Championship Round 9: The bye

[marklaspalmas]

They always have the bye is the Aussie league. I don't like it, I think there should always be an even number of clubs. But, tbh, this free weekend has come at a good time for us as the team looked very tired on Saturday. According to Coach Cooke, they're going to have a few days holiday and then get into it next week for the Widnes game.

So, we've played a third of our league season. Two wins, six losses. Keep that form up and we will be right in the mix for the relegation playoffs to League 1. Unthinkable really, but here we are. To reach the playoffs, we already need a considerable turnaround in form and results.

Looking at the squad, we now have 23 players, discounting loans and DR.

Aekins at FB

Three wingers with Wynne and Olpherts as first choice, plus Gale.

Three centres with Hatton and O'Connor in there and Tuimavave long term injury

Three halves with Hampshire and Reynolds first choice and Turner back up.

Ten backs for seven places.

Six props: Springer, Vuniyayawa, Beckett, Williams, Stevens and Akauola.

Webb, Hardcastle, Boothroyd at second-row with Day injured

Addy at loose forward.

Jones and Jubb as hookers

Ten of those thirteen play every week, and between injuries, suspensions and lack of fitness, it's not often this season we've been able to pick ten out of 13.

I wonder if the break will allow the club to look around for another loan signing or two to bolster the pack.

In May, we've got the trip to Widnes after the break. We'll be looking for renewed energy and hopefully two points. Far from easy on their plastic pitch though. Then the semi-final at Oldham. The 1895 is a sideshow, but a trip to Wembley will revitalise the club and give the fans a lift. I'd really like us to win that one. Then an absolute dead-set must win game at home to Batley, who could well be one of the four clubs we will have to finish in front of to avoid the relegation playoffs (10th, 11th, 12th and 13th in the Championship enter some type of playoffs against League 1 clubs to stay in the Championship for 2026).

 

[Michael Bates]

Our pack has been a disappointment for a variety of different reasons. Day and Boothroyd looked like a line breaking second row partnership in pre-season, unfortunately they've both had long periods of injuries. Akauola looked a monster when playing against plumbers pre-season, but is less fit than me, and I'm 37 and 19 stone. Williams, Stevens and Webb I'm convinced are the same person. Springer has been the one bright spot in the pack, but he's missed time too and we've missed him when he's not there.

[FevForev]

Unfortunately from the ‘big teams’ in SL to the amateur teams, there seems to be a shortage of good props about.
 

You tend to have second rowers wanting to be props and have no clout but do long minutes, or alternatively heavy weights who are blowing out of their rear tube after 10 minutes. Springer being the exception and even  Vuniyayawa on a good day.
 

Im not sure we’re going to get much added this season who have the big size to be impact props and can do 20 good mins per half. But maybe some scouting good uncover a gem.

 

The excellent stats produced last week about number of carries and metres made were interesting and proved what the big lads offered over the ‘smaller’ players, even if the smaller players are terrier like with their energy.

Edited April 29 by FevForev

[The Phantom Horseman]

On 29/04/2025 at 10:16, marklaspalmas said:

In May, we've got the trip to Widnes after the break. We'll be looking for renewed energy and hopefully two points. Far from easy on their plastic pitch though. Then the semi-final at Oldham. The 1895 is a sideshow, but a trip to Wembley will revitalise the club and give the fans a lift. I'd really like us to win that one. Then an absolute dead-set must win game at home to Batley, who could well be one of the four clubs we will have to finish in front of to avoid the relegation playoffs (10th, 11th, 12th and 13th in the Championship enter some type of playoffs against League 1 clubs to stay in the Championship for 2026).

 

Yeah, realistically it would take a remarkable turnaround in form for us to make the top 6 now, we have already lost 6 games and judged on previous years and the fact that there probably isn't a standout team that's going to beat virtually all thier opponents, I reckon the threshold for how many games you could lose and still potentially make the top 6 is about 9.

That would mean we'd have 13 of our remaining 16 games, that's not impossible but would require a big turnaround in our form, especially remembering we still have to visit Bradford and Toulouse.

And yes the first priority is to try and get ourselves away from the relegation play-off zone. The end-of-season play-offs are very much loaded in the Championship clubs' favour (as outlined a couple of weeks ago in this forum, the Championship clubs only face League 1 clubs, not other Championship clubs, and it will be hard for a League 1 club to progress), but we could do without being in them at all.

I'm hoping to see a general upturn in performance and hopefully one or two "surprise" wins for us, my hope is that by the end of the year we have progressed enough to make us all optimistic about next year, and as Marklaspalmas says, a trip to Wembley would be nice.

 

[sentoffagain2]

   My pre -season forecast not going too well but i think only Rovers will prove me wrong.I tipped Fev to finish 2nd to 4th which is looking almost impossible.Bradford despite almost everyone saying they would finish top i disagreed with.And Oldham who have spent heavily on players i said would not finish in the top 6 and i still stand by that.My idea of the finishing positions was 1 Toulouse 2/3.Bradford/Rovers.4 York.Then after both dropped away last season i had Widnes and Sheffield.Loads of teams in the middle to lower places Fax,Oldham,Barrow,Batley and Donny.My bottom team (BANKER) Hunslet too big a jump with limited resources although i do like the club.And London to finish 2nd bottom.Anyway Sunday i will be supporting Daughter in Law playing for Endland in the WFTRD.Only 2 months from the World Cup in Innsbruck 3rd to 6th July.Only been going since 2011 then 2014 and 2018 -COVID- 2025 next.USA won all 3 with England finishing 3rd 2nd and 4th.It is part time but growing.Countries in 2011 WC 13  2014 30  2018 30 and this year 48 consisting of 46 countries + Jewish team and Water team ?(don't ask).I will post after Sundays games and hope the Forum moderators don't move or delete it.

[marklaspalmas]

2 hours ago, sentoffagain2 said:

Anyway Sunday i will be supporting Daughter in Law playing for Endland in the WFTRD.Only 2 months from the World Cup in Innsbruck 3rd to 6th July.Only been going since 2011 then 2014 and 2018 -COVID- 2025 next.USA won all 3 with England finishing 3rd 2nd and 4th.It is part time but growing.Countries in 2011 WC 13  2014 30  2018 30 and this year 48 consisting of 46 countries + Jewish team and Water team ?(don't ask).I will post after Sundays games and hope the Forum moderators don't move or delete it.

Why would they do that?

[RobLambert]

3 hours ago, The Phantom Horseman said:

Yeah, realistically it would take a remarkable turnaround in form for us to make the top 6 now, we have already lost 6 games and judged on previous years and the fact that there probably isn't a standout team that's going to beat virtually all thier opponents, I reckon the threshold for how many games you could lose and still potentially make the top 6 is about 9.

That would mean we'd have 13 of our remaining 16 games, that's not impossible but would require a big turnaround in our form, especially remembering we still have to visit Bradford and Toulouse.

And yes the first priority is to try and get ourselves away from the relegation play-off zone. The end-of-season play-offs are very much loaded in the Championship clubs' favour (as outlined a couple of weeks ago in this forum, the Championship clubs only face League 1 clubs, not other Championship clubs, and it will be hard for a League 1 club to progress), but we could do without being in them at all.

I'm hoping to see a general upturn in performance and hopefully one or two "surprise" wins for us, my hope is that by the end of the year we have progressed enough to make us all optimistic about next year, and as Marklaspalmas says, a trip to Wembley would be nice.

 

I'm predicting we'll make the top 6. It may look worse after this weekend but only Bradford and Toulouse in the current top 6 will have a game in hand - and they are going to finish above us anyway.  We're only 4pts off 6th is how I see it.  I may change my mind if we don't beat Widnes and sadly t'cup may be a distraction.

[The Phantom Horseman]

2 minutes ago, RobLambert said:

I'm predicting we'll make the top 6. It may look worse after this weekend but only Bradford and Toulouse in the current top 6 will have a game in hand - and they are going to finish above us anyway.  We're only 4pts off 6th is how I see it.  I may change my mind if we don't beat Widnes and sadly t'cup may be a distraction.

Fair play, I'm all in favour of a bit of optimism. The performance at Oldham and the second half against York did suggest that there's a decent team when everything clicks, but I suspect we have very little wiggle room now having lost 6 of our first 8.

[RobLambert]

On 29/04/2025 at 10:32, Michael Bates said:

Our pack has been a disappointment for a variety of different reasons. Day and Boothroyd looked like a line breaking second row partnership in pre-season, unfortunately they've both had long periods of injuries. Akauola looked a monster when playing against plumbers pre-season, but is less fit than me, and I'm 37 and 19 stone. Williams, Stevens and Webb I'm convinced are the same person. Springer has been the one bright spot in the pack, but he's missed time too and we've missed him when he's not there.

I'd have to disagree about Williams - I think he's been one of our better forwards- he takes it in strongly and runs some good lines.  So I personally wouldn't put him in that sizable group of signings who we really thought were better than they've turned out to be.  Plus if we're talking about forwards - I can't really fault Beckett.

[sentoffagain2]

18 minutes ago, RobLambert said:

I'd have to disagree about Williams - I think he's been one of our better forwards- he takes it in strongly and runs some good lines.  So I personally wouldn't put him in that sizable group of signings who we really thought were better than they've turned out to be.  Plus if we're talking about forwards - I can't really fault Beckett.

  I agree with you about Williams,well worth his place in the team .Watching the highlights on U Tube when he scored his interception try near the end he seemed to be treading water but easily held off the chases.

[The Phantom Horseman]

9 minutes ago, sentoffagain2 said:

  I agree with you about Williams,well worth his place in the team .Watching the highlights on U Tube when he scored his interception try near the end he seemed to be treading water but easily held off the chases.

I think that's just his running style, when we signed him I watched a YouTube video of his highlights and there were a couple of times when he went 60-70m to score for London Skolars and even though he was flat out, his running style made it look like he was basically just coasting and almost not trying when clearly he was.

[RobLambert]

1 hour ago, sentoffagain2 said:

  I agree with you about Williams,well worth his place in the team .Watching the highlights on U Tube when he scored his interception try near the end he seemed to be treading water but easily held off the chases.

He knows where the line is and I'm sure he'll be our top scoring forward this season.  I don't think that many others would have scored the try he did against Catalans.