Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:22 am  

It was an odd game imo

I tend to agree that our general game play was a bit scrappy, but some of that may have been down to Toulouse aggressive defence.

Yet that shouldn’t take away from a huge positive.

Our tries were absolutely top notch, easily the best of the season, all but one were well crafted team efforts. The other was brilliant opportunism.

Truth is that when you can conjure five of those off the back of generally mediocre play, then you will usually win. We don’t need to beat ourselves up over the 80 minutes thing, that will come eventually.

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:22 am  

It was an odd game imo

I tend to agree that our general game play was a bit scrappy, but some of that may have been down to Toulouse aggressive defence.

Yet that shouldn’t take away from a huge positive.

Our tries were absolutely top notch, easily the best of the season, all but one were well crafted team efforts. The other was brilliant opportunism.

Truth is that when you can conjure five of those off the back of generally mediocre play, then you will usually win. We don’t need to beat ourselves up over the 80 minutes thing, that will come eventually.

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:31 am  

Credit for some of our 'bad play' should be handed to Toulouse who probably played their best game so far this season.
Also a couple of their tries came off penalties - they didn't even look like bothering our line until we helped them.-
I'm as frustrated as anyone by Lino - he can do it but seems to try too hard.
BTW there are two halfbacks - is Gale as good as he was at Cas' - no!

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:52 am  

1315trinity wrote:

Credit for some of our 'bad play' should be handed to Toulouse who probably played their best game so far this season.
Also a couple of their tries came off penalties - they didn't even look like bothering our line until we helped them.-
I'm as frustrated as anyone by Lino - he can do it but seems to try too hard.
BTW there are two halfbacks - is Gale as good as he was at Cas' - no!

Is anyone expecting him to be? Gale is past his best and is likely in his last season. Lino is in his prime but for me completely disrupts the attack, constantly taking the wrong option, throwing wayward passes and running wide taking the space away from the outside backs. His defence is great but even then his OTT drop on a defenceless man on the ground was cowardly and costly in terms of giving the opposition a leg up. We need better if we get promoted.

Forwards do a great job. But as Powell says the execution in good ball was off. The ruck was very slow meaning by the time the ball got out to the flanks Toulouse were in position. Doyle and Kay did speed things up and that changed the dynamic of the game

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 7:57 am  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

Is anyone expecting him to be? Gale is past his best and is likely in his last season. Lino is in his prime but for me completely disrupts the attack, constantly taking the wrong option, throwing wayward passes and running wide taking the space away from the outside backs. His defence is great but even then his OTT drop on a defenceless man on the ground was cowardly and costly in terms of giving the opposition a leg up. We need better if we get promoted.

Forwards do a great job. But as Powell says the execution in good ball was off. The ruck was very slow meaning by the time the ball got out to the flanks Toulouse were in position. Doyle and Kay did speed things up and that changed the dynamic of the game

My point really is perhaps Lino needs someone to take the pressure off him- I'm no coach and Lino frustrates me but he's never had a top stand off playing alongside him since he came to Wakefield!
Anyway who the alternative to Lino at SH?

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 8:16 am  

1315trinity wrote:

My point really is perhaps Lino needs someone to take the pressure off him- I'm no coach and Lino frustrates me but he's never had a top stand off playing alongside him since he came to Wakefield!
Anyway who the alternative to Lino at SH?

Best I've seen us play this year, with respect to attack fluidity, was with Lawford and Jowitt in the halves. Best I saw us play last season was with Kay and Dagger in the halves. I wouldn't be overly disappointed if we saw a different combination of Jowitt, Lawford or Kay in there. Lino is a dangerous runner with the ball, he's got a great step, he is very committed and has strong defence. I agree he shouldn't be the main man as I don't think in his skill set.

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 8:37 am  

Luppylad wrote:

Missed a great opportunity in first half on corner,other than that i never noticed him cant wait for jermaine to be back

Yes I agree, Franco is poor and Olipherts also has his issues. However there would be another alternative to covering till Geri gets back and that would be Liam Kaye. I am certain he could do a better job on the wing than Franco and Olipherts

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 8:41 am  

Khlav Kalash wrote:

Best I've seen us play this year, with respect to attack fluidity, was with Lawford and Jowitt in the halves. Best I saw us play last season was with Kay and Dagger in the halves. I wouldn't be overly disappointed if we saw a different combination of Jowitt, Lawford or Kay in there. Lino is a dangerous runner with the ball, he's got a great step, he is very committed and has strong defence. I agree he shouldn't be the main man as I don't think in his skill set.

I am sure the club are aware of all this, however we have him for another two seasons and he is on a massive contract so we could be stuck with him for a while. However he is tough and strong defensively plus a good goal kicker, so I wonder if he could play hooker because it may suit him better

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 8:42 am  

Toulouse didn't have 1 play the ball in our 20 in the first half, despite all the ball we coughed up, we still went in ahead with a worldie by Lachlan (excellent assist by Max again!)

Second half, even when they scored which was mostly off of our discipline, we just upped our game a notch and ran away with it.

Lino, I just can't figure out. Everything is so predictable.

Next week I suspect we will rotate a bit, with the semi the week after, which for me is far more important.

Re: Toulouse next : Sun Apr 28, 2024 9:06 am  

Prince Buster wrote:

I am sure the club are aware of all this, however we have him for another two seasons and he is on a massive contract so we could be stuck with him for a while. However he is tough and strong defensively plus a good goal kicker, so I wonder if he could play hooker because it may suit him better

Crossed my mind too.
May be worth a try