Some real tough opposition for that position with Graham, burgess x 2, hill, Taylor and walmsley.

Possible cuthbertson.

I was watching it on Sky and unsurprisingly Barry and Terry were absolutely loving that chase back by Watts

Amazing what a difference some support play can make. One of a number of examples in our team of the way we play(ed) limiting how much they could offer (see Houghton this weekend, too).

He's now in the top 10 in SL for offloads with 24. 18 of them in the last 5 games. Massive turnaround with (IMO) relatively little effort required.

This change in approach is so welcome, but still kind of a double-edged sword that it is now even more frustrating how long it has taken.

To me that was a demonstration of the attitude that the team now seem to have.

Wasn't he injured for a few games earlier in the season ?

On a wider note maybe we're playing better again (after a decent start) now we have most of our our front line players back and getting used to playing together.

He's gone from averaging less than 1 offload per game to 3.6. We as a team have gone from averaging 9.5 per game in the first 10 to 14 in the last 5.

Yes, getting players back is a help (particularly Ellis), but for me the difference is clearly the change in approach since Easter. We are playing much better, are far more exciting to watch, the fans are re-engaging, and I think we are seeing increased enthusiasm from the players. Too long coming, but long may it continue.

Always helps when your best players are playing, and indeed in the case of the brand new halves have found their way into the team and surroundings. Long may it continue indeed.

I don't personally subscribe to the big change being largely about the halves settling in. Pryce has been excellent from the off barring one game IMO, and I think the difference in Sneyd recently is more about the change in approach of the whole team enabling him to do his job rather than him doing anything much differently other than tidying up his kicking game a bit (which also comes to a certain extent from the team being on top more). IMO we could have gotten more from him (and some of our previous halves) if we'd been playing like this before now, off the cuff players will always struggle until you give them options.

Sneyd is another player who was injured for a few games just after he looked like he was settling in. You may not subscribe to the fact that it takes time for creative players to settle (especially two thrown in together at the same time) - the inference being I guess that they would strike up an instant understanding of each other and their new team mates in match conditions. I would think it normally takes time.

It's not just that though that has contributed to the upturn. For example we're no longer selecting three hookers in the team due to the fact that our best players are now available. Incidentally that will obviously help on the practice field as well as on game day. The practice field with half a squad missing isn't going to produce the best conditions for 'creating options' come the match day. Allied to all of this players move in and out of form - in the last few games we have had more players playing to their potential.

As you said earlier long may it continue - we're far from smelling of roses as of yet in terms of the table. Let's hope the fans who decided against attending will get back on the bandwagon and the whole club can move forward together.