Agent Mulder wrote:
If you had to play all of those players at the same time due to injuries would you still be as confident? It's alright playing one or two at a time but having to bring in all of them and juggle positions around to get the best options for the team could be a different matter.
And for the 2 x previous seasons when Leeds & Saints fans were telling us how good their back up players & youngsters were, we told you they only looked that good because they were playing in the best teams and only playing 1 or 2 at a time.
In 2005/2006 when we had to play 7/8 players at a time that weren't part of our 1st 13/17 we were told to just get on with it, our squad should be better, our kids weren't as good as other teams (O'Carroll/Prescott/J Tomkins/Goulding/Hansen & others that moved on like Brown & Colbon etc).
Were having (Up until Friday, I haven't heard the outcome of the injury news for this Friday Yet) a good run without injuries and you know what, were making the best of it!
We've got Leeds fans all over our board telling us it doesn't matter were you finish in the 8!
It doesn't matter how you start the season it's how you finish!
We only beat then because of the injuries (Although we've beat them at home with a full team the last 3/4 season when they've had a full team!).
We wouldn't beat them if we had injuries and had to go to their place (Although we've beat them at their place in the last couple of years when we've had 4 or 5 injuries).
Sound Familiar? Yep, that's because it sounds like us over the last 3/4 years!
IMO what's happening this season is a reflection of the hard work the club has done over the last 3 seasons in turning itself around.
For a change, and I give IL a lot of credit here (And Noble if I am Honest) is that they have shown foresight & patience and not panicked in certain situations.
They've invested in the youth and now were reaping the rewards.
Do I think were the finished article? Not by a long stretch, As I posted earlier 1st 17 on the field I would probably have Leeds/Saints just a touch in front, but we've invested in the Squad and are benefiting from having 25+ players all Capable of playing 1st team SL level Rugby.
Are we weaker when some of those are unfit, undoubtably, but given an equal run of luck with injuries I think over a season we are better placed than most to deal with them.
