Our pack was basically the same as last season, but with an extra young player in there (Havard). It was a weak looking pack last year. It's not like it's any better now. We've got some of the best young forwards around but there's a reason why clubs don't tend to fill their pack with youngsters. Most forwards tend to reach their peak between 25-30 and up until then can be quite inconsistent. Our youngsters put plenty of effort in but I think we need a bit more experience and a bit more power. Clubb doesn't really count as adding experience because he makes about 2 carries per game on a good day. I don't understand why Flower, Bullock and Clark aren't already in the team (Flower seems to be both injured and back from injury simultaneously). I'm expecting Lam to bring Poppin Fresh back in for the Toronto game and keep Clubb in the side because he's a great bloke.

I have my own thoughts and doubts about Lam (as I did last year), I don't want to prematurely scape goat if I can help it. So far this season I believe we haven't improved on our faults from last season, this being:

Our forwards cannot make yards. An issue inherited from Shaun Wane (let your backs get you out of your own twenty.. etc). Remember Hamlin getting a rollicking cause he broke a tackle and made 30 metres instead of hitting the floor?

Clueless in attack in opposition twenty, sling left and right put aimless kick to corner. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

Discipline. Nuff said.

Still waiting for Lam's champagne rugby, unfortunately for him the clock is ticking on his twelve month contract. Carry on as we are (and was last year) and he won't necessarily be sacked but at the same time he won't be extended.

IL has invested big this season, time to show improvement.

Our forwards couldn't fight their way out of a wet paper bag. Too many young lads being asked to cover for Ten Minute Tony. Lam is going to ruin Partington if he keeps making him play as a starting prop. The lad has all the heart and bravery in the world but he simply isn't big enough to play up the middle. He needs to play wider.

If he isn't going to play Bullock or Greenwood then get rid and get some first team replacements because starting Ten Minute Tony and Isa is not the way to challenge for honours.

I have a feeling it's going to be a loooooonnnnnnngggggggg season if Lam is still in charge by the end of it.

Two games in, and Hull KR look a (considerably) better side than us.

I watched Bullock v Skolars, Leigh & Widnes and he is by far the best prop in the club.
He is big fast and powerful but not in the team.

I was at the game tonight and you can take it as read that the story about Bullock is true it came from a club insider that knows a lot of people at the club,if this was in the real world he would be up on a disciplinary,he needs to shape up or ship out

Very poor performance, no clue in attack just 1 up drives all game with very little ball movement. Lam looks seriously out of his depth with this team and the sooner he leaves the better. Only positive was Smith who looked a very natural halfback with a good kicking game

How does that solve the problem that the pack was not good enough tonight?

If they are fit then if Greenwood and Clarke aren’t picked next week, Lam is on crack. I’m assuming Burgess isn’t fit.

As to the backs, it seems Lam wants to accommodate French at full back. Can’t say I’m convinced of that either. He was given the 6 shirt so go and play there. Centres Hankinson & Bibby, FB Zak.

Bullock would have helped, Clark should have played ahead of Havard though. Greenwood is worth a go next week but he’s very soft and seems to pick an injury up every game, needs to be more physical in contact

If Toronto can play half decent next week and we play the same then we are there for the taking.
Lam looks and sounds totally out of his depth.

We look and play like a bottom 4 team.
IL can't afford to wait all season for Lam to turn it around.

The gate on Thursday won't clear 8000 at best.

Hardaker doesn't score that try last week - nor does he get the Cas player sin binned for preventing another try.

He's solid defensively, but offers nothing in attack from FB.

I got slated for saying Lam ain’t good enough, people said give him a chance.

I got slated for saying Hardaker is better at fullback with French to 6, when Gildart is fit.

I got slated for saying Harry Smith couldn’t defend and I’d rather play Shorrocks there. Smith needs to work in his defence in the reserves before he plays another Superleague game because he’ll be targeted.

I didn't watch all your game last week but I went last night..... Looks like Hastings is under performing massively compared to last year.

To be fair to Smith no one on the left side looked good last night. Two weak tries given away.

Not many will defend Lam after last nights lack of performance. I wouldn't let him near the u18s let alone the first team.
It's always everybody's else's problem never his. We always train well (we must do as "he" is on the pitch) but don't do it on match days. I just don't rate him one iota.

That was a team selection that was never going to win at Cas. How many times recently have their old heads just battered us on that narrow pitch? Where is the go forward? Clubb is blown after a few minutes, Partington and Smithies are tackling machines but neither are impact players so it seems that we are setting ourselves up just to keep scores down. Either Lam has to sort out our underperforming pack by getting the likes of Bullock and Clark ready or someone needs to sort out Lam who seems unsure about how to fix the problem.

Clubb is a liability and for me shouldn't be anywhere near the first team.
If Clark "one of the most explosive forwards in the game" can't get a game before Clubb that says it all really.
A poor pack led by a poor coach.

It does not matter who is the Coach, the problem is the Owner/Chairman!

How is it his fault Lam won't pick the big signings we made?

You can put the coach at the door of Mr Lenagan after the Edwards fiasco but he made significant investment into this team and signed off on bringing players in who, on paper, should be bringing about an improvement.

The playing side which has been widely criticised on here and twitter, is down to Lam.

EDIT:

Lam was the easy choice to make for coach. I doubt if there was any sort of recruitment process other than offering it to Lam. That was a mistake at the time and it’s showing to be a huge misjudgement now. I just hope Mr Lenagan realises his error and gets rid.

Lenagan has given Lam a better squad than many that Wane had at his disposal.

Owner=Fine

Playing staff=fine

Coach=?

Why has Lam never been given a head coaches position elsewhere? You really have to wonder.

Whats the drill with clark then ? His ego not fitting in through the changing room doors ?

I jest.

I initially didn't wanna lose him and was a little sad when he left. However, it's worth noting, he NEVER started a game for a Cas. He was 15 minutes off the bench in the 2nd half. He ain't a Liam Watts, Luke Thompson, Walmsley type forward who's gunna play big minutes and carry your forwards or be a pack leader . He's a short burst impact player but he ain't a kid now either. Did he want a bigger role ? Is he capable of more ?

Time will tell, but if ain't getting in your 17 last night then it brings some big questions up about him and that ain't any disrespect to your younger lads.

Big questions on playing staff too. Burgess, Clark, Greenwod and Bullock for starters for a variety reasons.

I wrote Lam off last year after the Barcelona debacle. If anything his bs comments just makes the hole bigger.

Lam’s interview is worrying saying it’s an attitude problem. That’s down to you pal.

I just don’t understand what our plan is in attack. What are we trying to do out there.

With Wane/maguire it was very clear structure, big shifts with dummy runners, giving it to the full back out the back in space with an overlap. Even in games where we got battered at least we had a plan.

Embarrassing last night, that 3 penalties given away when WE had the ball!

Makes it worse that Lam was brought in to ply an expansive game.

Last night none of our players looked like they could break a tackle, none of them can offload. We barely make breaks.

We should give smith another go imo, yes he didn’t look great on the tries, but his kicking game was exceptional, something we’ve missed.

Smithies, Partington, Bryne, Havard are all great but don’t think at this stage of there career they should all play at once.

Clubb 2 year contract looks absolutely laughable.

Joe Burgess looks finished.

I’d give Greenwood a go, we need a bit of flair.

Lam out for me.

Bullock the last I heard had been fined over a grand for various discipline issues mainly being late for training.
If this is ongoing he needs to go asap. I can only assume that at this point we can't find a buyer.

One penalty from Lockers, not that bad surely?