SAINTS PERFORMANCE STORY OF THE SEASON SO FAR FOR MORGAN

Hull KR Head Coach Justin Morgan felt the defeat to St. Helens summed up his team's season so far but believes they're not far away from ending their barren run.

After a promising start which saw Kris Welham open the night's scoring, Rovers became their own worst enemies by allowing St. Helens to gain cheap ground on the back of penalties with James Roby the creator for the hosts opening trio of close range scores.

From that point on the momentum was firmly with the Saints and despite a greater share of the ball in the second period, the home side closed the game out to leave the Stobart Stadium 34-16 victors.

Morgan was in a philosophical mood when speaking to the gathered media after the game.

"It was the story of the season so far- we were good in periods but not so good in other periods," said Morgan.

"Unfortunately the not so good periods are costing us lots of points at the moment.

"I still believe we're not too far away. Even at half-time I thought if we were to score first in the second half then we'd make a good game of it. We had plenty of ball and just spilled the last ball or had the ball bumped out over the sideline and we weren't able to captialise and build some pressure."

"We were playing against a St. Helens team that are a good side. Like I say, I don't think we're too far away but that doesn't make it any easier to come in here and it's certainly no excuses or consolations for losing."

The Australian was pleased with what he saw with ball in hand, but with over thirty points conceded once again, there is no doubting the area the Head Coach knows his side must address.

"I thought we looked pretty good with the ball. Even in the first half, with the limited opportunities we got, I thought we created space and even coming out of our own end we made some decent metres.

"With the ball that's not a major issue for us, it's the defensive stuff. There were sets of six were they made in excess of sixty metres but what cost us was the penalties. They'd make thirty or forty (metres) and then we'd give away a penalty and then our goal line defence wasn't as sound as it should be.

"With the form player in the competition at acting half in James Roby you tend to have eyes for him a little bit and we became a little bit blinkered and we didn't have eyes for some of the big men that were pushing at the goal posts.

"Defensively on our goal line we gave up some tries and I'm not pleased with that. We were camped on our goal line on the back of penalties.

"I thought a pretty big turning point for us was when we didn't catch the ball from the kick-off when we scored the try in the first half and they got a huge amount of momentum in their favour and we weren't able to wrestle that back.

"We compounded it with some poor discipline late in the tackle count and eventually gave up some points.

"I've been here before. It's not a great feeling and I'd rather not have it but I've been here before. It's a really close competition and I genuinely believe we're not too far away from a complete performance and when that comes I think the confidence will get a boost in the arm and we still have the capabilities of going on a run.

"But that's secondary. We need to snap out of this run of results and when we do I'm sure we'll only look on from that point."

Morgan confirmed after the game that Shaun Briscoe will be missing for two months with a knee injury that will not require surgery, whilst Jason Netherton played through a groin strain but is expected to be fit for selection against Leeds Rhinos next weekend.

Mick Vella is also in contention but Morgan said he will continue to assess his skipper through the week before making a decision.

 


Posted on 02, Apr, 2011

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