The difference for me last night was pace....but not how quick the individuals are, it was more the speed of their passing, the speed of their thoughr processes and the pace at which they run onto the ball.

They could get it from one side of the pitch to the other, quicker than we can. They run onto the ball at pace which is difficult to defend against. Our passing is woeful, mis-directed and slow. The amount of times players have to check their run when they get a pass off Houghton (who must have thrown around 5 or 6 passes that hit the floor last night, not even going to count the ones that went over peoples heads!) is awful.

Also - they were clever with the ball. We are daft. Michaels trying to go round Charnley with about 2 years of space. Houghton ignoring a rampaging Paea near to their line after 3 or 4 tackles were we got quick play the balls. Talanoa giving a pass to early to Lineham, as well as Lineham trying to bulldoze over Bowen. Just poor pieces of play

Listening to Adam Pearson prior to the game, I was very deflated regarding his comments on our coaching staff.

He was waxing lyrical regarding Radford, and he sees our attack coach as Richard Horne.

Horne never possessed the ability of a flat, fast bullet pass,& his kicking game was average.

Horne was a great runner, but didnt possess the above attributes to make him a regular international at HB.

Pearson thinks signing better players, will improve our situation, but in attack ,the team look devoid of any idea, and the passing technique throughout the squad is below average - IMO.

Said exactly the same last night. Horne was a runner, and when he had to organise it affected his game.

People like Sean Long, Ryan Sheridan, Danny Orr etc who are on teams coaching staff now were all organisers not off the cuff runners.

Actually Pearson didn't 'wax lyrical' about Radford at all - it was just the familiar refrain about how hard he was working and the good job he was doing behind the scenes. And for the first time I can remember he went as far as admitting that Radford might need help on the attacking side.

Also he didn't definitely say that he saw Horne as our attacking coach - just that he was an option rather than bringing someone in from outside.

I think we need a reality check here.

OK so last night we were definitely off colour but it was by no means the worst I have seen us play this season.

Wigan were bigger, stronger, faster and more skilful. They are better players and are better coached.

What we saw was the difference between a top 4 team and a top 8 team.

Wayne Bennett couldn't coach our players to a top 4 finish; we have at best a top 6 squad and it would take a better coach than Radford to get them into the top 6.

Unless something drastic happens I can see a yearly battle to get into the top 8 so we may as well get used to it.

I think our squad is far better than some think, I certainly think a good coach would challenge top 4 - is Cas squad better than ours (on paper)? Have they challenged for top 4? You could argue they have even if they don't quite make it.

Drastic? Can only be one of two things? So many good players come in that even and average coach could get them to top 4, or a new coach?

The latter option seems to be the only viable one.

I've been up and down this season over LR, guess that's part of being a fan.

But I do agree with you that, next season could well be a repeat of this of this one. Hope I'm wrong

I agree with this I believe we have a pretty decent squad and that we have finished in the 8,despite radfords coaching rather than because of it,and imo would improve with a decent coach.

Anyone who watch the 19s will tell you what a well coached team they are and play a good style of rugby.

So Maybe you are writing Horne off before he has a chance.

You don't have to be a world class half to be a top attacking coach, who is Rovers and Leeds attacking coaches and they both play a good brand of rugby?

Do you mean at this stage or after the super 8s? Because tbh, it's possibly surprising how little extra we'd need to currently be sitting in 4th.

Turn around the 1 point losses against Wire and Wigan and beat Hudds at home and we'd be 2 points clear in 4th. Throw in a home win against Rovers and we'd definitely be 4th even after Hudds and Cas results this weekend. Beat Wakey away like almost everyone else and we'd be scrapping for 3rd. There are 5 games that we'd need only 3 results from to be on the brink of if not in the top 4 right now.

I know it's all ifs and buts, but it does just show you how much fine margins could completely transform where we are, so I have to disagree that a top class coach could not get us a top 4 finish. They wouldn't guarantee it, but it would clearly be possible with just a bit more in a few games.

I think most sides in this league are capable of a top 4 finish, as has been said Cas are challenging with what on paper isn't a team of world beaters, its just well balanced and well drilled.

I think this has been one of the poorest leagues for years, Wigan are 2nd and before last night had only managed to beat Wakefield away from the DW. Saints don't look anything special, leeds look good in patches but they are an aging squad that should be on the slide but aren't. Wire have been shocking but are starting to pick up so in reality it was there for the taking yet the a rugby stronghold like Hull has produced a team scraping into the 8 and team fighting in the relegation scrap.

Anyone who's seen the sky adverts for this weeks games will have seen it brought home, It was billed as "2 of the powerhouses of RL are live this week". Don't think they were talking about either of us.