I HAVE to start this week by stating that I can't believe how we lost the game against Sheffield. It was the softest physical game that I have ever played in and that makes the defeat all the more difficult to take.

We seemed to be able to break them at will and we bombed at least four chances.

The officials disallowed three more scores and that is a possible 18 points so it could have been a different game.

Still, that is no excuse for what was a very disapppointing defensive display against a side who we should have beaten out of sight.

We just did not play with a strog enough defence. That is what won us the championship last year and it is something that we need to get back to very quickly.

The crowd had a go at Matthew after the game. That was disappointing because it was down to the way we played on the day.

Matthew's preparation was spot on, as it always is, and the game plan was, I am sure, the correct one.

We just did not play to the plan at all and it is no good having a go at Matt.

All the coaching staff are doing a very good job and the reaction of the crowd is really out of order.

It is the players who are not doing it at the moment but, and I stress, we are only half way through the season.

As a coach Matthew has lost only nine games in Super League since the beginning of last season and we are still in the top five.

I spoke to some fans after the Sheffield game and they were disgusted with the crowd's reaction to Matt who is certainly the best coach that I have ever worked with.

Let's hope that the crowd gets behind us because there is still a lot of rugby to be played.

Matt Calland's wife finally gave birth last week. Matt joins all the other recent fathers at the club and I would like to wish him and his wife and son, Bradley, all the very best. I am sure that the baby will be fine just as long as he doesn't grow up like Matt!

I see Gary Mercer gave me another mention in his column last weekend.

He really is making me into a celebrity and I am getting more mentions in the press than Princess Diana!

It is always good to be featured asd it helps to raise my profile even if what he says is absolute garbage !

He obviously has very little else to

talk about and I am amazed that the paper is still employing him !

I can assure you that I will be having a word with him, on and off the field, when we travel to Halifax later this month.

Sunday sees us at home to Hull Sharks.

They gave us a good game at the Boulevard earlier in the season when we just won. I am sure that they will be coming here looking for a victory.

They had a good win over Salford last week and they will fancy their chances of getting revenge.

It is a game that we must win so please come along and get behind us. It really does make a big difference.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.