too right. I'm not sure why the entire backline is getting such a slating.

We had nothing at halfback on Friday (both SO and SH) and it took Morrison moving to stand off to get anything going at all. I thought Nero and Sykes didn't do too badly and Tadulala was resorting to being an extra forward he was that starved of ball.

the forwards were laying the platform but lots of times there were forwards getting their hands free to turn and see nobody backing up. poor. Platt/Jeffries/Deacon should be doing this IMO.

I really don't know why the club are happy with Jeffries at this moment in time. We need a general there to organise the backs and get some moves and passes flowing.

They have tried and failed to bring in a replacement in Bird. they can only get in players that are willing and able to come here.

IMO, the difference between us and other clubs is all in the coaching and club philosophy. the abilities of the playing squads are all similar with a couple of exceptions at each end. that has come with salary capping and franchising.

I have been at both of castleford's home games this season, and they have a team of young lads, local homegrown players, journey men, and a couple of key players. what is clear is that they play to a pattern and that their halves are at the centre of everything. when he (sherwin) was absent Versus quins they were very poor. The spine of the team is very good and in Shenton they have a youngster who will run his guts out for his team. the most galling thing though is how impressive Feather, Ferres, Hudson and Evans have been. all players deemed not good enough for us for various reasons.

How many of our players have points to prove? Deacon is beyond criticism by many, but why?? the same applies to newton. we need a new broom through the squad and the coaching staff. and we need to start this as soon as. starting witha new head coach and coaching staff!

wasn't Evans leaving down to some daft ruling about home grown players?

And the reasons Hudson went have been very well documented.

and we all knew feather had a good game in him, it was just keeping him fit that was the problem.

Exactly. And I think in Scruton we have a far better prop.

Eh? Your logic surely points to us needing a new half back, rather than a new coach.

I've been down to Cas on a few occasions in the past 12 months and was struck by the positivity of the place. Despite their fortunes on the field there's a genuine sense of optimism, especially after they got their franchise. It reminded me of how it used to be for us in the late 90s. They genuinely seem to be improving on the field now too.

We need to get that positive feeling back. A few wins would help but I think fans need to see evidence that there is genuine light at the end of the tunnel. Since 2005 we've just seen a gradual deterioration in fortunes while other clubs look to be on the up. I really hope to see something of the junior players this season, the likes of Whitehead, Donaldson, Olbison, Crossley etc.

Much of the side now is made up of players with little charisma, we've said in the past how important it is to have characters on the field for fans to identify with and for the club to market. We seem now to have fewer "fans favourites" than we've had for years. All those players fans looked up to have been allowed to leave.

Seeing a few youngsters come through would fill that gap. Fans are more patient with the kids who come through, look at how much people get behind Dave Halley in comparison to others. Once the youngsters start to come through you;d getthe feeling we were starting something new again and the positivity would return. I hope to see them come through soon.

I think you'll find most of those are in fact aliases

OSV. Simple as.

As for fans' favourites... flippin' heck, if you can't get behind Steve Menzies, a guy even Manly-haters loved...