I am only guessing here, but we are at that time of year where clubs will be offering new contracts for next season. In the past few years, the majority of our squad has been retained and therefore have stuck together as a group. Maybe this year, quite a few of the squad have already been told they won’t be offered a deal or they don’t expect to stay and this could be impacting on our performances

Good point.Contract negotiations should not be allowed until season end but i accept those days are long gone.

I don't do social media but my partner showed me a post by Rob Pidgeon & I totally agree with him it takes me a fair bit of time/effort & commitment +Finance to support the Team at the very least I expect the same from them

Absolutely BM.

I can understand why the timings have moved for player welfare reasons and to rightly give them some assurances and certainty of employment/earnings. But it is bound to have an impact on performances for your current employer should you know you won’t be with them or are not wanted by them for the following season. I am not saying the players won’t be trying, but this is a tough sport where just a marginal drop in focus/desire will have an impact.

Agree with you that if there is anyone clearly not putting a shift in then out you go and let someone else have a chance. I’m not sure they are coasting though and I’m sure they go out on the pitch with best intentions. But as well as the obvious physicality of the game, there’s the psychological element. Without really realising some players might not be 100% on it.

I think that's a solid point. In the NRL, some guys have contracts signed with other clubs for the subsequent season before a ball has been kicked. On the opposite extreme, they also offer out 10 years deals like the Cowboys did Taumalolo and Bulldogs are trying to do with Latrell Mitchell. Be intrigued to see who goes but we need a strike centre, 2-3 new props and potentially brand new 6 and 7.

Yes, it must be disappointing to be told you are not required, Don't know about you guys but it has happened to me. The opportunity the players have is they can put them selves in the shop window for potential employers, therefore making it negative to not try their best. On the other side, players who have secured employment away from the club have no reason to try, but are supposed superstars, and those who have yet to be offered a contract, should not they be busting a gut to earn one for next year? so all in all the team should be firing on all cylinders, not a downward slide.

Weren't many cylinders firing on Sunday...

Anyone watching Jordan Abdull last night dispelled the lack of professionalism in certain players.

MOM against HKR -who he's rejoining next season-could even relegate them and nullify his contract.

By the way-what a great game it was too.

Yep it certainly was a good game and Abdull was totally professional apart from the (interception) pass to his 2020 teammates late on that they should have scored from and won the game with