The topic has turned into a winning/losing debate. When I hear "respecting possession" I hear "let's grind it out through the middle". Obviously last week took "not respecting possession " to hitherto uncharted territory and I hope never to see a repeat!

The topic has turned into a winning/losing debate. When I hear "respecting possession" I hear "let's grind it out through the middle". Obviously last week took "not respecting possession " to hitherto uncharted territory and I hope never to see a repeat!

Now there's irony.

Very good RD

The stats say the opposite.



We've scored first in 11 games, and gone on to win 8 of them.



Games which we've scored early (within 5 mins) and won: 6

Games which we've scored early (within 5 mins) and lost: 2

So good it was worth saying twice....ah say so good it was worth saying twice...

Our main issue is set completion.



I love the off the cuff play, practically buzz off of it, but there's certain times during a game when a standard set and good kick is all we need.



Several times versus Hull last week we were in the driver's seat with a scrum in their half, for us to go on and drop the ball on the first tackle as we tried to score straight away. It was obvious that the game was a sloppy and tight affair, but still we were going for the highlight reel plays instead of forcing a repeat set and building pressure.

Was it 2011 when we finished top ? That season we regularly blew teams out of the water from start to finish of games. Ever since then our seasons & wins have been much more erratic.

I think last week Vespid that all the fannying about trying to score before half time did us no favours...Maybe 2 points & go in level pegging would have been better ,with hindsight.

Three mins left on the clock. 2 points and a set of six before ht.

We gifted a lead at ht to Hull and gifted them a set of 6 that they would not have had if we had took the penalty.



Pure and simple game management. Another one of the utter dumb shaat decisions that TS is completely responsible for. Any other coach would have threw the kicking tee on themselves.

Interesting. I think it stands out more when we have scored early and too easily and lost in some of the most disappointing defeats. Castleford in Newcastle and the CCSF against Hull KR in particular.



It then seems we stop working through the game plan and processes and become wasteful with the ball.

Like I said without the full stats.

2/3's of teams that scores first wins.