield. They came from simple school boy stuff by not numbering up correctly. They consistenly bust us open down the short side (and the open) due to a lack of numbers. If a team has 3 players on the short side, you make sure there are 3 defenders on the short side etc etc. We just did not do this and got caught out time and time again.

I ask:

Is this down to poor coaching? It shouldnt be as im certain the players have the ability to count and deal with this. But reinforcing things in practice is vital.
Are the players not good enough to do this? Amateur teams and junior teams manage it so i would suggest this shouldnt be the case. (these are super league players after all!)
Or is it just a communication issue that will iron out over time as they work together more?

I dont know which of these it was down to but id like to think (or hope) it is the latter of these 3 options!

I certainly think there is hope for optimism!

[MD]

Before i make my opinion i would like to say that the game panned out as i expected. With us being competitive for an hour then fading as too many of our players are not at super league speed as of yet having spent so long in the championship. Given time they may get to the desired level. Also agree with people that Ah Van and Allen were the stand outs. (and i dont know either of these 2 personally so its an impartial opinion!)

My main point is to do with 2 or 3 of the tries scored by Wakefield. They came from simple school boy stuff by not numbering up correctly. They consistenly bust us open down the short side (and the open) due to a lack of numbers. If a team has 3 players on the short side, you make sure there are 3 defenders on the short side etc etc. We just did not do this and got caught out time and time again.

I ask:

Is this down to poor coaching? It shouldnt be as im certain the players have the ability to count and deal with this. But reinforcing things in practice is vital.
Are the players not good enough to do this? Amateur teams and junior teams manage it so i would suggest this shouldnt be the case. (these are super league players after all!)
Or is it just a communication issue that will iron out over time as they work together more?

I dont know which of these it was down to but id like to think (or hope) it is the latter of these 3 options!

I certainly think there is hope for optimism!

The vast majority in that line up played SL last year

[tiger]

The vast majority in that line up played SL last year

True but when Wakefield bring on players like Wilkes and Raleigh into the front row who are now seasoned at super league level whilst we had potential in Mullally and Haggerty with no experience. That was the difference - what they had from the bench IMO. Thought Wilkes was outstanding for the Wildcats.

[own brain]

wilkes? i thought he looked average to be honest shows how opinoons can differ easily...

 i thought kirmond and raleigh were outstanding... kirmond seemed invovled in every tackle!

for all the hype i didnt see anything in mullally that suggested he is to be the world beater we crave.

[rayvon]

Amor was very powerful in the second half too, I also thought Wilkes didn't do anything to stand out

[Ratboy]

Amor and Southern decent forwards but Wilkes average.

[tiger]

Have watched the game back and all 4 of the cats front rowers outplayed ours. Just look at the way Wilkes and amor ripped onto the ball. On one occasion it took 4 of our players to drag Wilkes to the floor whilst he still went forward. I'd take that average and experience for us any day.