My issue with Chisholm is that before his injury at least he showed he had the ability to be one of the best halfbacks in the championship, let alone League 1. However despite that ability here he is with us still. Makes you wonder if he was that good why other teams weren't interested in him.



My theory is that his ability to occasionally do things that are special has carried him as a player so much that he's got away with not doing the dull stuff as well.



I'd not be surprised if the injury has taken away some of his edge.



In the championship we're going to need halves that are tough and can build pressure. Someone that can occasionally do something special but is average for the most part may not be in Kear's plans.

I agree. The first half against York showed all that is wrong with our team (which is by the way no big shock to me, this is a new team, still being moulded and assembled by Kear - I have always thought and said that a rebuilding job takes 3 or 4 years from the point you have your favoured and settled squad)



We didn't turn up. And we didn't have the necessary heads on the field to stop the rot, and turn round attitudes and tactics. We were, frankly, overrun, and nobody seemed to be able to give a lead and do anything about it. It is at times like that, that you need your Liam Finns. I like Keyes and he has come on a great deal, but he isn't able yet to do what was required, nor at his age and size should we expect him to - though he took a bad knock which ended his game. I like the mercurial aspects that Chisholm can bring, and thought we'd pulled off a masterstroke re-signing him, but he has been so up and down this year, the breaks are great but vanishingly rare, the errors, bad passes and fumbles are too frequent, and he is also not the man to get you playing when you're in a big hole.



We needed a team that was able to come out to face up to the challenge and not back down. Instead we were chasing shadows.



We are a half decent team at our level, but the tactics, drilling, belief and speed of York caught us with our pants down and frankly 24-0 was as deserved as it was embarrassing. But it was Kear who turned it round. Lack of on-field experience, leadership and nous in that first half basically lost us the game before Kear could apply the plasters.

It was interesting to hear that the York coach said "if the Bulls that played at Hunslet turn up on Sunday we will beat them".

That shows the other coaches are seeing our vulnerability now. They can see it and now it looks like many of our own fans are seeing that we are struggling at times when the bulldozer approach down the middle fails. We will probably win the next eight and walk into the Championship but I expect Kear and Chalmers are having quite a few chats in private about where we need to improve.

On the superleague show Wilkin pointed out that Wakefield are full of players who other teams released as they thought they weren't good enough but every player has a great pair of hands and backed up and ran hard. Kear was there and I thought I hope he can rebuild that at the Bulls. We don't need stars just good rugby not one man charge. Hopefully, Kear has put a team together purely to get us out of Div 1 but will now change the team ready for next season with more skill and movement across the line.

Like a certain, rejects team in 97!

The comments about leadership are bang on the money for me. The only two players I saw capable of trying to bring the side back in the game were Crossley and Flanagan. We needed someone there who would get them all together under the sticks and rollock them big time into a reaction. I genuinely think we have gone for 'too young' a squad. At this level you need more than mere talent you need bottle and a bit of nous upstairs. Sunday maybe showed despite their perceived shortcomings how important Smith and Gibson are to the side

Finn has joined Widnes until the end of the season apparently.

Wakefield now confirmed that Finn has gone on loan to Widnes for the rest of the season, adding that he'll join the Wakefield coaching staff for 2019. So looks like this one's just died a death.

I think the criticism of Chisholm is harsh. I'd like to see the stats but i think he's scored a decent haul of tries and had a hand in a few too this year. Sunday he wasn't at his best (however he was far from the worst player on the field) he did seem a little ragged, chipping to Ethan far too often, think he did it on the second tackle at one point. I'd like to see him take the line on more. We all know he can do it, he's either been told not to, or he doesn't have the confidence in his knee yet. Despite this i believe he was the only player to make a break on Sunday (by the way, i'd love to know why the referee didnt brandish a yellow, he could have picked either for the pull back on Grant or holding down of Chissy)



Someone mentioned distribution from dummy half, i agree it is having an effect and is a real problem for us at the moment for us. We lost on Sunday as we were 24-0 down in the first half and barely got out of our half that first 40.



If we can get some consistency in our spine in the next 8 week, Chisholm will be better for it.

9 in the league, 1 in the cup scored. 10 tries in 19 games total. Couldn't tell you assists, but try scoring stats are always easy to find.

Well that's put the lid on that one then.

Shame that.



On Chisholm he had a similar nuts and bolts game last week versus Hunslet. If I were an opposition coach I'd be targeting him in defence along with our centres. I'd also be sending the big lads in behind the ruck in the early tackles as we always seem to have a few taking a breather there.

So we need a half back for next season, any ideas?



I know he is Marmite to lots of people, but if we could tease Scott Murrell to Odsal would suit me

I think we need an experienced half back alongside Lilly, Keyes or DC

So we need a half back for next season, any ideas?



I know he is Marmite to lots of people, but if we could tease Scott Murrell to Odsal would suit me

I think we need an experienced half back alongside Lilly, Keyes or DC

Said this ages ago.

Finn signed till end of season with Widnes then back to Wakefield for 2 years with a coaching role.

Couldn't he still be a p/t player with us and a f/t employee elsewhere?

The last time the Bulls did that, it was Mathers. Enough said?

Well I can't see us should we go up go straight to running a totally full time squad. It takes you out of the market for top championship players. I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen

True haha. But on the flip side there are a lot of part time players who work at SL clubs people like Lee Mitchell at Rochdale has always still worked at Warrington while playing, hopefully wont be beyond the realms of possibility. He will also be used to part time with his time at dewsbury/Fev

I would like to think that our basic plan includes:

a) keeping Kear for a few seasons

b) using 2019 as a season to consolidate and build, and get the squad to gel more, with hopefully the couple of additions that we all know we could use



I genuinely believe with Kear and our academy setup we can gradually build to a top of Championship standard, because we are good at our level, young, and can only improve, and have a coach who is just the job as well as a great youth setup. I just hope everyone gives this project time

I think JK is signed for thee years in all (including this one) IIRC, though we all know how much contracts are worth...





As for next year, as I'm sure I've said before, Kear is the sort to use the normal cliché of, 'taking it one game at a time', which I'm sure is the right one. The middle to bottom end of the Championship is no better than the top half of League 1 anyway to be right and we're one of two clubs leading the way, so I'd expect us to go fairly well IF we get promoted. in any case no one knows [iexactly[/i what the squad will look like for next year anyway, but I expect it will be a 'half decent' one and given a fair wind might well be around the top end. If we are knocking around the top six or so the expectations will rise on the terraces whatever the coaches say about "long term" or "building for the future". Play it by ear is how I'd say we should carry on.

Kear signed a 3 year contract and I expect he'll honour it.



My hope is that we get promoted then recruit well in the off season in order to aim for mid table next year. Anything else is a bonus.



2020 the aim should then be top 4. With changes afoot in structure from 2021 we need to be up there or thereabouts.

Just confirmed that Liam Finn will indeed play part time next year for another club, in addition to his coaching at Wakey.



Unfortunately that other club is Newcastle Thunder.

That's a good signing for them wish it was us

Which clowns on here wanted us to sign this guy?

He's just thrown a ridiculous pass in a game tonight that has cost Widnes the match and potentially their place in SL!



Bullet dodged I think