For me today proved that its Ben Westwood..... his absence was the single biggest contributing factor to our defeat. (if that makes sense.. i have been drinking)

one man doesn't make a team, but i don't think we would have lost that game with him in the team.

Agreed.

Thought that myself coming home, we'd have won today with him playing.

Same with Monas, if he'd have come back on we'd have been okay. Those two and the two front rowers are now Warrington's heartbeat, not Briers. (Who was cack today)

I think its the opposition fans that like to make out briers is our heartbeat....I think westwood is far more important to us than briers.... and Monaghan... he was a massive loss when he went off.... i actually dont think briers, as good as he is, will be that hard to replace when he goes.

sure yes we did miss ben westwood for his direct running and defence but to say we would have won the game if he would have played is debatable. just think too many players didnt show up on top of there game.
maybe the wigan game has taken some energy away from today I just didnt think we looked as strong as Catalans we were out enthused and looked very lethargic

I kept looking to the bench wondering when Monas would start warming up to come back on. Missed his composure and the space he gives to Briers.

with 20 mins to go i feared the worse.... that's when i thought he would come back into the game.... when he didn't appear we were left with Higham and clarke.... we looked flat and slow from the play the ball without him.

It wasnt just Westwood that we missed today but also both Ben Harrison and Anderson.

The direct running from our back 3 of Blythe,Grix and Clarke was non existant today and was a very stark contrast to the runnng of the 2 Bennys and Louis.

Against a big,physical team today the back 3 of the pack today were unfortunatlely found out. Matty back to centre, Grix to the bench amd Clarke to 18th man.

I completely agree with this thread. I've said it before, he'd be a big hit in the NRL. His heart, defence and work-ethic would be very much appreciated by players, coaches and fans over there. Huge player for us.

I said last week i think were starting to take him for granted... 80 mins solid... the best defender and the most courageous at taking the ball in..... when were are under the cosh near our own line he takes the ball in like a man possessed. he just gets up and keep playing.... there is no substitute for his sheer will to win. He is an absolute machine....

ive seen threads on others forums with people questioning his cleanliness in regards to performance enhancing drugs.... i think that's the highest compliment you can pay to a player.

Season - Westwood, only MMonas gets close

Today - young Rhys again stood up, some big hits in the first half especially

Briers obviously played on after taking a knock just before half time, I think MMonas got an elbow to head, Hodgson didn't look too healthy at times today, took a big hit to his back

Monas was obviously in distress, he was just shaking his head and holding it as he was trying to carry on. He's one of those that you know it must have been some knock ie, an elboe as he can shake most things off.

The Briers one, he clearly wasn't 100%, the Monas thing obviously didn't help as it probably forced Briers to stay on as we were a pivot down, I was wondering if we'd go Grix at 6 and Solomona to his left edge spot but we just kept replacing like for like, I think Smith was hoping that he would just do enough to get us the win and we'd move on, sadly - he & we just came up short.

really?

I haven't. I'm not saying you are lying, in case that is what you construe it as. I am shocked. He is a machine but he always seemed honest to me. I wouldn't dream about him cheating.

He seems about as smart as Hock, but Hock and Hock's wandering elbow always made him seem stupid and flawed character. Benny always seemed like an old sheep dog to me. Works hard just for devotion.

yea that's the joke.....