IT seems that Warrington's brave 65-minute effort in the Silk Cut Challenge Cup semi-final has once again allowed Darryl Van de Velde off the hook.

The Wolves were applauded off the paddock by their magnificent supporters as though they, and not Bradford Bulls, had won the game.

Sadly Warrington are making a habit of coming up just short and in my opinion the majority of the side lack the self-belief necessary to go the extra yard and actually win one of these high-stakes games.

Did any neutral fan actually expect Warrington to win at 18-18 with 15 minutes to go? I don't think so.

Let's not let the facts escape us. Warrington have met Super League opposition four times prior to this Saturday's game at Castleford and have conceded 36 points per game on average.

Any side has little or no chance of victory under those circumstances, let alone a side with a game plan as negative as ours.

If you are adopting such a game plan it is imperative that your defence is sound. Warrington's players are increasingly poor at either forming or maintaining an effective defensive unit.

Either the coach or the tactics must change. The players need to be allowed to take off the shackles and express themselves. Once this happens and they actually start to enjoy their rugby, then maybe they can pull together in defence.

To the powers that be at Wilderspool from the bottom of my heart our rugby is stale and dated and we cannot continue in this downward spiral.

S KELLY

Gorsey Lane,

Warrington