Whilst i agree Garbutt has started this year not at the level he joined us last year i dont agree that he isnt good enough. The squad needs quality adding no doubts but id like to see what a fresh Coaching set up could do with an injury free settled 17 because i dont think the current set up can take us any further now.

i think his arrival had a huge impact on us winning the treble yes, of course i wouldn't compare it to Ali he was sensational but Garbutt lifted our pack and was a god send really just when we looked to be running a bit flat up front.To just say we needed another body is unfair he was frequently cited on here as a top performer on the majority of games he played.

Garbutt is probably an average player. He looked really good last year and rightly got praise for what he added to our pack, whether anyone could have done it is a strange question, the only thing we can say for sure is he did.



This year like the rest of th pack he looks unfit and not as enthusiastic as last year. Perhaps he had a bit more of a point to prove. Going forward I'd like to see him add another string to his bow, at the minute he looks one dimensional.



This could all change if/when the rest of the squad picks up. I think at his best and with some work, Garbutt would be similar to the Wire vintage Carvell, or a fitter Wigan days Feka.

The defence all year has been a shambles. That doesn't require people to be in form, just to work hard as a unit. It certainly doesn't need your first choice 17. That's the biggest indicator of the team spirit being up the creek.



I noticed Peter Smith pointed out that BM talking about injuries and players having to play whilst injured and yet not picking others who are fit. That suggests there's some serious interpersonal stuff going on behind the scenes. Also the first murmurings from him about BM.



One thing I've changed my mind on. If we don't make the Super 8s and form doesn't pick up markedly I'm no longer sure BM can survive to next year. Crowds for the Middle 8s will be awful, and without a couple of big signings for 2017 pushing season tickets will be a hard task if the rest of this year remains dreadful.



OTOH whilst clearly the buck stops with BM, some of the players should be ashamed of their individual performances as well.

Yep, no way the majority of the players are giving 100% at the moment imo which leads to the obvious question of whether Mac is/has lost the dressing room.

Cuthbo, Ferres and Delaney and Moon are the only first choice players who honestly look like they are giving it their all. Others such as Walters, Keinhorst, Lilley, Handley hold their heads up and take some pride in how they've filled in.



Too many big names not playing at the required standard, for whatever reason that might be.

Not sure I agree with that. Delaney is nothing more than a bit part, so hard to judge. Moon has made some horrendous errors and poor tackling. Yes, some good defence also, but not sure how you can equate that to putting in more than others.



Out of those you mentioned, only really Ferres has put his body on the line week after week, and up until Friday in the limited games he has had since return, JJB followed this up.



Throughout this tough period I do think Handley has come of age in that side, and really does look the part now. As for others, I just think because of the results there isn't the trust in one another like it was, and they are certainly not happy with the tactics employed.

It'd be weird if the players weren't questioning the tactics and we have been here before under McDermott. The previous time(s) we had leaders who he felt able to trust to try things their way. This time, I'm not sure we have that leadership, nor am I sure that McDermott will trust it even if we have. I'm not of the opinion that he's lost the dressing room yet but unless things change - and soon - it's almost inevitable that he will. That said, whether by good luck, judgement or both he's always managed to steer away from the rocks, often at the very last minute.

Sorry Garrett was one of the few positives on Friday. At least he took the ball forward!

JJB has been running his blood to water since he's come back - a team full of JJB's work ethic and we wouldn't be in this mess.

Seems some of our "in the loop" pundits are floating the idea that the players are not happy with the tactics employed by the coach.



Would these be the tactics of dropping the ball over the line, or missing tackles, or leaving big gaps in defense, or not passing when you should, or passing when you shouldn't, or dying with the ball on the last tackle? If so then indeed this a not a very good game plan.



However as the coach has proven over many years he does have good game plans and does have good defensive structures then surely it is much more likely to be due to the players that are not following the game plan because of a lack of timing and form (which will return) or in certain cases a lack of skill which has been highlighted when they have had to play without JP & Sinny.(which is much harder to sort in the short term) and of course not having a settled side due to an ongoing injury list.



It has also been hinted that there may also have been some off the field behavioral problems of which I know nothing. If so then when the squad returns to full fitness I would hope that appropriate action is then taken.



Without a Sinfield replacement with proven class our attack is going to struggle but IMO we still have enough experience and quality in the side to still mount a winning run. But if there are players whose abilities were made to look better than they really are due to the quality of Sinny and JP then we need make some changes in the playing staff. Warrington had a bad season after they lost Briers etc and then made wholesale changes to the squad with very positive results. Key recruitment was at half back where experience and quality has paid off so far. They chose to change the players and not the coach.