Yes totally agree, the halves need a bit of time in s new team together, asking a teenager to come into a team down on confidence is just madness

The only spine change I would make is Broadbent to fullback. I hope I'm wrong, but I just can't see Walker making it as a top SL fullback. He's not skillfull, fast or strong. He has a lot of heart, but hard to see what else he brings to the table.

He’s had 2 years out of the game and wasn’t expecting to be first choice, and he’s still only young. He is skilful but it’s obviously going to take some time especially with a whole new dpine which he has never played with.

Scapegoating Walker is not what we need. Give Sezer and Austin the ball in that second half and we win that game. Hookers all try and be a young Roby, or Daz Clarke but are nowhere near that level. We need an old fashioned 9 who can pass to Sezer consistently on attack. That’s all we flipping need…

Weve got one in Johnson IMO.

I hope he gets some game time this year as he looks all class, but he’ll probably come in for a few games not set the world alite and people will want him dropped

Get him in now! But give him at least 3 month run. We can’t move forwards with Leeming /Dwyer combo

Agree with the views here that this is not about 1 or 2 players. Last night for mine only young Tindall ran the ball in hard and fast which late on resulted in the Pearce high tackle, yellow card.
Virtually all game their defensive line ran harder at us than the ball carrier did.
We still could not really create anything v 12 men compounded by really dense play like the tip tackle by Smith.

It's not about scapegoating walker, as I don't think he's the reason we lost. I'm more questioning whether he will ever be the reason we will win.

To me, he came through as an exciting ball runner, who had a Sam Tomkins-esque step. I think over the years, through injury or being found out, we've realised he actually has no pace. In fact, for a fullback, he's quite slow... Without the illusive running in his game, there's not much skill to back it up.

Fullback is too important a position to be carrying someone who isn't up to it...

Again it’s 3 games in after a 2 year lay off, I’m sure the plan was to ease him in gradually but obviously that has suffered s blow because of Myler.

We need to win and win by a big comfortable margin to get our season back on track.

Walker
Fusitua Newman Sutcliffe Handley
Austin Sezer
Oledzki Leeming Prior
Gannon Martin
Smith

Tetevano Dwyer Thompson Donaldson

I think we just need a win, comfortable or not

To be fair, we have been poor with the ball, but aside from a portion of the Wigan game we've been pretty solid defensively, and we've played 3 of the strongest teams in the league with a patched up back line and back row. Even with a fully fit squad, we're at least a level below St Helens, so it's too early to write this season off.

It’s a good point to make. Our next 3 games are Wakefield, Hull FC and Salford. If we pick up 3 out of 3 wins from those games as we should do and need to do, things won’t be looking too bad.

After the loss at Wigan we had missed more tackles than any other team I believe. I can’t imagine that changed much after last night. We missed plenty again last night, and some of them were very costly.

wasn't expecting? didn't he demand it

Why does everyone rave on about Smith? The most overrated player at the club.

As for Thompson getting bagged, yep he’s an average Joe and not that’s needed, but he put himself about in defence last night.

Walker
Fusitua
Newman
Broadbent
Handley

Austin
Sezer

Oledzki
Leeming
Tetevano
Gannon
Martin
Prior

Dwyer
Thompson
Smith
Take your pick from the scraps

We will continue to struggle while we have no recognised props on the bench.

Smith has some super skills, but doesn't consistently work hard enough in defence. Its up to him - if he puts the work in he could be a very good player. If not he'll stay about where he is. Maybe a different coach would make a big difference?

As for Walker, its not just about his injuries. His contact in defence is often not good enough and he's never had a passing game. Those are issues he had before his layoff. If the injury has permanently slowed him down then longer-term he'll struggle to be a SL player let alone a star unless he improves in other areas. Even if he gets back to full speed (which isn't lightning) he'll just be an average player.

Smith has a great work rate, he regularly makes 30 or 40 tackles a game, he does give away stupid penalties, but he's very skillful. If he could get in better shape he'd be phenomenal

Think he made 47 tackles on Thursday and he only played around 60 minutes. Hes also the only forward we have who can offload from what i can see.

When did Leeming go off? I only watched the last half hour, and I didn't see him play. If he's injured Johnson should start. Dwyer has a real impact on the team when he comes in and makes breaks, but he's like Burrow-lite. He's not a real hooker and his passing is very poor.

The problem for Johnson is that he won't fill that role in the 17 as he's more of a steady hooker, not impact, and his competition for starting 9 is the captain.

Johnson is what we need, not Agars reliance on dwyer to get the team out of jail on his own, its not sustainable.

Im looking forward to seeing Corey today for the reserves. Jack Broadbent also. Hope both have stormers.

Im totally bewildered by this modern day rubbish that hookers have to run about like lunatics every set of 6. Its total garbage. Just deliver the ball to, when and how the receiver needs it and wants it and tackle like a demon in the middle of the park.

Look at Catalans 1st try, the tackle before Leeming made a tackle about 6 yards from our line but as per usual couldnt put him to ground and 3 other defenders had to come in and he was eventually stopped, but not grounded 1m from our line. And then hey presto we are short out wide. If Leeming does what a proper 9 should he wouldve nailed the guy and the defensive line wouldve been set. His contact in defence is absolutely garbage.

By far the best modern day hooker was Cam Smith how many headless chicken acts did he make a game? None. He used to make a million tackles a game too.


How can forwards run onto the ball if they dont know if the 9 will take a few steps first or head off in another direction? How can halves organise plays with confidence when the 9 just darts off like a wild turkey? Honestly i just dont get it at all, i must be getting old.

Tony Smith nailed it in his post match interview IMO regarding losing some matches early in the season.

Basically he said it’s not doom and gloom and everyone makes too much of a big thing about it, if we go on to have a good season the early matches will be forgotten about, similarly if a teams wins its opening matches it means nothing if they fall away mid season.

Also this isn’t an excuse for losing but the weather has been awful, i know its the same for both sides but I’m looking forward to watching the games when its not blowing a blizzard and minus temperatures, I’m sure the players are too.

I think the season starts too early to be honest

It wont be, but What it should be imo

Walker
Fusitua
Newman
Broadbent - Due to being our 2nd best Centre
Handley
Austin
Sezer
Oledzki
Leeming
Prior
Gannon
Martin
Smith - Strong words about Discipline, unacceptable 6 agains and pens conceded

Johnson - Due to Dwyers delivery being absolutely horrendous all the time
Tetavano
Thompson - Due to being the only player left that even resembles a 4th prop
Suttcliffe - Due to our rubbish luck with injury and cards - Versatility

Agar needs to put his love affair with Briscoe and the clubs long standing love affair with Suttcliffe to one side and pick the 2 best centres in there best position, especially as the 2 best could be our present and future, not that it matters to rich, but he's really starting to annoy me with his selection at that position...Quality young England knights centre and we'r shoehorning past there best wingers and players with no obvious rugby league position at 26 yearold ahead of him, infuriating.

Tindall unlucky to drop out as he's shown some nice stuff, some real appetite for the battle, could of had a couple of trys if he wasnt playing outside Briscoe. But certainly put himself in the spotlight and put down a good marker to build from, only positive iv taken from the last 2 games.

Corey Halls starting and getting good reviews for Wakey, Broadbents miles better, we'r meant to be a club trusting our youth, lets see it.