Most teams would struggle at centre with their two first choice centres out!
I just think pace and defensive security are very important from fullback. Myler has done a great job standing in, and adapting to what the team required. He’s still very useful to have around to contest nearly all the spine positions, but just think we should be aiming bit higher for first choice fullback. Admittedly we may never see a Webb or Hardaker again…!

Totally disagree. The truth is that at a time when our other options at fullback were very limited he proved himself better for us in that position than he was in the halves - where he was so poor that he was in his way to Toronto. He's had some very good games for us at the back and he will again, but he is nowhere near the best in the league, which is what we should be aiming for. Can anybody really suggest he is a better fullback than: Field, French, Welsby, Tomkins, Connor, Coote, Dufty, and Hardaker? I haven't seen Hoy play for Hull yet but I suspect he will be excellent at SL level. I guess my point is that he's not bad, but not great, and we should be aiming higher.

I can remember people saying the same about Brent Webb in his last season with Leeds.

We need to have options. That's what wins silverware.

Myler's strengths and weaknesses are obvious at full back. But to say he hasn't been very good for us at times like the end of last year is a bit much. He was absolutely key to our attack. That doesn't mean he's great under the high ball or running back kicks, but he's by far the best option we've got in terms of linking between halfbacks and threequarters. In that particular regard he's light years better than Hardaker for example.

I'm not saying he's the bestest ever, and we definitely need to get a better replacement at some stage. Smith obviously thinks Hooley has potential. Lets see him play before writing him off as well.

That's a fair analysis; we should be aiming higher. Personally, I'd rate him more highly than Connor and Hardaker but your main point still stands. At the same time, out of all our first choice spine players I reckon Myler is head and shoulders above the rest. In other words he's not our biggest problem (unless Friday night's level of performance becomes the norm of course).

Sezer and Leeming are the bigger issue right now. Sezer is just too passive drifting in and out of games and for all Leemings talk of wc disappointment motivating him, he carried on where he left off last season with O'connor out shining him.

I think smith is self reflective enough to recognise and change what didn't work, ie centre choices. Abd for me that should be the last time Tetevano starts ahead of Smith at 13, its always been a fallacy that he can play that 3rd prop role against a big pack, it brought back nightmares of Agar past. C Smith can be our point of difference against it.

We've obviously had a big turnover of players this off season but next is the most significant with both halves and Tetevano probably moving on.

Pretty strange to compare with Hardaker!
He was at Leeds last season but Myler was first choice FB ahead of him.

We know what we get with Myler.
He's not fast or strong.
But the way he links the play across the 3/4's is the best in the league.
The problem on Thursday was that we rarely got the chance for him to do this.

Very harsh on Leeming. We were absolutely mullered from the start. Not sure what a 9 can do when you’re on the end of an absolute battering like that. Zero intensity from Leeds. Points to a coaching issue.

The fact is, we were not prepared for that game. The back line was horrendous. We were outplayed all over. Small gains in the second half when the game was lost are no consolation whatsoever.

Leeming was pretty average towards the end of last season and as hooker he along with the rest of the front row were central to our defensive problems on Thurs and did nothing to generate momentum with the ball. O'connor had the better game when he came on. I hope leeming can improve.

Stemming the tide surely is small consolation as we look for improvement going in to next week.

Yeh, a couple of selection errors.
Smith should have started at 13 and Lisone from the bench.
And O'Connor should have started at 9 and Leeming from the bench - we were much better last year when we did that.
Not that it would have made much difference tbh.
But I expect we'll do this next week.

Leeming seemed to be overplaying his role when he came back from injury. When he’s on form, his running from DH is very good and you need that direct nature in some games.

O’Connor and Leeming can contrast well to the benefit of the team. But you’re spot on, the front row need to step up massively.

Too early to be sure about much for 2023, but honestly if we’re challenging this year with so many big name/salary players looking past it I’ll be surprised.

I think Smith has his hands tied until 2024 with so many senior players already contracted up. We have so completely stuffed up recruitment it’s not even funny, especially with the marquee spots and this is for years and years.

We will look lots better with Oledski back and first choice centres in the side.

The reality is that our four key spine players (myler, Sezer, Austin and Leeming) are not that good in comparison to others across the league.

We have needed myler in the fullback role because I honestly don’t think our halves were good enough to create without him out the back.

We can have an amazing team around those 4 but unless we improve them then I really don’t see us progressing where as a club I am sure they want to go.

As a side Warrington we’re always going to play that style, the team and signings are literally an exact fit. Halves with great short kicking games, big forwards. Pin you in the corner, win the arm wrestle and short kicks to score a try. Unclear why but selection, intensity and everything else didn’t seem set for that type of game. Just a bad performance and I imagine it may have caused a few changes in training for this coming week.

Agreed. Those positions must be the priority for 2024 recruitment. Hopefully some of the current encumbents can rise to the challenge over the course of the season, although that certainly didn't happen on Thursday. In fairness, Austin tried his heart out without bring particularly effective.

Think Austin would actually be really good with better players around him, especially some pace…..

When you compare our spine to Saints that tells you all you need to know. Until we get that right we’ll be a way off

Non of our spine would get in their team, that’s true….

I doubt anyone in SL gets in that Saints spine ahead of Welsby/Lomax/Roby etc.

Those three behind that pack!

Plus Fusitua can't see him getting a new deal.

Plus Fusitua can't see him getting a new deal.

Blumin heck we are already writing off this season and looking to what we might be able to bring in for next year.
Is this our 8th, 9th or 10th year we are in rebuilding mode?
We had an opportunity to offload Austin but we extended his contract I believe.
We got rid of 2 coaches Sinfield and Agar who looked after their mates only to get another one who looks to be doing the same.
Like others have said a win in our next game and the Wire loss will be forgotten.
A loss in our next 3 might send the alarm bells ringing again.
Roll on August!

Whilst it is too early to be looking to next season, it doesn't take much to realise we don't have the squad to be bringing home much silverware this year.

Anyone that thinks the Leeds badge is a guarantee of success needs to realise that it is not 2012 anymore. There is nothing wrong with realising there are far better teams than ours this year.

I don't think anyone on here has said we have a better team than Sts? We look better on paper than last year, but the spine is a weakness. My main hope for this year is entertainment and showing we can compete against the best - which really means Sts.

Almost all coaches bring in players they have had previous experience with - for good reason. They value their ability and their attitude. I don’t think that's bringing in their mates, although when times are tough it's tempting to see it that way. This squad - especially with the return of key men in both backs and forwards - is good enough to win the majority of games. However this year, unlike last year, we are going to have some very highly paid players (Fusitua, Austin, Tetevano, Sezer etc) off contract. This will provide the funds for a Wire style recruitment blitz in key positions if required. On the basis of the last game, you'd have to say it is. Maybe if we beat Hull by 50 we'll all decide Tetevano needs a pay rise and another three years. Maybe.