From the little I’ve seen this year, Sinfield’s D has improved but that is what you’ll lose because Frawley is generally pretty solid and strong.
Which is why I’d be tempted to play him against London and see where he’s at.
It’s the errors I cannot do with at this level. I know much is made of the stats, but everything is connected. For me errors are king: I.e. you make an error, it swaps possession. It kills field position. A team is more likely to make errors in some situations than others, but these are individual errors mostly.
Frawley was ShtthS his own it had nothing to do with the forwards he had plenty of kicks that he fluffed when he had lots of time and territory to pick his spot, his defence for their first try was abysmal too
Joined: May 28 2002 Posts: 7398 Location: Isca Dumnoniorum
Rhys Martin made the first miss for that first try yet no-one is bagging him, in part because the rest of his performance was better.
Frawley has become the new whipping boy. Maybe the fans should get behind him at games so early in his Leeds career (sorry I'm not able to go regularly) instead of constantly bagging the guy, it's not really interesting or clever.
I was definitely underwhelmed with signing Frawley, and he has made some unnecessary mistakes, but the problems don't start with him, and I don't think Sinfield would make much difference. All this talk of kicks going straight to players is an example of OTT stuff - if you're kicking from deep its almost impossible to make kicks which do much, as the opposing back three can stand way back and run onto the ball. I didn't rate Frawley because of his lack of speed and running threat, but his kicking has generally been pretty sound throughout his career. At least until now....
After the first of the 2 games I thought were the worst possible at this time for RS, it's played out as I feared it would. A win but by a slender margin and an uninspiring team performance with no signs of improvement. So what for Friday? A win by 50 does what to improve things?
Not looking forward to Friday, Leeds need to start really well, some early errors or a London try is going to sour what little atmosphere there will be.
I'd give Roberts a go at centre as that's his position and have Lumb and Edgell on the wings dependent on who is back. Can't see Frawley being dropped but it would be a good game for Sinfield to have a crack.
Joined: Feb 26 2002 Posts: 9574 Location: anywhere, literally...
Exeter Rhino wrote:Rhys Martin made the first miss for that first try yet no-one is bagging him, in part because the rest of his performance was better.
Frawley has become the new whipping boy. Maybe the fans should get behind him at games so early in his Leeds career (sorry I'm not able to go regularly) instead of constantly bagging the guy, it's not really interesting or clever.
I'm not sure the first part is correct, the break by Walker was because it was Frawley who turned his hips to the sideline to close the gap that he shouldn't have left and Walker knew that it was a sure thing Frawley couldn't turn back on his inside shoulder to make the tackle. I can understand that the constant bagging of him doesn't help him (if he pays attention to social media that is), and I've tried to stop doing this as you all know already my thoughts.
It's not how much talent you've got, it's what you do with it that counts.
We are currently 8th and could finish anywhere between 5th and 8th but that should not be seen as good enough for a team like Leeds that in theory has everything going for it off the field. We have minimal off contract for next year so barring a couple of new faces what we have now is what a coach needs to work with. Ultimately until the forwards create a better platform our backs are always going to struggle whoever starts. Too many players seem to be lacking confidence or direction. Thats not a great environment for young players and that would be my biggest concern. RS does not instill confidence that he can install that confidence and we lack on field leaders to maintain focus during games. Unfortunately in season what is the alternative as its definitely not within the existing back up team.
Smith needs to turn things around pretty soon. If not the players may throw him under the bus regardless of whether they like him or how much their own poor performances are down to their own efforts. They don't need to say anything to do that - just keep playing sh*te and eventually the situation will become untenable. Its happened time and again in all kinds of pro sports, including at Leeds (Agar admitting he couldn't do any more with the team etc), and quite possibly at Hull recently as well.
I don't think London matters that much unless we lose, in which case I cannot see Smith staying until the following game, but Cats and Sts away could get very ugly. We really need to show signs of turning the tide against those two teams if Smith's going to create any sense that he can really improve things.
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