Agonising Bulls defeat teaches Halifax Panthers painful lesson

Halifax Panthers boss Simon Grix is keen to right the wrongs following his team’s agonising 27-26 defeat to Bradford Bulls last weekend, writes James Robinson.

Panthers host leaders Toulouse on Sunday desperate to return to winning ways and get their Betfred Championship charge back on track but Grix knows that his team must perform for the full 80 minutes, unlike last week when they let slip a 14-0 lead.

He said: “We had a really good opening 20 minutes, and then they started rushing us which broke up the rhythm. We gave them too much of the ball during the period after the sin-bins too, and their pressure told in the end. It’s important to hurt when you lose, just as it is important to celebrate when you win. We’ll get together and have a look at the game.

“It’s not about being too harsh on anyone, most tries can be stopped. It’s just about learning and improving over the next few games.”

And Panthers will need to improve if they are to inflict a first defeat of the season on table toppers Toulouse on Sunday.

He said: “During the Bradford game, we didn’t execute our game plan often enough. Things we practised during the week, we did on two or three occasions only.

“Over 80 minutes it’s not good enough, because it’s not rocket science either. If we play for 15 minutes against a team like Toulouse, we will be up against it. I’m hoping to see a reaction from the boys. They [Toulouse] have a lot of craft at dummyhalf.

“A lot of names there have played at Championship level for a number of years, and they bring some flair. Whilst they’re good at what they do, we have to manage the game well, and do what we’re good at. That’s the key really.”

Continued on page 61