So we have the historic embarrassment out of the way.
Next out against hornets, we have both lost 2 in the league, both coming off back of challenge cup losses that we both probably should have won Rochdale probably more so than us.

I know Hendo was not happy at all about Fri nights first half, don't know about the second half, but I hope the boys have had a rocket put up them. What do we think, close game? For me I think, well, I hope, our home advantage and the surface will give us the edge and we can take it pretty comfortably. Hoping Dixon starts to show a bit more of what he has got to offer. The key, respect the ball, don't try and score everytime they are near the line and get the discipline sorted.

Mickey out of the 14 halves we have played this season, 12 in the league 2 in the cup, how many do you think Hendo will be pleased with?

Wire q already said I don't know about the second half so for rest of the games I woukd be guessing.

More interested in folks thoughts about our next game

But wouldn't past performances influence 'folks thoughts' on the next game? Or is this a head in the sand let's stay positive thread?

Well I can only comment on what Hendo said on Fri,
Not sure why you think it's head in the sand. Merely asking how people think we will fair against a team that so far are pretty even with us in the league and both of usbcoming off losing games that arguably should have won.

You would like to think a fully pro side, on a fast track, at home will run away with it. I would expect something similar to the Bulls game

Agreed

The simple truth is that we are not as good this season as we were much of last season. Injuries play their part in this, but also some of our replacements have yet to come up to scratch. Time will tell. Hendo earn your money and sort it out. It is your team!

I truth we have lacked some shape and composure in games however its hard to ignore we are now missing two starting hookers and and two starting props, I feel with these available we can still beat anyone. Fair to say replacement props have been underwhelming

I certainly think so far we have not really shown what we should be capable of. We have been better at home on plastic than away on grass though. If we get a good start then I think we will win comfortable, if we let them get early points I think it will be a struggle

Sammutt / Pitts underwhelming - really ?

Purtell yes, Roqica yes, Dixon yes, Gee / Evans not too sure yet, Spencer .... did a Stapleton

As for Grant and Channing ....

Not sure you read my post correctly...I said replacement Props!!! Spencer arrived fully fit Stapleton didnt ! We got out muscled in the middle by Toronto and have been in every game since Hull KR. That said we have enough pace and skill in back 3 to trouble anyone...just need to get the ball to them more!

Unlikely to happen. Sammut is only really interested in doing something unpredictable and Barthau is a bit meh. Pewhairangi, if played at SO, is a lovely runner but too similar to Sammut. There's no-one in the halves capable (or interested) in playing a sustainable, , disciplined, organising role. Rhys Williams was already showing signs of frustration v Toronto. You can have the best wingers in the world but if they don't get enough ball, and good quality at that, then it's pointless.

And, yes, the forwards are being pushed around a little too easily. Roqica doesn't run his size, nor does Evans (who's probably more of a 2nd row tbh). Ioane does, so too Battye and Spencer when fit, but other than that there are a lot of mid-sized second rowers in that squad.

Sammut maybe only interested in doing something unpredictable but on Fri he scored over 50% of our points on the night including 2 tries. Barthau also scored I believe so Meh! cannot be too bad can it?

The wingers are being systematically ignored and maybe irretrievably alienated unless the plays ( assuming we have any) are changed to build on known strengths.
The ball invariably goes right, until it gets to Purtell. Rhys is not a happy bunny.

Maybe harsh but is Daniel a captain?

What was the final score?

The attacking structure - and the ball getting into Hellewell's and Williams's hands - would improve if Kear went back at 1. Alternatively, maybe Sammut would fit better at full-back allowing Barthau to handle the left-hand side like last year.

Naderia do you need reminding? Ok let's take sammut and barthau out of that equation on the score last Fri between em they scored 18 points! So if you want to use that argument without the 2 players mentioned the score would have been 8-30 not 26-30
As for the wingers! How many tries have we bombed on the wing in the last few games through the last pass being dropped, it's got to have an effect on centres wanting to put that last pass out.

Did Kear not play FB on Friday??

Kear, Williams, Dixon are our best back 3 Our halfs are choosing to pass to the lead (easier option) when a pass out the back would release Kear and wingers. It worked last two seasons and against Hull KR. That said if we are loosing the arm wrestle in the middle its very hard to create width off slow/passive rucks.
We will be a different team with Spencer Battye, Ackers and Cunnigham back.

That's the kind of argument you'd get in a schoolyard. You can't simply say "remove the points X scored" as if those things happened in a vacuum.

Relying on a player making a run through broken play, or a moment of magic, in order to create scoring opportunities is inherently unreliable and unsustainable. Those things should be extras not the first option.

If we had halves (or at least one of them) who looked to play a more structured and sustainable game we'd find ourselves in better field positions, we'd play more of the game in our opponents end of the field, and our outside backs would get better, earlier ball to work with. We'd utilise all of our attacking options instead of ignoring some of them.

Nady you will learn how Mickey operates!! very simplistic approach

But it's the facts! People are saying sammut and barthau are to quote "meh" but they are the ones scoring the points!

But not enough if you really want to simplify it

So using simple logic, the 2 players in particular are "meh" but they are the best of what we have? I don't really understand the thinking behind folk saying they are not doing the business! Maybe the other way of looking at it is they are the only ones really doing the business, sammut may run cross field but where are the runners coming onto him.
As for the fwds I think loane is starting to perform to what he can do, junior, you are right he is not running to his size and weight, he us like loane on his first few games for us.