Bit odd that Whitehead got MoM today. Not saying he had a bad game, but I thought Diskin and Kearney produced more

Did we get a crowd figure? I don't recall hearing it given....

I could mention a few names, but it would be unfair as everybody played well and it was a good team effort. So i'll go through everybody as I was very impressed. Overall as a team, our goal line defence has improved alot and our passing even more. Last season we had 3 or 4 players who would pass the ball, and when the ball went to anyone else the attack ended with that drive. Now everybody seems to be passing the ball when needed (apart from Langley on that break!!!), and some of the offloads were excellent.

Our pack looks big and strong, and everbody made good metres.

Kearney - Quality return to action. Definitely keep him at 1. His attacking play was excellent, always looked dangerous.

Ainscough - Didn't get much ball, but when he did he looked lively, and defended well.

Sykes - Went better today. Ran the ball in a bit harder, not many errors. Still behind Platt, Ah Van, Walker I reckon though.

Walker - Looked strong, ran the ball in hard, defended well. Solid game.

Ah Van - We look to have made a cracking signing here. Quality on the wing, in the centres and will do a job at FB. We've definitely found our goalkicker too.

Raynor - Went well, I think him and Ah Van make a good partnership.

Briggs - Showed us again that he deserves the 6 spot at Cardiff. Wasn't outstanding like the Dewsbury game, but made some good plays, some good kicks and his work for the try which I think Paul Sykes finished was immense. Beat 2 or 3 wakey players then got the pass away.

Herbert - Didn't see toio much of him today - got smashed a couple of times and taken off. I still think he'll go well, but needs protecting a bit more. That was one of the concerns of Canberra fans & why he didn't get too much first grade - he puts on these great short balls, but unfortunately it makes him an easy target.

Lynch - Great metres. Great defence. (That's what we've come to expect, but it shouldn't be taken for granted!

L'Estrange - looked lively, took his try well.

Hargreaves - Lynch mk2. Think we've got a good signing here. We look very strong in the pack imo, plenty of hard work shared between them and they made plenty of metres.

Elima - this guy doesn't stop tackling, and makes some good metres aswell.

Whitehead - What can I say. Excellent again - made metres for fun early on, took some passes which most players would have dropped and was our best attacking weapon in the forwards.

Langley - Solid. I think he's been told to pass more than he did last season. He didn't manage to get that one away to Royston though.

Diskin - Excellent performance - knew exactly when to run at the defence & when to put players through gaps. Gained us a few penalties aswell.

Koppy - He looks to have improved an awful lot over the off-season. Higher work rate, went looking for work and made some great metres.

Scruton - No big hits yet, but made some good metres (we could say this for everyone in the pack today) and defence was solid.

Platt - Ran the ball in like a train as usual, looks exciting in attack and is a handfuk in the tackle.

Sibbit - Solid game - if he keeps on the'll be more than a backup player. Worked very hard and tackled like an elimachine



Royston - was always trying to back up the man with the ball and did well defensively.

Have I missed anyone off?

Didnt give it out..herbert had ice on his left thigh.

Cant hold down this year..tackle move off..if lie on bang penalty..alot of stuff is gonna be workign around the ruck..so will be alot of marker tackles and scoots this year.

They were all impressive today, but special mentions go to Ian Sibbit, who was tremendous and looks to be a very shrewd signing, Disko who was effective as hell around the ruck; if we can win the collisions and get quick PTB's then he is the man we need at hooker.

And of course, Brett Kearney. He MUST play full-back, he's an exceptional talent, catches everything, and comes into the line so well in attack.

Couldn't help but smile today after the game, things look good!

Brett Kearney could be one of the best players in super league if he's kept at fullback. At times he looks world class.

Well, I think we should lineup something like this two weeks today:

Kearney
Ainscough
Walker
Ah Van
Raynor
Briggs
Herbert
Lynch
L'Estrange
Scruton
Elima
Whitehead
Langley

Kopzcak
Disko
Hargreaves
Royston

Both centres would have to help their wingers out alot if Leeds decided to put the high kicks up.

I'd agree mostly, but I'd be tempted to go with Ah Van on the wing instead of Ainscough, with Platt in centres. Or Platt in for Walker and walker on bench to cover centre & second row.

Totally different side compared to last year (in every way!) and pretty good to watch today. Liked a lot of what I saw.

Kearney was a stand-out, but quite a long line of others impressed, I thought? Diskin was very effective, Sibbit had a very good game indeed - must have played himself into the 17 today, Walker looked powerful, ditto Elima and Whitehead looks for all the world like a young Jamie Peacock. Platt another who looked impressive (apart from one mini brain fart) and Ah Van defo another real stand-out - love his laid-back goalkicking style! What a cracking signing!! And Hargreaves looks to be another. Hard to pick out individuals though in a pretty good all-round performance.

Bloody freezing though! One-or two over-ambitious passes, and Silverwood doing his best to slow it down at times with a shedload of penalties, sometimes seemingly issued at random, were amongst the few negatives I thought?

When you think of the units we did not have out on the park today, I'd say we head into season in pretty good heart. The Bulls are indeed back.

Believe me, if I could get Platt in the side I would, I'm an honorary member of Platt's Barmy Army



Agreed Adey, we were a little bit over-ambitious at times, but it was a friendly and I think the leash will have been off to a slight extent. Imagine we won't be as ambitious in Cardiff, whilst retaining the entertaining style of rugby we've seen today. All in all, can't wait for 2011!

I wouldnt put ah van in the middle of our street either, think he should be the end terracing and drop ainscough with platt in centres as well.

That's what I was thinking.

From what i've seen I think he'll be quality wherever he's put though.

Mr silverwood tried to speed the ruck up..but players wasnt allowing it so penalised them..as soon as players realise its gonna be quick around the ruck this year the better.

Diskin MOM for mine. He was superb when he came on and caused no end of trouble. We looked good though I thought.

One big worry for me is Ah Van under the high ball though. He didn't deal with kicks well at Dewsbury and Luke George easily beat him to the bomb for his first try too. Doesn't look comfortable at all there and it worries me to think he might be targeted.

When was this decided and did the RFL not think to make it public? So frustrating as a spectator not knowing how certain rules are going to be enforced each season.

I know - I was a bit unfair on Silverwood there. Should have pointed the finger more at certain players - but then I'd have said it was mainly Wakey ones! But is that a formal directive from Rot Hall this year? Fine by me if it is, as long as it is enforced consistently. What confused me was how sometimes he seemed to ping for what seemed hardly any lying on at all (a couple against us stood out), other times he seemed to be happy for them to scrap it out for ages. I suppose it just came across as a bit inconsistent. But that's probably watching it through RAB-coloured glasses.

its not a rule change so dont have to make it public..they may have just told refs to speed ruck up..obviuosly they will have told clubs that they want ruck speeding up..maybe one of reasons why we got disco as he can catch them out there and get us some pens from it.

I won't repeat what has already been said but I left the ground pretty confident of a much better season for us this year. This side will only improve with further matches and we already look miles ahead of last years squad.

Kearney has to be at FB if possible and if the 17 for Cardiff is picked on form from the friendlies then Sibbit will get a place on the bench. If he is a like for like replacement for Worrincy in terms of cap space then it was a tremendous piece of business. Still not any the wiser on who Potter sees as his starting wing/centre partnerships but from what I have seen I prefer Ah Van on the wing.

A few little tweaks needed here and there but we look on the right track for this stage of the season. Roll on two weeks time!

I think they should inform the fans, a bit of communication to the people who pay to watch the game. It's bloody frustrating.

No new directives yet, theres normally one but quiet so far on that front

Great game today, really enjoyable. Missed L.George's 1st try. But ours were brilliant. L'Estrange and Disko always causing problems round the PTB.

Enjoyed today. We do seem to be showing more enterprise and certain players look much fitter and more enthusiastic. Nobody had a bad game but you can see that there are still some rough edges, it'll be some weeks before the side really gells together.

I'd keep Kearney at fullback if at all possible. Hoepfully Herbert will be reocvered from his knock. I like the look of our hookers who completely dominated the ruck area. I can also see Briggs really shining when he gets up to SL speed.

The signs are good so far.

Seemed to get a leg injury to me but we'll see.

Connor murphy has said on twitter that Herbert went off as precaution. Kyle Briggs got a bang to the knee. Langley pulled his groin. Hope they not too serious

What was the attendance today? Many travel from Wakefield?