Sounded like a much better performance from our team well done lads, as for the last 3 matches do we really have to push the team for wins or just try to put good solid performances in. As there are 6 points on offer and third place is 8 points adrift it will probably not make much difference win or lose to the placings, if Leigh win all of the last 5 games the have left that is, is it now time to rest a few players ready for the super 8's ?
Sounded like a much better performance from our team well done lads, as for the last 3 matches do we really have to push the team for wins or just try to put good solid performances in. As there are 6 points on offer and third place is 8 points adrift it will probably not make much difference win or lose to the placings, if Leigh win all of the last 5 games the have left that is, is it now time to rest a few players ready for the super 8's ?
No that boats gone. It would be a disaster going into the middle 8's with 3 defeats. We're playing all the teams directly below us who are all desperate to win. They can't afford to lose anymore than we can. Perfect preparation for the middle's. We need to bring a top perormamce for them games and go into the middles with some momentum.
It's not a bad position for us to be in now IMO. We still have something to play for if we can beat Leigh and they trip up somewhere else which is possibly a tough ask but I'm content with top two finish regardless of whether it's 1st or 2nd. However we have the comfort of knowing that we can't be caught from 3rd place down so we can play with a little less pressure on our shoulders.
All 3 games should provide us with a stiff test and hopefully battle hardened for the even tougher games ahead in the middle 8's.
Siejka wasn't fit and Purtell was a late withdrawal with a sore quad. As well as telling Ross how 'wrong' he was for pointing out what a debacle we were the other night, JL was intending to play Mullaney off the bench and will 'drip feed' Siejka back in over the next couple of weeks. I'm guessing he thinks his best team is Siejka and Gaskell at half with Mullaney at FB.
How disappointing to find out that the most inspired and instrumental changes to yesterday's team were, in fact, forced changes due to injuries. At least Lowes is honest enough to admit that, rather than just take credit for it, but it still worries me that he's just plain wrong on our best 17 and seems reluctant to change his mind.
Siejka wasn't fit and Purtell was a late withdrawal with a sore quad. As well as telling Ross how 'wrong' he was for pointing out what a debacle we were the other night, JL was intending to play Mullaney off the bench and will 'drip feed' Siejka back in over the next couple of weeks. I'm guessing he thinks his best team is Siejka and Gaskell at half with Mullaney at FB.
Suspect that may be correct.
Not at all sure about a Gaskell/ Mullaney partnership in the halves anyway as they pose very similar threats and are likely to get under each other's feet. To me, it's certainly no 'dream ticket'. Better to have an organiser in tandem with a runner/ backer-up. If Siejka is fit then he can 'organise' at 7 alongside Gasky and Jake can cause mayhem from the back. At the end of the day, let's not forget, it won't be Hunslet every week in the eights.
Not at all sure about a Gaskell/ Mullaney partnership in the halves anyway as they pose very similar threats and are likely to get under each other's feet. To me, it's certainly no 'dream ticket'. Better to have an organiser in tandem with a runner/ backer-up. If Siejka is fit then he can 'organise' at 7 alongside Gasky and Jake can cause mayhem from the back. At the end of the day, let's not forget, it won't be Hunslet every week in the eights.
But what about Mendieka? He's done very well at FB. Great under high ball and probably our best support player. For me i like Mendieka/Mullaney/Gaskell and don't think you can get under each others feet. We had Jimmy/Robbie & Henry at our pomp. Could look at it that it gives us more attacking threat. If teams just concentrate on Gaskell, that will allow Mullaney space to do some damaged. I do agree about Hunslet being weak opposition, but i've been impressed with Mullaney when he's played all year.
But i think you're right, Jimmy, seems set on Mullaney/Gaskell/Siejka. If Siejka does come back he needs to do more than his catch and pass. It was embarrassing watching him on Wednesday (and i've defended him this year) I think it will be a decision Jimmy will live and die by.
It's pretty hard to 'read' Jimmy, to be honest. Other than he seems to dig his heels in over things and knowing he'll definitely do it his way, we can't be sure exactly what he'll do. However, you pay a guy for his experience and ability to control things, so whilst we all have our own ides, I guess we can only let him get on with what he does best.
To be fair the team were, largely, beyond poor on Wednesday, with few exceptions and even then the forwards spent most of the game in reverse so it's hard to pull out the halves for special criticism. A better no. 7 than Siejka might well have pulled the odd break out of the hat but, in truth, even the very best would have struggled to make any impact in a display like that....and no-one would have been following up if he had. I'm sure Harry was saying how good it was to be fully fit earlier this year but since then he's always seemed to either injured or coming back from injury.