Professional job that, not without fault, but got the job done.

Interesting proposition is that the difficult work is on the coaches. Hayes is looking the part, but Williams is ready to play and Drinkwater must be close if not ready.

Currie will come back in, as will Fitzgibbon when back and ready. Walker needs a spot too.

We’ve been resilient so far as to jot drop the kids when the names are ready, but something has to give. Fortunate, I guess.

Hayes & Holroyd have been the two great plusses for me ... you'd think they'd have been in the team for years. It would be very handy if Rodrick Tai proves himself too.

You can only beat what's in front of you.
Well done, Wire. Onwards and upwards.

By the Lord, there are some 3 teams in SL

All this does is mean that every player has to, rightfully, fight for his place. Imagine Matautia under Burgess? We’re a fair way from the top boys but we’ll get there with this culture.

Have to say I was impressed with Joe Philbin in the second row!

Much better balance in the squad this year. Last season we were desperate for centres and back row forwards.

I get all the positivity, but three of our four wins have been against basket cases. I think there's something in this team (and coaching team) but we've had false dawns before ( only twelve months ago even!)

Agree with this. Saints/Wigan would be turning us over, I’d like to think the way we’re set up would give us a snif and we’d not get a kicking….but still LOTS of work to do and we’ve had a fortunate fixture list so far.

Although, I should add, neither Wigan or Saints terrify me.

Interesting to see how much better we looked on a faster pitch, too. Can't wait to see Dufty in the summer. Hopefully Lindop too.

Said this at HT today. The acid test is still the pies and the stains. They nullified us every time last year, even that cup game with the extra man, we just didn't look a threat. So we'll see what's changed once we face them.

We need an ipitch at wire.

How good we look on the hybrid artificial and real grass turf.
Wembley also suits your running game, another ipitch.

Most of the tries from our right edge!

Couldn't go or see the match but just commenting on a number of peoples comments -

1. 'When the pitches are firmer it'll suit us better' or words to that effect.
It's been used year after year and I don't buy it. It may nelp js but it'll also help others. And dont forget the GF is played typically under less firm conditions, or with higher humidity.

2. 'The true test will be against Stains and Pies' - too true, but a bigger point for me how we respond in the following games if we do get a bloody nose from playing them. Are we brittle or able to retain self belief and confidence?

3. 'Right edge defence still an issue' - fully agree but it needs to develop and if we 'break a few eggs' in makimg an omelette, so be it. If it doesn't improve throughout the year then we have options. If/when Sam chooses to pull the trigger will be a test of his judgment.

4. 'We need Stef in the side for kicking and he can do a decent job in most positions' - Agree with the latter and I think that when he plays he could be our kicker, however Sam seems to have made his mind up that he is a squad player rather than a 1st choice in the 17. I'm sure we'll lose a few because of the this BUT it's the overall team that matters first and foremost, and that includes youngster development.

Interesting times.

We were missing Williams and Currie who predominantly engineer our left attack.
So no surprise really.

Williams is playing on our right edge this season.

Fitzgibbon is our left-side second row, Currie has played right-side second row or loose forward.

My point was that the right edge are more than capable of scoring when given the opportunity,and good to see as will give them confidence.

I certainly don't think anyone's getting carried away, especially after last year's flying start to the season and how that ended up. But at the same time, there are definite signs of progress and improvement, both on the field and culturally (in terms of player development, and giving youth more of a chance), and we look a happier and more dangerous team. Right now, I am enjoying watching us again, and that's a start. Of course, we need to see how all of this stacks up against Wigan and Saints, but let's embrace the challenge.

Although Ratchford shooting in didn't help, Wrench still made the wrong decision on who to tackle. After Ratch shoots in it leaves 3 on 3 with Holyroyd, Wrench and Thewlis against 3 London players. Davies runs an angle towards the posts. He is running in the direction Holroyd so Holroyd should pick him up. Even if they are playing a sliding defence then Holroyd should be covering across to tackle Davies. Campagnolo doesn't hit Davies though, but passes out the back to Miloudi and Wrench has just drifted into no mans land, leaving massive gap for Miloudi to run into. At that point Thewlis is lose/lose, whichever man he takes likely results in a try.

It wouldn't concern me at all but it's happened in every game he's played this season. The 2nd try HKR scored against us was the worst example of it. I know we need to give him time to develop. He seems pretty much there in attack already but over the 4 games he's played I've seen no signs of his defensive reads improving and it's a little bit of a worry. I really hope we

This is what we had last season with Peanut. He read the attack wrong lots and it meant our right side shipped in a lot of tries that were possibly preventable.

Can’t argue with any of your analysis but having him in and out of the team will not help him. For balance, he had a hand in at least 3 tries. If we replace him with Ratchford, we gain on goal kicking but would have 2 of the slowest centres in Super League. If no improvement then Tai will come in.

This^

Some sniping about Wrench on here, who is an exciting attack player who does need to improve in his defensive reads, which will come with experience and coaching.

King however looks very ordinary and is anonymous in attack a lot of the time.

Not seen Tai play for us yet, but if he is goes OK, it should be King who should be under pressure to retain his position.

quite surprised the the king criticism has come so early, i dont think he's doing anything different to what he did at wigan last year(nor was he doing much different at wigan than he'd done here, 2022 notwithstanding)

He definitely had a bit more room at wigan due to defences being terrified of french and field's pace.

Much like us doing ok, he's doing ok so far, especially in light of our 4th/5th different half back pairing this year.

I still want him in the team. As you say, he offers a lot in attack and he is still only 22 so we do need to bare with him. I'm just saying that it's a minor worry that he hasn't shown any improvement in this area of the game. Same mistake 4 games in a row that have all resulted in tries being conceded. The problem when playing centre is that you make that bad read and it's a try conceded almost every time. In a close game those tries being conceded or not, matter.

Yeah not getting the Toby King bashing at all just check the stats he's making meters, he's breaking tackles and is up there with the best centres in the league. He might not be catching the eye as much but he is doing the tough stuff well. I'd only caveat that by saying our fixtures have been kind.

For me it's Wrench and King in the centres, as much as Stefs goalkicking is amazing I think Connor brings much more in attack. Tai has a lot of work to do, he came in unfit and he has to really fly in training to get near the team as I'd sa the Ratch and Lindop are before him for me.

Wrench is making the odd mistake, but it's his first extended run in the first team in his preferred position, even if Ratchford / Tai would come in and do a slightly better job, we just need to stick with him and allow him to develop, we'll probably lose some games due to no Ratchford goal kicking, but it's a necessary evil I think. Hayes too, even if he was playing at a slightly lower level than Drinkwater atm - which he isn't, he looks much better IMO - he should be kept in there for the long term this year, see how they both do, otherwise how can we see if they are likely first choice players in 2025?

The only reason they should come out is if poor performances could knock longer term development or if physically it's decided they need a rest.

King is doing fine, he's doing the job I expected, excellent in terms of his yardage gains and pretty solid defensively, but still not worth the salary increase we gave him, at least the £50k marquee cap is useful here. I'm hoping Lindop is after that shirt by the time 2026 comes along, he'll be almost 20 when 2026 kicks off.