I've just had a look at it on YouTube. So if you want a neutral perspective, I think it's one that you can make a case either way, although I would be leaning towards red. He certainly made direct contact with the head, but Briscoe was half through a gap, so it was a bit of a lunge/grab rather than a proper swinging arm.

I think in a SL game it may well have been red. The fact it was a friendly probably saved him.

On that subject, it's my personal belief that there shouldn't be such a thing as a red card in a friendly game. It's meant to be a practise match, so it doesn't really benefit the side who still have 13 the way it does in a competetive game, what are they getting out of it? I would propose an "ejection" like you get in the NFL. An enforced substitution if you will.

Just watched the highlights, now i am not getting ahead of myself or anything, but the set move for Ash Haneys try, I teally hope that’s a sign if things to come, I don’t think we’ve seen anything like tgat for a season or two

Too right.

There were a number of good set plays, walker bombed a couple with some poor passing when we (Tui to be precise) had worked some space and numbers.

A lot of things didn't show much improvement from last season so far but our attack in the last 30 looked much more structured. We just didn't get into the last 30 enough.

For those doubting whether it was a red card tackle can I please ask what you consider a send off offence??? He knocked his head off.

It was a training session so fair enough not sending him off but geez if ever there was a tackle worthy of a straight red that must be close. In a league game it wouldve been straight red.

I disagree with this.

I know it was a friendly but we play by the same rules regardless. He could have knocked him out, broke is jaw or worse. If it's a red it's a red. He should have walked.

I genuinely worry about the protection afforded players in general.

Hicks was a disgrace throughout the game. He was inconsistent and reckless.

Its early days but the concern has to be the go forward - if a team just kicks it deep and repeats that tactic how do we make any ground - from today the props aren't going to do it and neither is Luke Briscoe/Handley.

Much better structure to the attack though and with better execution Leeds could have had 3/4 more tries.

Lolohea looked very promising and had some nice touches.

Brad Singleton, Mik Oledski, Trent Merrin and Konrad Hurrell should all be able to make a few metres

Singleton wasn't a huge metre maker last season - Oledski yes I agree - hopefully we have brought in Hurrell as a battering ram.

Not sure what you disagree with as I put same as you. You can't argue with someone who's agreeing with you.

Go disagree with people saying it wasn't a red. It was a terrible tackle. I'm amazed Luke Briscoe kept hold of the ball, he didn't any other time he was tackled.

I was surprised it was just a yellow, not seen a replay but it looked awful.

We should've won, our forwards were dominant, but you were much more structured and level headed when it mattered.

Love your new stand.

Singleton very rarely makes big metres. He works hard and is solid but doesn't make enough yards for me. I still have major concerns with our props.

Completely agree all our props are work horses we need a wrecking ball.
Oledzski has the potential & should play more games this year but we need more & a line breaking BR.

Crosby, Peteru, Singleton and Cuthbertson will be OK next season, not great but OK. Add Oledski, Mullally and Holdroyd and you've got a reasonable rotation.

It's clear that the club know we are still light on forward power (not numbers) for next season, but I think this will be addressed for 2020, with a few moving on to be replaced by better players.

From the state of the squad at the end of 2018, it was always going to take a couple of years to fix up, and we are moving in the right direction.

I disagree with your 'it was a training run so fair enough' comment which I assume by training run you are referencing that it was an unimportant friendly game.

Yep agree totally

There's no possible scenario where having Mullally in the squad becomes "reasonable" imo.
In fact that list highlights perfectly where we lack serious qualuty & line breaking grunt.

Training game so fair enough is the wrong way to look at it. Just because it's a friendly it doesn't mean you should get away with foul play. However like I said on a couple of pages ago, where is the benefit for Leeds? It's supposed to be a game to help their preparation, the result doesn't matter. You don't really want to be facing 12 men for the rest of the game and winning by 30. What's the point?

Sending Randall off but allowing Wakefield to bring on a replacement is a better solution imo.

It’s a crackpot ridiculously stupid solution is what it is.

I actually think we are agreeing.

It's clear that the overall quality of the front row options aren't up to scratch, and I'm pretty sure the club know this too. However, the changes needed to the entire squad were so massive that they have focused on bringing in the players that they could reasonably get and will make a difference in the positions they play in. Unfortunately for us, the front row (and to a lesser degree the back row) needed so much surgery and players were re-signed on contracts that shouldn't really have been given out, that we can't make all the changes in one off season. We know that we need much better options in the front row, no one would argue that.

When I said "reasonable" what I meant was that there is enough depth in number (without considering the quality) to cover for the inevitable injuries we will get. Next off season, I'm sure we will see the majority of movement in the forwards with probably a couple of new front rowers coming in, and a back rower or two as well.

JJB, Ferres, Mullally, Walters, Ormandroyd and possibly Cuthbertson (depending on how he goes this year) are all likely to leave at the end of the coming season, so that's plenty of cap space to bring in 3-4 good forwards and promote the kids.

It was never going to be done in one off season.

quite like that idea it penalises the player and not the watching supporters who have come to watch a decent game

Agree with this.

I haven’t looked at the stats so happy to be corrected but my impression from last season was that making metres wasn’t a huge issue it’s that we never really dented or got through the line when making those metres. We didn’t have much impact and defences could contain us.

I’d also say our defence was the main area of concern for me. We allowed the opposition to make far too many metres and allowed too many quick play the balls. Which again would point to a lack of impact in the tackle. We were bringing them down but not being aggressive/solid enough whilst doing it.

Interesting point.

Agree a blowout because of a brain fart doesn't help anybody but the players have to be protected. A 'swap' is interesting. I'd also suggest a ban for the next pre season game as there needs to be a tangible consequence. All pie in the sky mind as it will never happen.

This has been my biggest concern about the squad. Not enough grunt and go forward in there.

You look at the front rows of saints and Warrington and Catalans for example and we are getting smashed simple as.

We certainly seem to be lacking size up front and impact players off the bench which is a big concern. I saw Merrin at game and he's not big either.

Only time will tell tho.

We'll need a ferocious attitude, that's for sure. Maintaining it for the duration of a bloated season's a big ask though. That said, Wigan did ok last time and the nearest they had to wrecking balls were Flower and Clubb.