Re: Season review : Fri Oct 02, 2015 5:25 pm
GIANT DAZ wrote:
* Rapira !!!!!
I agree with a lot of what's been said, especially the 'spine' of the team and the forwards.
Grix, as ok as he is for us he wouldn't get a look in at any other of the top 8 teams, in my opinion, look at Bowen last night how he seemed to be involved in every attack and caused us problems all night, i've been a fan of Scott in the past, i've also been critical too but we need to be looking to replace him now, or at least keep him as a squad player. As a top 3 team. which we have been now for the last 3 years, we need better.
Ellis, has proved me wrong as the season has gone on and he has actually been a decent signing for us but again, would he get in the side of any other of the top teams ? probably no and while he has took some of the pressure off Brough and indeed done some good things himself , i personally don't think he is likely to improve, If we are to move forward we need to improve in all areas.
Robbo - Bloody love this little fella to bits and if the other 16 players every week showed as much heart and enthusiasm as he does we would be cruising - unfortunately he's past his peak and although his scoots occasionally get us going his passing is woeful at times and often causes us to lose possession, his tackling technique seems to see him getting knocked out every week these days and if i'm being honest i can only see him getting worse as the weeks go by, i would love him to stay on at this club, he's a smashing bloke but not SL quality anymore
Wood - Looked decent before he got injured but like Ellis, highly unlikely he's going to suddenly turn in to a world class player, he's good backup but easily replaceable, with who i dont know !.
The Forwards - time and time again i sit/stand at games and watch opposition props slam into our guys at speed, knocking them over, barging through, getting a quick play the ball - doing what forwards should do, then i watch ours - hop, skip and jump into a tackle from 5 yards away and 2 mph...i cannot remember the last time i saw Eorl, Koppy, Huby, etc hit a ball at speed and cause damage, they almost walk up to the line then sit down...whether this is coaching or player choice i don't know but EVERY other set of forwards do this against us and it's so frustrating cos we're never gonna get ruck speed for our backs to work with, they are so inneffective at times we may as well play centres and wingers there - actually we probably do most of the time as they do more than the forwards...we desperately need some mongrel in our team, our forwards play like fairies at times, sorry if that sounds harsh but it frustrates me no end, there was a time we had a feared pack with the likes of O'Donnell, Mason, Griffin etc..they weren't the best players we've ever had but boy they made the opposition take note unlike the ones we have now !! hopefully Rapira can add some steel but i'd still want more either from the ones we do have or in any better replacements should they be available.
To be fair to Ukuma he does actually make an effort now and again !
Positives - Well we finished in the top 3 for the 3rd year running, how many other teams would love to be able to say that ? yes i know to some people it's still not good enough, me - i'm very happy with that it proves we are a consistently good team, unfortunately that counts for nothing on nights like last night though.
We are finally seeing more quality homegrown players breaking through, Leeming, Connor, Simpson, Johnson, Mason can all become regulars and important players in the future for us, we need to be patient though and not try and rush them and let them develop naturally.
I cannot wait to see Kruise Leeming next year after learning from Ryan Hinchliffe, a year older, more experienced, he will be a class act !.
The fact that as a fanbase we are now hugely disappointed in what would have been seen as success 5/6 years ago shows we are moving in the right direction.
We have a chairman who loves our club and continues to support it so we can all moan about it, and i'm pretty certain he will never put our club through the crap that other clubs go through, in that sense we are very lucky.
Let's not forget each fan has different opinions, objectives, hopes etc, me personally i see the rugby as a social thing, i go with my mates to have a laugh, a few drinks, a chat to other fans, a sing and dance if the occasion takes me - i love my rugby days and couldn't ever be without them, i'm not just there to see us win trophies, but my god i would love that to happen, to see Claret & Gold ribbons on the Challenge cup would be a dream come true for me but it isn't the be all and end all of being a Fartowner, i've watched for 27 years without a major trophy and will happily watch for another 27 without one as long as i 'enjoy the rugby'. Some fans are different they crave it, they insist upon it and they get cross/angry/mad every year when it doesn't come and i'll tell you what - when it does come, and it will !!!!! we will all celebrate it the same and be bloody glad our patience stood up !!.
I agree with a lot of what's been said, especially the 'spine' of the team and the forwards.
Grix, as ok as he is for us he wouldn't get a look in at any other of the top 8 teams, in my opinion, look at Bowen last night how he seemed to be involved in every attack and caused us problems all night, i've been a fan of Scott in the past, i've also been critical too but we need to be looking to replace him now, or at least keep him as a squad player. As a top 3 team. which we have been now for the last 3 years, we need better.
Ellis, has proved me wrong as the season has gone on and he has actually been a decent signing for us but again, would he get in the side of any other of the top teams ? probably no and while he has took some of the pressure off Brough and indeed done some good things himself , i personally don't think he is likely to improve, If we are to move forward we need to improve in all areas.
Robbo - Bloody love this little fella to bits and if the other 16 players every week showed as much heart and enthusiasm as he does we would be cruising - unfortunately he's past his peak and although his scoots occasionally get us going his passing is woeful at times and often causes us to lose possession, his tackling technique seems to see him getting knocked out every week these days and if i'm being honest i can only see him getting worse as the weeks go by, i would love him to stay on at this club, he's a smashing bloke but not SL quality anymore
Wood - Looked decent before he got injured but like Ellis, highly unlikely he's going to suddenly turn in to a world class player, he's good backup but easily replaceable, with who i dont know !.
The Forwards - time and time again i sit/stand at games and watch opposition props slam into our guys at speed, knocking them over, barging through, getting a quick play the ball - doing what forwards should do, then i watch ours - hop, skip and jump into a tackle from 5 yards away and 2 mph...i cannot remember the last time i saw Eorl, Koppy, Huby, etc hit a ball at speed and cause damage, they almost walk up to the line then sit down...whether this is coaching or player choice i don't know but EVERY other set of forwards do this against us and it's so frustrating cos we're never gonna get ruck speed for our backs to work with, they are so inneffective at times we may as well play centres and wingers there - actually we probably do most of the time as they do more than the forwards...we desperately need some mongrel in our team, our forwards play like fairies at times, sorry if that sounds harsh but it frustrates me no end, there was a time we had a feared pack with the likes of O'Donnell, Mason, Griffin etc..they weren't the best players we've ever had but boy they made the opposition take note unlike the ones we have now !! hopefully Rapira can add some steel but i'd still want more either from the ones we do have or in any better replacements should they be available.
To be fair to Ukuma he does actually make an effort now and again !
Positives - Well we finished in the top 3 for the 3rd year running, how many other teams would love to be able to say that ? yes i know to some people it's still not good enough, me - i'm very happy with that it proves we are a consistently good team, unfortunately that counts for nothing on nights like last night though.
We are finally seeing more quality homegrown players breaking through, Leeming, Connor, Simpson, Johnson, Mason can all become regulars and important players in the future for us, we need to be patient though and not try and rush them and let them develop naturally.
I cannot wait to see Kruise Leeming next year after learning from Ryan Hinchliffe, a year older, more experienced, he will be a class act !.
The fact that as a fanbase we are now hugely disappointed in what would have been seen as success 5/6 years ago shows we are moving in the right direction.
We have a chairman who loves our club and continues to support it so we can all moan about it, and i'm pretty certain he will never put our club through the crap that other clubs go through, in that sense we are very lucky.
Let's not forget each fan has different opinions, objectives, hopes etc, me personally i see the rugby as a social thing, i go with my mates to have a laugh, a few drinks, a chat to other fans, a sing and dance if the occasion takes me - i love my rugby days and couldn't ever be without them, i'm not just there to see us win trophies, but my god i would love that to happen, to see Claret & Gold ribbons on the Challenge cup would be a dream come true for me but it isn't the be all and end all of being a Fartowner, i've watched for 27 years without a major trophy and will happily watch for another 27 without one as long as i 'enjoy the rugby'. Some fans are different they crave it, they insist upon it and they get cross/angry/mad every year when it doesn't come and i'll tell you what - when it does come, and it will !!!!! we will all celebrate it the same and be bloody glad our patience stood up !!.
Sorry Daz I meant Rapira, Can't argue with any of your post by the way.
I was avoiding the forum today to let some of the initial emotions subside before posting. And there was no need as this pretty much sums up everything for me.
