And Jimmy only got about 10 minutes. The use of the bench is diabolical and nothing seems to change.

For a few years I've wondered what they do in training because our attack is clueless. The only time we look half decent is when we offload. But we have no structure, and things don't flow. Not surprising a team like Cas play good attacking rugby with Orr and Sheridan. I think a good back on the coaching team would work wonders

Not sure if it was the defence from both sides cancelling each other out or the poor attack from both sides.
For me the difference between the two sides sadly for us was Sutcliffe.
Maybe 13 is his best position but both JJB and Ward played well enough not to be dropped.
Let's hope McGuire can slot in at HB and deliver.
I would bring back Lilley and like someone said loan Sutcliffe to the Bradford Liquidators.

Attendance of 2208. Where were the fans?

I don't get the calls for Sutcliffe to be a 13. Not physical enough and couldn't give you the 30+ tackles you need. For the talk about Lilley ending up at Fev one day I think it's actually Sutcliffe who will be.

Lilley has physical limitations but he has game sense and is a footballer and doesn't seem to want his own ball to play with.

That can't be right.

Fairly pleased with that. We look defensively very solid. Teams aren't going to score "easy" tries against us.

Attack is still a little stilted but not as bad as some are making out. We caused Saints plenty of problems and looked far more confident on with the ball than last season.
Yes we struggle a bit near the oppositions line but we've always done that and unfortunately, without wanting to have too much of a go at Sutcliffe, we were basically playing with one half back. Get McGuire back in and we'll be more of a threat to break down defences.

Long term I'd be very tempted to swap Sutcliffe and Golding.

I'd also say Saints kicking was better than ours. We squandered a few chances to apply pressure through poor kicks.

Defence was very good imo but attack wise poor from both HB's neither put a decent grubber kick in & we never looked like breaking their line in their 20m zone.
I don't mind running penalties but the one in the last minute before HT was just poor game management imo.
Again i question the use of the bench & especially taking Parcell off with Burrow to 9 when Sutty was struggling in attack already.
Also tonight proves Lilley should be our 7 imo he has the variety of kicking game we need.

Mcguire was garbage last year when he played i wouldn't put so much expectancy on him.

I think some people are being a bit harsh. I beg to differ with the critics as both sides defended very well and there was not much space for either team on attack. We showed a lot of effort and spirit and it was the first game of the season with a tough away fixture.

Our last quarter finishing was not good enough but let's be honest Sutcliffe was terrible he took the wrong decisions or his passing and kicking was nowhere near good enough and he showed why he is not a half back. But he was no better as a runner as when he was put clear by Watkins he was not quick enough to go outside and was easily tackled into touch. He also died with the ball too many times and he was partly at fault for their try.

There were plenty of positives though with Golding outstanding and good performances from Parcel, Ward, Burrow, Garbutt and Moon and JJB put in a high tackle count and he led the line with the speed of youth and the rest of the pack looked fit and solid. Mullally and Baldwinson went ok in the time they were given and will be useful subs as the season wears on.

Had McGuire or Lilley played I think we would have won.

IMHO, two horrible teams both crying out for a directing HB.

Diabolical that two "top" teams were so utterly clueless.

4/5 drives and a bomb. Pfft.

12,208.

Not talking the 2 right on the bell in the first half was such a poor decision.

Says people being harsh then puts all the blame on Suttcliffe!




Who decided to run the 3 kickable penalties 1st half especially the one seconds before HT?
Sutty had a poor game wrt creativity & 5th tackle options but so did Burrow plus uber Coach subbed our 9 put Burrow there knowing Sutty was struggling.
De Ja Vu in attack even had Mcguire played i agree we missed Lilley but someone decided a loan move was a good idea knowing we were already 1 HB down & hadn't recruited


Positives were Golding Jjb Ward & Garbutt imo the negatives are all too familier but hopefully we kick on this year & get stronger.

Be interesting to see how parcell is supported this year at 9. It seemed that BM just wanted to give him 10 mins breather though while this happened Keinhorst came on at centre, moon played hb briefly and burrow went to 9, you cant do that every game and i too found the interchanges frustrating.

Whilst Sutcliffe was poor I wouldn't slate him for the chance when he got tackled into to touch, as soon as he got it he could only head for the corner and I think you have credit Makinson for a really good stop. Not much Sutcliffe could do there and that one really has to go down as a good defensive effort (from Makinson not the centre who Watkins danced around)

It is not harsh to be critical of Sutcliffe's woeful performance. I know you are a fan of his and think he is a half back but I guess not many will agree with you. As for not taking the kicks I would point out that nothing can be regarded as a kickable penalty when Sutcliffe is the kicker. Burrow played well and was far more creative than Sutty and we looked better going left with Burrow than right with Sutcliffe.

I have consistently said since Sinfield retired that we needed to sign a quality organising 6 who can kick while you were happy to go with the unproven Sutcliffe.

Sooty was a shambles - not one grubber kick with all that possession on their line- does our coach know what a repeat set is? Last 10 minutes, he could not even get into position to put a descent bomb.
Not one new move or planned inside pass to a fast moving back. Saints were woeful in the first half & we managed 4 points - we should have been out of sight.
Still doesn`t know how to use his subs - 10 minutes for the kid .

Just to repeat what has already been said -

SAME COACH - SAME LACK OF IDEAS - HE HASN`T A F****KING CLUE.

I'd have Moon at 6 and Jimmy at centre. Use Burrow off the bench as 9 interchange.
How we could loan out Lilley is baffling.

I thought it was a decent enough game for round 1 tonight. The defending from Saints was very impressive, no one clocked off at all and you were coming up with some decent enough movement. There were a few sweeping moves across to Moon that would normally have paid off and plenty of off the cuff offloads that just didn't come off. I think comparing with the Leeds of old and and the Super League of old is silly. I think both teams will be in the mix this season, top 5 certainly.

Only strange one for you is sending Lilly out on loan to Bradford. Get him in the side if he's got a future, play Sutcliffe at 13.

Yes I agree that it was a fine cover tackle from Makinson but my point was that in addition to his shortcomings as an organising half back he is not fast enough to be considered a running 6. Had he looked around he would have been aware of the incoming Makinson and could perhaps have tried to step inside to try and keep the ball alive as he is not exactly a small fella.I am not sure if it was the last tackle but if it wasn't he should have made efforts to stay in play.

Wrt to kickable points why wasn't Burrow kicking as he did in Pre-Season v HKR also Sutty kicked well when asked during Pre-season and to say he would have missed them when all 3 were perfectly kickable for him especially just before HT is just guess work from your spreadsheet coaching manual.
Wrt Burrow his kicking was no better and if you think the bigger threat was on the left Moons individual strength aside what did he (Burrow) actually create?
As for signing an organising 6 that's down to GH and the Coach and i will continue to back Sutty at 6 as long as he has the right partner Burow wasn't tonight and last Year Mcguire was as Poor as Sutcliffe so who do you blame for that?

I will also add our discipline was poor tonight especially defending in their half even if Bentham was whistle happy that needs addressing asap.

We started off last year defensively solid but unable to score, and the return of McGuire made very little difference. We have to hope we are just rusty, but there can be no excuse for lack of structure in attack. We've had a proper preseason with very few players even on international duty. If things don't start looking up quickly the pressure to make changes will become immense.

As an aside BM's use of the bench has always been inexplicable. It was commented on when we were going well. It just stands out more as an question mark over his judgement when we're going badly.

No way, Warrington scored with their only 2 real chances and Widnes put 50 on us and Catalans 30

Well we certainly have different views on assessing players abilities that's for sure. You are constantly slagging McGuire and Burrow who like any player can have a bad game or lose form. But both these two have proven over many years they have the skills and class at halfback but Sutcliffe has at best shown promise without ever consistently proving he has the skills, speed of thought, organising ability to be considered a half back at SL level. So for you to stubbornly refuse to see this and still wish play him before Mags and Burrow is perverse. Perhaps I should loan you my coaching manual!