25 replies to this topic

[Appleman]

Highlights and Match Report Here

McCormack Reaction

Barrow Camp Reaction

Edited by Appleman, 27 February 2012 - 02:25 PM.

[Blakemore]

poor tries conceded judging by the video alone seems as though morty organises the men in front of him better than ritchie does!!

[PhillH]

poor tries conceded judging by the video alone seems as though morty organises the men in front of him better than ritchie does!!

That's very, very harsh. Ritchie Hawkyard was the one Lions player who could hold his head up and look the fans in the eye on the way off the pitch at the end of the game. Rightly so, too, as he gave 20 times more effort than the rest of them put together.

As for Ian Mort, he can have no greater advertisement for his claims to a shirt than Gavin Dodd's contribution to Barrow's opening 2 tries. Admittedly he did make up for it to some extent by scoring a nice one at the other end, but the damage was done by then.

[Blakemore]

IMO i would put foxen on the wing no questions asked. Mort other than his hattrick last season, when he has played on the wing he always jumps out the line, whereas mort at fullback is the best option in my eyes!

[Penno]

Your full back yesterday had a faultless game and gave 100%, if the whole team had of played like that it would have been a very different result.

Goodluck with the rest of the season.

[RIGGY]

I see the trip on Dale Cunniffe was described as a stumble in one match report. The player was not even warned.

[LOYALION]

Just watched the footage. There looked to be some very tired players out on that field. We are obviously struggling with the step up in pace at the moment plus the extra game and also the away travel. Lets see how we cope when we get on an even footing and we have more competition in the pack (hopefully). Im not panicking yet!

[Barnie]

I think the thing thats upset me most is the fact the AGAIN we have not treated the NRC as anything but an extended pre-season. yea we have been unlucky with fixtures, due to the cold snap, but why have we not had the Dual-reg players in from day one? Every other team has got theirs sorted and we seem to be leaving it till the last minute again.

we have all known we are light up front, so why has this not been sorted sooner. and at the end of the day the NRC needs to be taken seriously as its a way of applying for SL. If we have ambition we need to start getting things sorted early doors and taking things like this seriously. success breeds success.

[Furryenzo]

Im going to wait until I see the new dual regs in action (when we get some) before I pass judgement. Steve Mc said he was going to wait until the right players were available and that he wouldnt just make up the numbers. If we get 2 or 3 exciting players who look like they can make a real impact, il be happy. If they come and are alright but nothing special, then I will also be asking the question why wernt they signed sooner to help strengthen the squad!!!

[PhillH]

I think the thing thats upset me most is the fact the AGAIN we have not treated the NRC as anything but an extended pre-season. yea we have been unlucky with fixtures, due to the cold snap, but why have we not had the Dual-reg players in from day one? Every other team has got theirs sorted and we seem to be leaving it till the last minute again.

we have all known we are light up front, so why has this not been sorted sooner. and at the end of the day the NRC needs to be taken seriously as its a way of applying for SL. If we have ambition we need to start getting things sorted early doors and taking things like this seriously. success breeds success.

I think its wide of the mark to say the club has not treated the NRC seriously. To say any different I think is a snub to the opposition faced so far.

If anything I suspect the plan for the Lions may have been to qualify for the last 8 and make a bit of money to invest in some quality new additions.

You cannot talk about dual registration players as though they are the be-all and end-all of recruitment. Significant money has been spent overhauling the three quarter line with the likes of Penny, Higson and Armstrong. David Mills won't have come cheap either, I'm sure Leigh would've liked to have kept him based on his form last season.

There was nothing wrong commitment-wise against Hunslet and York. Steve McCormack has picked a front line side for each game. The emphasis for any new recruits has to be on 2 things - adding quality and true competition for places. With no reserve side to call on, you have to look for the finished article rather than having the opportunity to bring raw players on more steadily. With dual-reg there are 101 things that need to be right in order for the deal to really work.

The simple fact is the team has come up a bit short in the first two games and was then very sub-standard at Barrow. This was nothing to do with not taking the NRC seriously, on the days in question the team was just not good enough.

[wayne_r]

I totally agree with Phil's comments - there is a need to try players out in competative matches and that has been done - but I am sure the intention was to treat the NRC seriously - the players should also be doing this as their positions in the team are not guranteed and should be based on healthy competition.........so if it were me and I wanted a firstteam spot the NRC would most certainly be taken seriously

[mark richardson]

I totally agree with Phil's comments - there is a need to try players out in competative matches and that has been done - but I am sure the intention was to treat the NRC seriously - the players should also be doing this as their positions in the team are not guranteed and should be based on healthy competition.........so if it were me and I wanted a firstteam spot the NRC would most certainly be taken seriously

I cant bring myself to admit I agree with Phil,but I think hes getting there.
I think we couldve beaten hunslet and with a bit of composure wouldve done. Cant comment on the matches I didnt see.
We havent played well for quite a while now,about one win in six or seven competitive matches. The answer ... I dont know.

[marshy1]

I think one or two are getting a bit carried away here or should I say unduly worried.

We are three games into the competative season and have played those three games over a seven day period involving possibly four to five hours travel and disruption to the players working lives.In two of those games we were narrowly beaten by two teams that have played in the higher division for at least a season longer than we have. The third team played us on the back of two hard games and in my own opinion, wasn't surprising that we lost, granted more heavily than i anticipated.

Super league clubs moan that they have to play twice over the easter period and those lads train and live rugby as a living, I therefore think the efforts shown by our lads deserve a pat on the back.

Non of our spectators like it when we loose and I agree that we could do with some additions to the forwards as we clearly haven't replaced Phil Joseph or and again in my opinion Dana Wilson.

Talk of a troubled season is premature as I think in Steve Mac we have the coach who will bring the best out in this squad.

[Barnie]

Please dont get me wrong i'm not questioning the players in any way shape or form. dual reg players give teams in our league a chance to further a young players career whilst adding some quality at a knock-down price. Everybody knows that we have lost two of the best forwards to pull a swinton shirt for many years and have not really replaced them.

i agree with giving all players a try but i think weve missed a chance to really getting the squad complete before the first game of the season.

[Blakemore]

Nobody else think we are missing Warren Thompson? Currently playing in the saints reserves i think we should try and get him on dual reg again

[Bryce]

I'd take thompson back on Dual Reg, he was quality last season and always gave everything in the games he played. I've just had a look at the tries and they do look like some soft ones to give away. The only really good try was the kick over the defence for 20-0. Likewise, we showed very little in attack, the best of our tries being Doddy's late in the 1st half.

There's not much point moaning about it now though, we're out of the NRC so lets get a good result on Sunday to give us some momentum going into the league campaign.

[duffymoon]

Im sure I read somewhere that wed offered Warren Thompson a contract and hed turned it down!

[Furryenzo]

Mills im guessing was supposed to be the Dana "replacement" but he has yet to impress me. He doesnt play with half the heart dana did, and for a man of his size, I expect more. And we havnt even come close to signing another Phil Joseph.

[Blue Monkey]

Mills im guessing was supposed to be the Dana "replacement" but he has yet to impress me. He doesnt play with half the heart Dana did, and for a man of his size, I expect more. And we havnt even come close to signing another Phil Joseph.

I agree totally with these comments about David Mills. He plays without any passion or enthusiasm. Someone his build should be ripping into defences and breaking tackles galore.

Funny, but I get the feeling he's living off his dad's ("Big Jim" Mills) fearsome reputation.

[duffymoon]

He was outstanding for Leigh last season.