YORK City Knights’ relegation-haunted players need to get on the same wavelength if they are to stop the defensive rot which has seen them ship a whopping 122 points in the past two games.

That was the message from boss Dave Woods ahead of tonight’s visit of Championship table-toppers Featherstone (8pm) – with the formbook suggesting another hammering is on the cards.

The Aussie – who is targeting at least a bonus point to inch them further clear of Dewsbury and Hunslet ahead of their respective matches against bottom club Toulouse and Sheffield this weekend – has already told his charges they need more battling spirit in defence.

But he also says they need to work together better if they are to take anything from tonight’s match to boost their fight to avoid relegation.

“Featherstone are not up the top for nothing. They’re good,” he said. “We need to get whatever we can out of it, hopefully at least a point.

“For us to get the win we’re going to have to play really, really well, and complete our sets at 85 per cent. We’re capable of doing it but we’ve got to do it for prolonged periods not just parts of the game. We’ll be going for the win but we would take a bonus point.”

As for improving the defence, he said: “We’ve done it for months, the defensive work. I don’t understand why we’re leaking points like that.

“It’s mental things, and blokes are doing different things to each other. One bloke’s coming in, one’s going out, one’s staying back, one’s moving up. Everyone is doing something different.

“It’s about working together and getting it right, and defence is also an attitude thing.”

Woods had a name and shame video session after the 76-38 drubbing at Halifax, which followed a 46-32 defeat to Toulouse, but he said the players were quick to assume blame themselves.

He said: “They said themselves where they made errors. A couple have been doing extra work on those things. They realise they’ve done those things wrong.

“We do certain things, we’ve got certain patterns for how we defend in different parts of the field, but blokes have been doing their own thing in the last couple of games, making wrong decisions and not communicating with each other.”

Turnstiles tonight open at 6.30pm (main entrance) and 6.45pm (Jockey Lane). Ticket holders can access Bar 13 from 5.30pm.