I was expecting a big season from him this season, and I know its only one game in but yesterday he gave away 3 'silly' penalties in the space of 5 minutes. I realise that all the players, especially Perry will be rusty. I hope he doesnt turn into a penalty machine this year.

And secondly; does anyone else think that we should've played more than 1 preseason match?

Perry played two pre season games.

I think we should have had three pre season games to get over being rusty and and give the players a few hit outs. I don't mean pick full teams for all three games just give them a hit out.

We did play the under 20s in a private game as well.

Strange thing is, we've won our first game for the first time in years without and pre season games so maybe Royce has changed things a little.

Obviously rustiness is expected (currently the Wigan-Hudds match is full of handling errors etc) and after the game yesterday I was trying to think of the last season when we had a good start, and we didnt play like world beaters but at least the victory was there.

He said in the press recently that it was a deliberate tactic to play only one pre-season game as he wanted stuff in the tank for the end of season (my paraphrase!) as well as allowing all the players to have a proper off season.

It was the first competitive game of the season, we were fielding new players in pivotal positions whilst attempting to overcome the loss of the pack keystone for the last five years, the opposition was lively and on their own patch and the conditions were dire. Given such the chances of running like a race-spec Ferrari were not much above zero.

Two points well earned.

Suppose it was worth a try considering were hardly the fastest starters, and of late we fall short at the very end

Aye. 2 points is 2 points.

That's Point I was making, he's trying something different this year and from gave one it's working so far.

From the odd chat I've had with Royce and from chats I've had with people who know him well, Royce is the kinda guy that never switches off from his job and always thinking what we could have done better and what we can do better, so I'm sure he put a lot of thought in to our pre season.

Let's be honest, we can't start and worse than we have in recent years.

The promising thing about Perry was his first few run in which he looked very difficult to put down. As our only 'legitimate' prop by size (besides Puletua, but I think he prefers to run a little wider) this is something we will need if we are going to beat the better teams up front.

He tired and probably became frustrated, but after a season out and two career threatening injuries that is to be expected. Let's hope he can stay fit and show his worth this year, Soliola had a a similar first year but was absolutely immense yesterday.

I think you mean trundle not run.

Barring injury, can't see Perry achieving match fitness until about 5 super league games, might be better to judge him then just before the Easter period. Sia Soliola is showing his potential now, Perry still needs time to up his game in what is a long season.

Hopefully Perry will improve, but Ive got to say Im not impressed at all.
Looks lazy in defence, giving away too many penalties.
If this is due to fitness hopefully that will be sorted because looks like he could come up some handy offloads.

hes no james graham

the other aussie laffranchi is it? looked good for you tonight seems solid

Thought he had (perry) a good second half, took the ball up well with a few offloads.

With Perry looks a case of getting his fitness and confidence up. However he is a good offloader of the ball and does make meters in the collision.

Made plenty of tackling when he was on as well.

Laftranchi is looking a very good buy. Very much a high quality workhorse

Laffranchci looks like he's going to be very very good player for us this year.

I think perry looks very suspect in defence and teams are going do spot sets on him and I think he could be a liability in defence. When teams work hints. The likes of burrows or tomkins runs at him he will struggle.

I know I occasionally extract the urine, but I thought Perry and Laffranchci both looked very average tonight. That Saints pack looks poor apart from Roby and Puletua, although Dixon was my mom.

Sia was top class again tonight, he's started the season with a bang!

Laffranchci when he's on the field is good but for some reason he's led off the field for long periods. I think he'll be good player.

Perry was a top class prop when we signed him and was first choice Aussie prop but he looks very very sluggish and is flat footed in defence which concerns me. I just wonder if he can get his fitness back. At the moment I have to say, I honestly can't see him getting back to what he was.

I think we defo need a good quality prop.

I thought he looked a bit heavy.

Perrys shirt got lifted up part way through the second half and he's carrying plenty of excess weight by the looks of him. In fairness to the guy to keep yourself in shape whilst injured must be tough so if he has a run of matches now he should get in to better shape.

Dixon looks to have come on leaps and bounds and I thought Laffranchi was pretty good.

Got to say I agree with Rogues on this, even though it pains me to say so...............

SP,
Watch the game again. Soliola comes in for the BIG tackle and misses. It's great when it comes off but he's been found out too many times.

Graham is going to be a big miss for Saints. I really think your pack will get found out but to be fair you did miss LMS tonight to give you some go forward.

On the subject of Dixon, he wasn't picked in the 17 last week until flannery took ill. Looks like we dropped lucky as Dixon is on fire at the moment.

Just hope Royce keeps him in the 17 as flannery is total waste of space.

No S***!

Take the best (or one of) player out of any side and they will be missed. However a very fit, mobile and athletic pack (Perry aside atm) we may be in a great place to adapt to the new interchange limit whilst having plenty of grunt still available when the hard slog is needed. As Salford proved today, you need to have a squad capable of playing for the full 80 and we are well equipped to do that.

Could we do with a bit more? Of course! But show me a team in the league that couldn't do with a bit more of something in their side this year.

Perry does seam to be blowing alot, seams to need more fitness. He has a handy offload in traffic though and that's something Graham did not have. The Perry and TP where a bit sluggish to start, but as the game wore on got better. Salfords props went 100 mile an hour in 20 mins and burned up. I think we have time for our props to pick up. Lets face it we are going ok compared to last year much better 2 games 2 wins and no saga.