I'm not sure it was the worst performance of the season - the Barrow/Toulouse games were far worse than today's.


We clearly didnt take our opportunities when we had momentum in the opening 25 minutes and in a few brief spells in the 2nd half. Some weak defensive efforts in isolated incidents just took the game too far away from our grasps.


When you miss two kickable conversions in a semi final you start to wonder if it will be our day. The Gill 'tackle' was all too familiar and I'm sure York will have highlighted him as a weak link to attack. I imagine York will go on and win fairly convincingly so it that respect it feels like we've blown an opportunity but let's be honest we didnt deserve to win that game. 


Still think we might need to add some quality to that squad if we want a chance of silverware at the end of the season.

I echo all the above. The only thing I would add is that our left edge should be Armitage/Taufua. Gill would be fighting for his place if Taufua was ready

Absolutely but we know Tafua isn't going to play every week due to injuries or suspension. We probably need another winger more than a centre. 


I also thought our pack struggled to punch through the York middles and it isn't the first time we've been outmuscled in the pack this year.

Well York were deserved winners.  Much the better side.  Well done to them.


Thought our selections for this one were odd as were the substitutions.  Starting with Hallas at hooker always baffles me.  His service is slow and inaccurate and he's no threat out of dummy half.  OK his defence is good and we perhaps needed to cope with the initial onslaught from the York forwards.  While we pretty much did that having him there did blunt our attack somewhat so we couldn't kick on from going in front early on.


Then, subbing Donaldson and Lawrence together and bringing on Souter, Michael and Waine meant the defence wasn't as solid.   Surely you need Souter on when he can jump out of dummy half when the forwards are making ground?  He should've started IMO.   Playing when the forwards aren't dominating means his option to run isn't there.   We had no impact on the bench at all.   No offloads from Waine and Michael was well contained.   We missed the likes of Scurr, Pele and Doro.  


As I feared the dodgy left edge defence was a real issue.  From the Sheffield game onwards we've looked very soft where Gee, Gill and Meadows defend.  Clearly Applegarth saw that too.  Some of the defensive efforts there were weak.  We're paying for not recruiting well enough to cover the outside backs.   Armitage ought to be in the centres.   


Thought Logan Bayliss was sat on the bench too long.  He was our one forward that always made ground.  If he was carrying a knock he didn't play like it.   When he came back on the field the game had gone.


Despite all that we got within 8 points - though the score did flatter us a bit.  If Hooley kicks his conversions and Armitage doesn't drop that absolute sitter of a pass we're drawing the game.   York were better than us - their forwards ran and tackled harder but we're better than we showed yesterday.


Some changes required.  We need Mason back in the side.  Keyes in for Meadows - Although I don't think Meadows has been as bad as some think - he's a bit of a whipping boy - but Keyes offers more.  Armitage in the centres please for Gill.  No idea who we play on the wing but we need a change on the left.   No more Hallas at hooker pls.  

I think you summed up perfectly if Keys is fit. A squad on a tighter budget shouldn't be wasting salary on anyone who can't contribute week in week out irrespective of how good they are.