Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 9:23 pm  

The Phantom Horseman wrote:

I didn't say that was the reason why the game turned around and I don't disagree that Fev ran out of steam to a degree in the second half, what I said was that Fev posed less of a threat with ball in hand without him on the field, I was responding to the comment that said he had a "dreadful" game.

In truth it was precisely because the game hadn't gone to script - it should really have been much more than a 12-point lead - that Wakefield came out so fired up in the second half, it was clearly a game where the result really mattered to your new coach, and I thought Wakefield's line speed and defensive intensity was terrific in the second half. I must admit I was a bit surprised when Wakefield brought their star overseas half back on again following a HIA with just 10 minutes left and the game all square, but I'm glad it happened (us being given a bit of a lesson) in a way as there had been a bit of an over-reaction to us nilling a very moderate Hull KR team last week.

Wouldn’t say Lino is our star, I believe Morgan Smith has been better then both Gaskell and Lino in previous pre season matches so far. Watched the game on Trinity tv, both teams missing multiple players though was a solid contest. I thought we were very sloppy in the first half giving away far too many penalties, which tbf we didn’t do too bad with the amount of ball you had in our half. Dean looks a decent player with ball in hand, hopefully goes well for you guys. Really not reading anything into this game other than a great hit out for both teams and the fact that we got bullied in last years game though this year felt very different especially in the second half.

Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 10:59 pm  

vastman wrote:

That’s an incredible achievement as he’s virtually never played there! McDermott gave him a few games at nine but other than that he’s always played in the halves.

Kay turned us around yesterday, why not just admit you got that one wrong, Kay is an excellent hooker and you know it.

That is absolute nonsense, you're just making things up now. Smith has played as many games at hooker as Kay and Bowes put together! We've also won as many games with Crowther at hooker as we have Kay and Bowes combined.

There's 11 other clubs in SL, name me one where Kay would be regular at hooker?

Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:00 pm  

I thought Wakey were a bit slack, "friendly" slack early doors, just running their lines, making their tackles and doing the minimum.
That kinda set the tone for the whole half, quite a contrast to the first 3 or 4 sets of the 2nd.
I thought Fev played well, I'm not sure they dropped off that much towards the end from a fitness perspective, they were pretty consistent all game, but they were single paced.
I don't think a 24 12 loss reflected their effort in the game overall, but Wakey did have another gear especially in defence, really visible in the first 10-15 mins of the 2nd half which I think gave them the momentum to go on and win the game.
Not sure Lino should have gone back on tbh, he took a sparko and it was only a friendly...so....I dunno, not worth the risk I don't think.
13 for fev was a damaging player, bit iffy in contact all game but hey, we're not cake decorating are we.

Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:12 pm  

PopTart wrote:

I have to say I agree with Phantom as they were the dominent team in the first half and everything good came from Dean. He put us under a lot of pressure.

We did get it together in the second half but it's no bonus for us to win on fitness. Sts and Leeds aren't going to run out of steam.

We didn’t purely win on fitness. You would know if you’ve watched it we dominated the tackle, field position and play pretty much from the start of the second half throughout. Pretty sure fitness wasn’t an issue early in the second half.

A lot of it was attitude and we just lifted the intensity and shifted up a gear. Fev just didn’t have an answer for it. The second half was a promising performance. No need to be in such a glass half empty defeatist mood.

Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:22 pm  

Trojan Horse wrote:

We didn’t purely win on fitness. You would know if you’ve watched it we dominated the tackle, field position and play pretty much from the start of the second half throughout. Pretty sure fitness wasn’t an issue early in the second half.

A lot of it was attitude and we just lifted the intensity and shifted up a gear. Fev just didn’t have an answer for it. The second half was a promising performance. No need to be in such a glass half empty defeatist mood.

We won because we've got better players than Featherstone. There was nobody in that Fev squad that would make our 17.

Re: Good result for Fev : Mon Jan 30, 2023 11:59 pm  

Was a decent hit out...exactly what you want from a pre-season friendly with the season 3 weeks away.

Fev are a strong championship side and to come from 0-12 at half time and cope with the adversity of losing Hood and Lino in the space of about 30 seconds was quite pleasing...good signs in that we turned it around and whatever MA said at half time he certainly got a reaction which bodes well moving forward.

Been a good pre season so far though...as good as I can remember...we've put strong sides out against good opposition the last twice, so have been good tests and we've won all matches comfortably. Should put us in a good position to start the season strong, even though we've a tough looking start on paper.

For all the talk a few months ago of losing all our stars and hardly signing anyone I think we've recruited very shrewdly and have a feeling all the new recruits are going to have big impacts on the season and really looking forward to it.

One last point...

I also thought Dean played very well for Fev first half...looked dangerous every time he had the ball and think he'll be a cracking player for them this season in the championship!

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 3:24 am  

To me as yet another arm chair coach , we stepped up a gear or two in intensity ,ran with more purpose and showed the differences in quality in the second period . I’ve been to Fev and watched our team get mullered in the mud ,the classic being fev kicking off and the ball dropping at Richard moors feet under the sticks , the fev play bet rich to the ball from the half way line .This team were up for it every bit as fev were the difference is that quality showed in the end between the teams . Great run out for both teams ,Fev threw the kitchen sink at us and we hit back with some purpose. Really liking Proctors constant barking at the players ,can’t wait to see him match fit , not too fussed like some on here where he plays just so long as he does , he will be a cracker for us .

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 8:55 am  

Vastman, you are making things up again, which is funny because whenever anyone else does you seem to throw a hissy fit. He`s played 27 out of his 43 SL appearances at hooker so how has he "virtually never played there"?

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:05 am  

PopTart wrote:

I'm not sure us not knowing is really an issue as long as Mash knows what he's doing.

Blind faith? Surprising from you PT.

Re: Good result for Fev : Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:30 am  

Pat Bateman wrote:

Wouldn’t say Lino is our star, I believe Morgan Smith has been better then both Gaskell and Lino in previous pre season matches so far.

It's interesting to see how fans of other teams see things. I like Morgan a lot, he has a terrific attitude and he'll never let you down, he'll stick to the coach's game plan 100%,and he's deceptively hard to stop near the line for a small guy but for me, at the moment at least, he just lacks that creativity and ability to create gaps for his runners that is ideal in a top-level half back. He played on the same side as Leilua all last year and rarely seemed to create an opening for him, and I think that's why Morgan was dropped in the play-offs.

He might be a good pairing with Lino though as Lino seems a bit more mercurial from what I've seen, capable of flashes of brilliance like the try he created for Battye on Sunday but also maybe the type of half who sometimes disappears for stretches of the game?