O’Connor showing he can be an 80min hooker and that you don’t alway need a replacement on the bench, was outstanding in the second half, so much energy in defence.
Lisone needs to be used as an impact prop rather than a starter. Holdroyd did some damage off the bench but I’d rather he started.
I'm not sure it isn't the game plan AC, Smith mentioned last week explicitly about going to look for opportunities rather than waiting for them. It's a game plan to not build momentum and play off that but to play regardless.
ArthurClues wrote:Unbelievable game to attend last night. Felt like I aged 15 years in the 1st half, but in 2nd it was like they gave me back my youth. My observations would be that our defence is not nearly as passive as is commonly made out. It's become a lazy assumption to explain poor performance. What kills us and strips away energy early in games are suicidal errors and atrocious discipline. Martin and Austin (as the season stats prove) are particular culpable in this regard. That is not game plan, infact it must run directly against game plan. As soon as those errors cease we immediately look a very potent attacking side. It's massively frustrating to watch but ultimately some of the persistent offenders either need to take accountability or be dropped or moved on. On the plus side we played some wonderful stuff in the 2nd half and we can win a game in no time at all. I'm sure be half time next week Smith will have lost the dressing room (again) and be heading for the sack. Luckily for him, it's a game and a season of two halves.
Agree with all of this. Regarding the errors, it is incredibly frustrating to watch. Last night, for example, the first half suicidal attempted off loads and attempted miracle passes coming off our line put us under so much pressure. The second half was unreal though. It made the nightmare getting there worth it.
The conserving energy thing and just staying in the game is game plan. I think that clear.
Being willing to pass the ball around is game plan
The errors definitely aren’t, and my problem for most of the first half last night was that most of the errors weren’t coming off high risk plays. Ultimately despite the errors we defended ok, apart from the left edge being disjointed and only conceded two tries (granted some of that was down to wigan being toothless with the ball).
Personally I think we should swap Holroyd and Lisone.
One thing I will add though is I don’t know what else Cam Smith has to do to be in England contention. So much of our good stuff has his fingerprints on it and it’s not like he doesn’t work hard either. Smithies on the other hand is a hard worker but limited footballer and was mostly anonymous last night.
Seth wrote:I'm not sure it isn't the game plan AC, Smith mentioned last week explicitly about going to look for opportunities rather than waiting for them. It's a game plan to not build momentum and play off that but to play regardless.
You're right, it is to play regardless - which can be exasparating, but also rewarding. However, playing regardless surely wouldn't incorporate brainless and repeated offside penalties when in good field position, and not being committed to holding the ball in contact - something else Smith mentioned at a recent press conference. I can live with, even welcome, a game plan that might involve throwing a long, wide pass close to our own line. To me it's the individual errors and discipline which is preventing us from being a more consistent threat.
Cokey wrote:Well, I have to say, well done to Leeds tonight. Especially with 12 men.
Hats off to your lot as well Cokey lad. I expected Leigh to struggle with quite a few SL cast offs in your team (no disrespect). But you've proved me wrong. You look a decent outfit and are in with a shout of top 6.
I still think there's a bit of first season euphoria that is helping, and the standard in SL has definitely dropped. But credit where it's due, you're going really well.
Insane game tbh. My view of the first half hasn't changed - we were a total shambles. A team that were at the races (like Warrington were) would have been 30 points ahead at HT and game over. Thankfully, Wigan were dreadful and we were still in it.
Smith obviously isn't sending the team out with instructions to be terrible in the first half. But whatever he is saying isn't working. We're playing the entire first half under pressure, camped in our own half and it is leading to errors and bad decisions. To be fair, he recognises this and references it in his interviews. He just needs to fix it now.
Whatever he said at half time last night worked and we looked totally different, particularly Martin and Austin who were unrecognisable from the first half. The positive is that we have performances like the second half in us and that gives reason to be optimistic. The negative is that we are massively inconsistent and this game plan will not always work.
Hopefully we can back it up with 2 home games coming up.
ArthurClues wrote:You're right, it is to play regardless - which can be exasparating, but also rewarding. However, playing regardless surely wouldn't incorporate brainless and repeated offside penalties when in good field position, and not being committed to holding the ball in contact - something else Smith mentioned at a recent press conference. I can live with, even welcome, a game plan that might involve throwing a long, wide pass close to our own line. To me it's the individual errors and discipline which is preventing us from being a more consistent threat.
Im just not sure how to separate the two as a more casual/relaxed/passive approach seems to inevitably lead to the same mindset in these other areas ie ball control In the ruck though also the example of Handleys offload into Smith's face. The early knock on from Tindall came off poor execution but also forcing the pass under pressure. For me they need to recognise when to play that way and I don't think it's when you've not been in the game and another error invites more energy sapping line defence.
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