The injury to Robbie Paul was one of those terrible things you never like to see on a rugby field.

It cast a shadow over the whole game at Halifax but the message to the fans is that Robbie and the rest of us may be down at the moment but we are certainly not out.

I know the fans are disappointed with the way things are going at the moment and there were some rare boos for us at The Shay.

But my message to them this week is that there are two competitions to win this season and we have one locked away in the trophy cabinet at Odsal and are still six weeks away from competing in the serious Super League business.

The boys know they are not playing well at the moment but make no mistake we will be by the time the play-offs begin.

I have been involved in four play-off series in Australia and this will be my fifth so I have a fair amount of experience about what is required to succeed.

One thing I do know is that it is impossible for a side to remain on the sort of high we were on for the entire season.

Saints, Leeds and Wigan have all had their low points and I guess this is our turn. But we have a lot of experience in the side and players who know what is required in the coming weeks.

We know our standards have slipped but believe me the desire is there to come back and prove a few current doubters wrong.

It's OK talking about it but we know we need to put it right on the field and I can't think of a better time than Friday against another top-five side in Castleford in front of the television cameras.

It's time to physically impose ourselves and send a message out to the rest of the competition.

Sides will be fancying their chances against us knowing we are in a bit of a slump but we don't intend to let it continue. A big win against one of the lesser sides would be little use to us so I'm pleased we have got Castleford this week because anything we get we will have to work hard for.

Looking at the table at the moment I think it will be very difficult for us now to pip St Helens particularly as we don't have to play them again in the weekly rounds.

If I was sitting down and plotting our route from here I think we would be satisfied with finishing second to secure a home semi-final.

A win then would see us visit the side finishing top - probably Saints - when a further victory would give us a week off before the Grand Final.

The confidence is in the squad that we can go anywhere and win so that path would certainly hold no fears.

Finally this week a message for Robbie from all the boys. Get well soon and back on the field as quickly as possible.

For my money Robbie and Mike Forshaw have been the star performers for us since the middle section of the season. Any side in the world would miss a player of Robbie's quality and we want to go into the play-offs with all guns blazing.