IT WAS A BIG LET DOWN LAST WEEK
It was a big let down last week and simply it wasn't good enough. We have had a tough couple of weeks, against Leeds and especially losing in the cup to Warrington took a lot out of us. We have lost some very influential players too but, whilst they are reasons, they are not excuses. We still had the team out there, even without those players and we had some youngsters coming in who are capable of doing the job for us. I thought a major difference was the energy levels of both sides. The Giants looked fresh from their week off and they kicked us to death. We always seemed to be bringing the ball back from our own line and defending deep and that took its toll. We couldn't really mount an attack of note because we did not have field position. They played really smartly and I think after their own four losses on the bounce, they went back to basics. They kicked on the fourth tackle and played to a fifty- that's right in the middle of the field - and we could not get any momentum going at all. We conceded really early and then we didn't get any attacks on their line and it was all downhill from there. We learned a lot from the game though and it's how you bounce back. It took Huddersfield three games to get back to winning ways after their sixty point loss to Warrington and it won't take us that long. We have been in good form and we have been competing well, so we know what we can do and this setback will just makes this group of individuals a whole lot stronger.
We'll have to get back on the horse really quickly because we have a reception committee of Brian Noble, Martin Clawson and Iestyn Harris waiting for us in Wales this week! We played poorly against Crusaders in Edinburgh but it's one each on the sheet for this season and we'll be going all out to make it two - one to us. We are looking forward to it and after last week, it can't come quick enough. I am glad the game has been moved to Wrexham and I am looking forward to playing there. It's a new stadium for us and it's always good to play at a new venue. It's a much easier journey and we don't have to make an overnight stay. It's a lot easier for the supporters as well, so it's good all round.
Whatever happens though, we'll be doing it without our Captain!! Lynchy has been absolutely amazing and I can't speak highly enough of what he has done for the team. He has been doing it on one leg and to keep playing like he has done for the team is tremendous. He will miss a few games and it's always tough when you lose players like him, Langers, BK and OX - they all influence the way we play - but we'll have to get on with it.
This week it's England V France and I really fancy England for that one. I will probably go to the game and I hope Scruts plays and I am going to catch up with Burgess today. We'll have a Nandos and a good chat and it will be great to see him. He really is a good mate and it will be great to see him play. But it's got to be England for me and I am delighted that another good mate of mine, Kevin Brown, has been drafted in and it would be good for him if he gets his first start for his country.
I can't go this week without telling you about Danny Addy! Now I don't know where he gets his cars from but I know that he comes from Chequerfield in Pontefract and that's an area full of dodgy dealers, so I reckon he must have got his latest one from there. He always travels with me and Langers and this week he decided that he wanted to come in his own car. After training - we were going swimming - Danny jumps in his car and we all thought he was trying to be a ‘boy racer'! He set off and there was screeching and smoke and then we found out that the brakes had locked on the back wheels and he'd driven off!! His back tyres are worn out and the brakes are still stuck on!! The car's still at the training ground and he's back in with me and Langers again!! Dodgy dealers for Danny!!
Just to end on a sad note, everyone at the club is shocked at the events in Cumbria last week. A lot of the guys know Rob Purdham through playing with him and against him and I know James Donaldson knew the family well and Paul Sykes knew Rob's brother Garry who was tragically killed last week. We all want to let the Purdham family that we are thinking of them at this sad time.
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