THE TALKING HAS GOT TO STOP
Well the time for talking has got to stop now. We were very poor at Crusaders last Sunday and the standard we have played at in the last couple of games is not acceptable. I keep going over the same things every week in this column and we have got to get back to doing the things we were doing only a few weeks back. We played really well in both the games against Leeds and Warrington and competed throughout both games but we have certainly slipped over the past fortnight. We have certainly let ourselves and the supporters down massively and it's no good using injuries as an excuse. We have just got to go out there and give 100% in every game irrespective of who is on the field. We are not playing up the standard we have set ourselves and what we were doing well - working hard for each other and for the team - we seem to have gone away from. We have certainly had a lot of harsh words this week and lot of home truths have been brought out and it's been a very tough few days. I think we needed that and we have just had to knuckle down and get the tough stuff done before we get the rest together.
This week we have Warrington again and it was a very close game in the Challenge Cup only three weeks ago but we also competed really well for large parts of the game at the Halliwell-Jones Stadium in March. The Cup game was a cracker but the good thing about playing them so soon is that we know a lot about them. They are a quality side but we know if we get back to doing what we have been doing, then we have a good chance of getting the two points. I don't think it's too much about them this week though, it's about us and getting that work ethic back. We need to stop switching off because I certainly don't think there's anything wrong with our effort and attitude; it's more a case of losing concentration and we have got to get that right. I have been in tough periods throughout my career - in fact in every season I have been in Super League- and the only way out of them is to work hard. It's how you apply yourself and it's about getting a win. That would give us a great boost in confidence which could set us up for the rest of the season.
We will have to do it though without Matt Orford. I am gutted for him that he's got to have an operation because, as he has said in the media, it's the first time he has not been able to finish a season. It's a massive loss for us because he is amazing to play with and a great organiser but for the good of his career and the club, he has to have it done now. I am sure he will have come here at the start of the season wanting to play in every game- as he has done most years in the NRL - but it's not to be and we wish him well and a speedy recovery.
But they say one man's misfortune is someone else's opportunity and we saw both Steve Crossley and Joe Wardle get opportunities last week. I though Joe - in his first start - looked really quick and strong and he set Dave Halley up for a great try and he looked strong in defence and Steve came in at a tough time for us and did a sterling job. They have all got the qualities and skills and application and now they are getting the opportunity and there's more to come.
This week was a little different for me as I got to select my Dream Team in the Gameday Magazine. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do in my career and I must have changed it five times!! I tried really hard to get a couple of players in - Morro and Adrian Vowles - but couldn't find a spot for them. I selected it purely on the basis that I had played with them all, rather than against them and although it was tough, it was enjoyable. I picked a lot of characters in there and if you buy a Gameday Magazine on Saturday, you can see who I selected!!
Like I say it has been tough this week and I hope you don't give up on us. The club has out a really good ticket offer on for this game and it does make a difference when you are behind us on the terraces.
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