This would be superb. I was talking to a couple of people who suggested we should try and get him on some sort of loan arrangement from Leeds Carnegie during the summer period, but I don't see how realistic that is. If we could get him back in any capacity it would be excellent.



Kevin Penny had a good game, and it was excellent to see so much effort, passion and determination. I do think the proof of the pudding will be the results and performances over the next few weeks.

We had a group of union people behind us and they had a great time, thought our game was exciting and by the end they were cheering shouting, singing and clappinbg along with the rst of us and decided they would definately be back. Later I spoke to a couple of ladies and they had really enjoyed the game and said they would be back a couple more times this season. Maybe the joint game plan waorks better than we give it credit and maybe we should have a couple a season. If it just brings in 50 fans each time it will help build our crowds. If those 50 fans bring a friend and then they bring a friend and so it rolls on. But is was great to hear positive feed back

One swallow doesn't make a summer

Exactly. Today's performance was excellent. As good as we have put in against a top side for ages. All the players looked up for it and most importantly they looked like they had been doing some training in the week prior to the game. Mac seemed to be getting the extra 10-15% out of each player which is what is needed from a coach who is put in charge of such a limited squad. Had it not been for some very strange refereeing we might have won. And the fact that I can write that sentence this season shows the improvement.



BUT it's one game, and the kind of game you would want and expect the squad to lift for - especially given the double header and the chance to impress new fans. The key comes in the next few games, especially the next one as it's at home against a team we could well beat with a performance like Saturday's. If after these games we have similar cause for optimism then I might think about changing the avatar. But in the same way nobody rushed to join the Sack Mac camp, similar caution should be taken to paint everything as rosy after what was another defeat. Perhaps though there is hope

This season has been one of an abject defensive performance, followed by a heroic effort then back to an abject performance again and in all games prior to St Helens our attack has been pathetic, averaging less than one converted try per half game.



It is the first time this season that we have shown:



A) The ability to successfully bring the ball away from our own try line

B) The ability to break the line

C) The ability to look dangerous without also being within 15 metres of the line



If you look at Hull KR, Huddersfield, Salford and Wakefield, they have all found great joy in simply kicking diagonally towards the corners. Invariably they would find that they made touch, got a goal line drop out or found that we could not carry the ball out. Once we were suppressed in our own half we were easy pickings. It could also be argued that O'Callaghan would often not be in position and when he was would make an error or if he caught the ball made barely any metres with zero clean breaks for the season. This easy option is no longer there as they do not want to feed Kevin Penny. This created great confidence by also removing a weak link who had let in 3 to 5 tries per game each week and replacing him with a player who can run 100 metres in under 11 seconds.



I was genuinely pleased with the performance, although acknowledging that a win is unobtainable when you concede over 30 points at home, so I am not getting carried away. 2 wins from 22 is nothing to shout about but I have made my views clear in the past on this.



Can we be this seasons Warrington/Portsmouth and do well in the cup? I would like to think so.



Cheers

Mark