The 3 D's.
Disruption and discipline from Fax leading to total dominance from Widnes.

We seem to have gone backwards. New recruits not doing it, a few existing players maybe a season too long. The pack is being dominated, a prop in the 2nd row who could give us more punch down the middle but no one else to replace him and lacking decent centres, especially defensively.

We've started slow last few years ago but I'm not as confident we have the same quality to improve this year. Let's be honest we are lucky not to be 0 from 4.

That could easily have been the case. The good thing is that it isn't but we need to hit back hard against Batley. A scratchy win won't do we need to go out and make a big statement as we haven't played well yet at all. Up The Fax!

That was a hard watch, and getting up @ 3am didn't help. Lost in every single department. I don't think Widnes did anything exceptional. It was a typical Kear team but they did the basics very well. I reserved my judgment on the pack debate but my word we lack punch. You can see what Grix is going for, the working the opposition big men around scheme but too easily dominated. I hope we don't ever include another DR unless of injury. If Murray, King or even Forster were essentially dropped in favour of Matangi then Grix needs to hold his hands up. Granted, tough to stand out in that performance but he offered nothing. I got irritated even before the game learning that Fanoua had been recalled by Cas already and Grix clearly articulated that he was going to play. Inman has to start on Sunday, or drop woody into six and salty to FB. What I saw deducing from the other opening 3 games is either a lack of standards or believing in hype. Nearly blew two comfortable leads and got it handed to us in the other two. The saving grace is we are only 4 games in but we are shipping points like never before. I think Grix really missed the boat by bringing in Maher. I can't help Springer was let go for being a lazy so and so but at least one big carry can shift momentum in a game. I don't think we have anyone who can do it.

That was worse than the defeat against Oldham away a couple of seasons ago . Completely dominated in every department. Our poor set completion rate combined with a poor kicking game is putting our team under pressure, no field position whatsoever and try to play Harlem globetrotter rugby when we haven’t earned it . The players don’t seem to be listening, interesting times ahead for Grix .

That has to be up there with the worst performances in recent memory. In our defense everything that could go wrong did go wrong and the flip side everything Widnes tried came off and they took advantage of when we had a forward in the centres in the first half to great effect so fair play to them. The worrying thing is how easily we drop off tackles, our pack has been dominated in every game so far and we know that Grix likes his mobile ball playing types but seriously we are getting trampled and those players probably need to take a good look in the mirror.

I still can't get my head around letting 2 centres leave and then not replace them, in McComb and Maizen we have 2 wingers trying to make it as centres and Tibbs defense is really, really poor to watch. Yes in the summer we will get better as per normal but we have to understand that the start of the season and the business end are not usually played in conditions that we play well in and when we make a bang average team like Widnes look like world beaters there is some pretty big problems that need sorting.

As it happens we are in a similar position to last season with losses to Fev and Widnes under our belts so it won't define our season its just a little frustrating when it looks like there is a real chance of 2nd place that we once again start the season so slowly.

[quote="Listenup94"]That was worse than the defeat against Oldham away a couple of seasons ago . Completely dominated in every department. Our poor set completion rate combined with a poor kicking game is putting our team under pressure, no field position whatsoever and try to play Harlem globetrotter rugby when we haven’t earned it . The players don’t seem to be listening, interesting times ahead for Grix.

As I said the 3 D's.
The flaws in our own players in both attack, defence, discipline and dominance because of poor possession, field position etc have been evident in the previous games, add to that the disruption and reaction to it you can see where the mauling came from.

Not to that extent but how many times have we been sat at games and I'm shaking my head and mumbling because I know what's coming next

Yet despite the recent game history and a display like that some still link it to the DR with Cas.

The problems are internal, not external and that's where the solutions, if they can be found will be, from inside the club and whilst he may still use other options that's where Grix will be looking and working on.

It's our players who are being knocked backwards in every collision even when up against smaller men, centres and 9's dominating props and second rows and making yardage after contact.

It's our coaching staff and our playing group who are facing a big challenge of ability, character etc not Cas and to some degree it will show this Sunday against Batley.

A bad night at the office , heads up and move on

Inman needs to play for me done nothing wrong to be not in that squad and would of been able to swap with Keyes yesterday.

The coaching needs questioning round 4 and the only 2 we won we looked shocking and only just won. Looking no where near top 4

Not sure why we did not sign another centre after losing Worthington and Arundel said it last year tibs and McOmb are not big enough

Well firstly well done to Widnes you thoroughly deserved that win and in the manner it came too. Also when some people say how hard it can be for players to play on a monday night when they have other jobs i would ask what about the fans. We have to pay to watch the crap like what was produced last night i spent the best part of 4 hours traveling there and back in poor conditions to watch that excuse of a performance we have other things going on in our lives too. As for our short comings the list seems to get longer with each game for me in previous seasons when we have had poor starts our defense as been pretty strong and it as been our attack that as taken time to hit its straps. This year our defense all over the park is very poor and for me that is the most worrying part of our game because ultimately what ever structures you have in place it comes down to attitude and will to win and we seem to be lacking in that area. As for solutions i am hoping we can do what we have done in previous years and come to life and get our season on track but there seems to be more deep seated problems in the team playing like a group of individuals rather then a team little what we do with and without the ball seems to be joined up.