As I've already said

Ok my take. This squad isn't good enough for top 6. But a lot better than where we are. We look better without Houghton. Brown to start 9. For whatever reason we played with passion 2nd half. Balmforth if fit needs to be given a chance. Pack shows green shoots of being competitive. Smith tries but isn't good enough. I would try Charles Hoy in the halfs. Litten FB till Walker back. Martin still impressing me.

As I mentioned a little earlier, we can't be relegated, and we clearly are not going to be challenging for the play-offs, so we may as well try to make the best of the bad hand we've dealt to ourselves.
We may as well use the situation to take a look at young players to see who has potential, who could possibly be part of the plan in the seasons to come, rather than flogging the same set-up in a forlorn hope that we might scrape enough wins to sneak sixth (which clearly is not going to be happening).

Injuries/suspensions notwithstanding, obviously, think TS would be better served going with something along the following lines for the rest of the season.

1: Walker/Litten
2: Macintosh
3: Scott
4: Sutcliffe
5: Martin/Tindall
6: Hoy
7: Truman/Charles/Smith
8: Ese
9: N. Brown/Smith
10: Pele
11: Ashworth
12: Staveley
13:Sao

Subs:
J. Brown
Lane
Balmforth
A.N.Other

Play everyone in their accepted positions and, given a bit of energy and enthusiasm with hopefully a coherent game-plan, we should at least see an improvement in performance with hopefully the odd win here and there to gladden our spirits a touch!

The players named above represent the best we have right now, and that situation is unlikely to change this year so we might as well try and make the most of it. There was the odd sign in the second half today that there is a competitive side, at least, somewhere in there. It's Smith's job as coach (if he is indeed to be staying in place) to at least make us a respectable side turning out each week until the end of the season.

All we, as fans, want to see is some pride in the shirt and some signs that we have hit the bottom and we have at least changed direction in an upwards motion. The mood around the club will be a good deal more positive if we can see even these small indicators of progress.

Said earlier it no coincidence we looked totally different as soon as he went off the field. Our energy seemed to lift along with the speed & temp we were playing at. Brown is so much better as a 9 than a half and is a far better option/fit than Houghton. The continuation by Smith to have Danny at 9 at all costs and to then flog him for 80mins does far more harm than good. Charles also looks a good prospect and better option for the halves and he showed more creativity in the game than we’ve seen all season. We also saw more from the forwards with Brown at dummy half in place of Danny and that wasn’t the only improvement.
I know one player doesn’t make or break a team alone but it’s quite concerning seeing such a big change for the better in the the players almost so soon after Houghton went off.

I’ve said it for a while that Houghton as great a servant as he has been it’s one season too far for him. He should have been a squad player and we should have tried Balmforth far more than we have. Instead we again flog him for 80mins even trying to do it when he’s struggling with his hamstrings. He is clearly not doing anything as Captain as we see the same from him as we did last time when chips are down so is his head and he isn’t saying anything. He used to be able to lead by what he did but those days are long gone.

I admire his loyalty to the club but going round again was a mistake on his and the clubs part.

Im not blaming Danny either as it’s the experienced Coach that just seems to think it works when it obvious to anyone it just isn’t working and hasn’t for a few years.

Just about to watch the game - If dobbins had a decent goal kicker it would have been let’s say 32-0 at half time !
That is cue on the rack time for dobbins who are not a brilliant team - remember that
I already care little for the second half as it is far too little and way too late as it was game over simple as that

I assume it’s like those football games where the home side is up 5-0 at half time and we’d all think this is gonna be 10-0 but ends up finishing 6-1

Ill watch but rather to see how young Charles kid goes etc

One thing that is baffling me is, why can the young kids seem to be able to take on board what the coaches seem to say. They may not have being perfect but all the young lads who have represented us this year at least seem to be able to tackle, run with passion and I dont see many of them making mistakes. The next best seems to be the few signings Smith has signed.

I mean for me I think the project has run its course and its hard to see without substantial investment where this will turn around. Just think this proves they are certain players who let the club down time and time again. They should also be on the next bus out of here.

I’ve had to stop watching after the Lewis try
Who’s this Okynbur geezer ?

Is he the one Smith is protecting when he says it’s hard for players to play when they’re getting told they’re useless on Social Media ?

I’d love to manage this team I really would !

You’d need to bunker down and banning all social media would be a first step

Okynbur had a hand in 2 of the first 3 tries - very lazy with Brown at acting half for the first try and the Evalds break of tackle was disgusting and the winger attempt to tackle Lewis was a joke

The players are choosing not to work hard
That’s an easy one to solve

Any basic man manager can solve non production at a work place

That’s what I did for a living until retiring last year

These are just young men at work who’ve got a useless boss and owner

Many in this forum have worked at places like Hull FC and know how to solve this issue

The one asset that Houghton had was his defence but even that is gone now.
Against HKR his defence was pathetic.

Hes gone around again to help plug the gap cliffoed left, but its clearly obvious hes not motivated, weve a few just going through the motions and for me its what youd class as a current leadership group.

Time for tony to stop wrapping them in cotton wool as the young lads are better than the seniors, Balmforth and Jebson HAVE to be brought in, i think we l look alot better with 2 more in.

Talking of Jebson I noticed he was included in the list of injured players in the derby squad list, the club must have forgotten that he made his comeback last week in the reserves.