You have to look at the whole picture in that there’s no way with the squad that Kear/Chalmers has built that the team should be anywhere else but in top spot. IMO for what it’s worth the team are playing defensive Rugby which is the John Kear style but we know that defensively we have players who can’t defend at this level. What happens when we go up? Wholesale changes because I can’t see us having a team to compete in the top of the championship as we seem to be struggling in what some have called the weakest league.

If I had to pick one single thing, out of quite a few, then I would pick the sheer number of times this season when we have given the ball away in "absolutely no excuse" plays.



Quite a few against Keighley - kickoffs being 5 or 6 of them - but stuff like coughing up the ball on the zero or first tackle, letting a kickoff bounce dead, endlessly failing to get anywhere near completing sets, that sort of stuff is what's frustrating the hell out of me especially at this stage of the season.



I offer no clue why it keeps happening, or how you cut it out.

Wakey probably had it right. Kear also did the defensive coaching with Chester and other coaches doing the attack. One day that might happen with us if Kear moves up and a younger coach such as Ford came in. Just throwing that one in for discussion!

Quote ="bullinenemyland" That said, Kear is old school and I remember playing 20yrs ago when most teams philosophies were "defence wins games". This is not something he's going to change whilst he has this particular squad and limited training time. If you are only going to get 4-5hrs training on the field, I see why you are going to focus on keeping the opposition from ">scoring.'" Great post! Well the current mode of play will not sell season tickets for sure. Its utterly depressing to watch. IF (by hook or crook) we get in the Championship - that may trigger sales - but only based on hope - not performance.

Quote ="bullinenemyland" That said, Kear is old school and I remember playing 20yrs ago when most teams philosophies were "defence wins games". This is not something he's going to change whilst he has this particular squad and limited training time. If you are only going to get 4-5hrs training on the field, I see why you are going to focus on keeping the opposition from ">scoring.'" Great post! Well the current mode of play will not sell season tickets for sure. Its utterly depressing to watch. IF (by hook or crook) we get in the Championship - that may trigger sales - but only based on hope - not performance.

Bullinenemyland referenced the lack of training time in the evening further up the thread, so I'd guess this is something to do with some of the lack of 'well practiced' attacking moves. We are actually the highest scorers in our division (?)though, despite all our perceived failings, so I'd guess that management are fairly happy - though I'm equally sure they must be able to see the same faiings and lack of cohesion as us.

What you guys are saying about Kear rings bells in my head of Jon Sharp at Featherstone. Got them into the Qualifiers last year despite being predicted to just miss out, and immediately left the club with talk from the chairman about getting results but playing boring rugby and not being attractive to fans.