Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 12:33 pm  

Everyone will have their own views on the first few games. I think a previous comment that the performances should be better with the quality of the players we have is correct. Injuries have hampered us at times but this happens to all teams.
Two points I would like to make are:
1. Attitude - we seem to demonstrate little enthusiasm at the start of matches. Improved game preparation is essential. An exception was the Hull game when we were helped by two early tries. Against Wakefield, the introduction of Tasi & Walton was the key & probably won us the match.
2. Player recruitment - The players we have, Chase excepted, find it difficult to be creative. We have speed on the wings but passes rarely get there! I think we need a creative centre, sadly MCB is still learning his trade, and a ball playing forward. Hopefully a fitter Dobson & Locke will take some work off Chase. We should have money from Hock's departure to finance the forward.

Thinking half empty, we could have lost ALL the games but thinking half full we have played some wonderful rugby and could have been higher up the table.

It looks like success will be top eight but I think we have the players to do better!

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 5:36 pm  

Being honest, points-wise we are about where I expected by this stage. It's always going to take time for the backs (esp Dobson/Chase) to fully gel and we have still not seen a fully fit Kevin Locke in a red shirt, I think this could even take until next year if I'm brutally honest. But the defence and the overall fitness is really a worry, this should be much improved by now. I couldn't make the Cas game unfortunately but it sounds like the team were very lethargic. It will be interesting to see how we shape up against Widnes with them having a much shorter turnaround. I know we all keep saying it about every game at the moment but this one is a must win game. Lose this one and I think Harris is under pressure.

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:07 pm  

FataSini wrote:

Being honest, points-wise we are about where I expected by this stage. It's always going to take time for the backs (esp Dobson/Chase) to fully gel and we have still not seen a fully fit Kevin Locke in a red shirt, I think this could even take until next year if I'm brutally honest. But the defence and the overall fitness is really a worry, this should be much improved by now. I couldn't make the Cas game unfortunately but it sounds like the team were very lethargic. It will be interesting to see how we shape up against Widnes with them having a much shorter turnaround. I know we all keep saying it about every game at the moment but this one is a must win game. Lose this one and I think Harris is under pressure.

I feel that Locke, with his 'Star' signing label is under scrutiny more than most, and understandably so. With Star status comes star responsibility and Star wages. I honestly feel that his fitness needs to be sorted sooner rather than later, as I can see MK getting rid if he sees little return on his investment. I really hope Locke sorts it out, as I like him as a bloke, he's obviously good for the dressing room, and he has bags of ability. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:08 pm  

FataSini wrote:

It will be interesting to see how we shape up against Widnes with them having a much shorter turnaround. I know we all keep saying it about every game at the moment but this one is a must win game. Lose this one and I think Harris is under pressure.

I really hope not because that could put us back even further. I desperately want Harris to succeed and would like to think we aren't a million miles away from eventually realising our true potential of a being a regular top 8 team.

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:21 pm  

TheButcher wrote:

I feel that Locke, with his 'Star' signing label is under scrutiny more than most, and understandably so. With Star status comes star responsibility and Star wages. I honestly feel that his fitness needs to be sorted sooner rather than later, as I can see MK getting rid if he sees little return on his investment. I really hope Locke sorts it out, as I like him as a bloke, he's obviously good for the dressing room, and he has bags of ability. I just hope it happens sooner rather than later.

I agree Butcher. He is obviously a quality player and a good bloke who could rip teams apart when fully fit, but how long can we seriously carry him playing at about 60% or not at all? It's not doing us the team any favours if they want to improve as a unit. I hope he can reach fitness sooner rather than later because a Chase/Locke/Dobson combination firing on all cylinders is such an exciting prospect.

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:38 pm  

I believe the problem with Locke has been compounded by:-

1. Many people expected him to hit the ground running in 2015 after the club brought him in early last year. Many overseas players generally show better form after their first year.

2. Locke's comment to the media about the toughest pre season ever and feeling in great shape.

3. Potentially unsettled by the media stories linking him with a move Scotland RU? And the clubs willingness to allow them to talk with him?

Personally I just don't think he's looked anywhere near sharp enough to his previous standards. I have to question if it's Locke declaring himself fit or are the club just desperate to see a return on their investment?

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 7:28 pm  

I believe we need to give the Dobson and chase partnership a little more time to gel, if Patterson is fit for Thursday game this will be a bonus.
At the moment every game is a must win, however I would like to see more from our forwards laying the platform for both chase and Dobson .

Re: Season so far? : Sun Mar 22, 2015 9:11 pm  

I've been satisfied with our start to the season and I am currently optimistic for the rest of 2015.

Beating Widnes on Thursday is massive though so much so that if we lose I think it's been a disappointing start and if we win it's been a good one.

That's how important the game is on Thursday night. I fully expect us to win after their short turn around it's makes a huge difference.

Sky Sports need to put an end to Thursday night games for me.

We need to be taking momentum into an in form Huddersfield and then Leeds and Wigan at Home.

A loss will put us under a lot of pressure and we may drop into the bottom 3.

Re: Season so far? : Mon Mar 23, 2015 9:29 pm  

Ref Sky and thurs nite matches ,

Wait till they start playing football on a fri nite.

Rugby league will be played any other day apart from Fri, Sat and Sun. because the RFL sold there souls to SKY, therefore the clubs will have no say when the matches will be played next season.

Re: Season so far? : Sat Mar 28, 2015 3:53 am  

Season so far:

4th highest points scored in the league.
2nd conceding most points in the league.

We got 4 really hard fixtures coming up now with

Huddersfield
Wigan
Leeds
Leigh

Id be happy with 3 points and through to the next round. Stand out players so far for me have to be Rangi Chase Scott Taylor and Cory Paterson.