Quick question for you guys, why didn't O Carroll play and can you see him getting much first team action this season??

Harrison Hansen! Tackled anything and everything IMO tonight, J.Tomkins outstanding, where will Bailey fit in when fit?

I guess the coach simply felt Prescott was the better option. If you had asked me would O'Carroll get much game time this time last season (yes, just one game in) I'd have said that the 17 that played today was nailed on for all the rounds unless injured or suspended. Under Maguire I don't expect that to be the case so I think he will get his chance and like all the rest of them he will have to make a case for continued selection.

Dave

Offensively no. Defensively though we wouldn't have kept them quiet so much. Would have been more 38-20 ish I reckon.

I thought he didn't play because he was simply the 5th best prop on the field for us in the friendly against Wire. He's had a very good game at Wakefield before that in pre season but didn't have his best game against Wire.

He'll get games though. We're bound to get injuries and players are bound to lose form. The current coach will use his squad as and when he see's fit imo to get the best from it. Guys like O'Carroll, Goulding, Pryce and McILorum will all see games at some point.

I doubt it... The atmosphere was terrible.

Good start and as others have said next week will give a better impression of how much we have improved with new regime and training methods. Much leaner and meaner and more enthusiasm somehow although Feka still likes a little stroll back doesn't he

The atmosphere pre match was very good I thought. You could sense a buzz around the ground and an excitment. The fact that Crusaders were terrible didn't help during the game because the fans didn't really have a contest to watch or a part to play.

The game and the atmosphere will be much better next week and should tune us in nicely for Wire!

Can't wait for that one.

It was kind of spooky somehow wasn't it. Can't quite put my finger on why.

Probably because no away supporters to help create the atmosphere.

The atmosphere was at its best on the rare occasions the Crusaders got close to our line. It gave the crowd something to shout about. So no fans and being stuck in their own half for 90% of the game wasn't exactly a recipe for lots of noise.

Dave

Have to agree with Cadoo's first post.. O Loughlin was 100% perfect with everything he done, what a player!!

Cant think of anyone rerally that didnt shine!! Same 17 for me next week!

Thanks for the info about O Carroll guys. Hope he manages to force his way in at some point.

It always lacks occaision and atmosphere when the North stand is closed, i'm sure the players enjoyed the second half better because they played most of the half in a full [end of stadium...

It was a an encouraging performance.

The first half started and ended abit scrappy but we played some decent stuff in between and piled alot of pressure on The Crusaders in their own half which lead to them creating many errors and ill-discilpine. We did well to capitalize and score some good close-range tries.

The second half was great. The Crusaders hardly touched the ball let alone get out of their half. Our forwards simply bettered them and just kept coming, it was clear that we were by far the fitter team and it's something that has really improved from last year. We played with structure, organization and once we laid the platform using our forwards we used to ball well outside to play some impressive stuff. It's worth mentioning that our kicking game was very good too. We found space and managed to turn the fullback and wingers on many occaision and our attacking & short kicking game terrified the opposition.

I was very impressed was Paul Deacon, his organization was top class and he was very enthusiastic. His kicking game was impressive and the one he did for Phelps' try was total precision. It looked as the Amos was loving his high kicks towards his wing too. One thing that stood out even more about Deacons game was he very quick distribution from first pass. It was almost all one movement and with the correct running angles and timing it appeared as though an overlap and space was automatically created, it was great to watch.

I thought Gleeson looked dangerous. He was shrugging off defenders, making half breaks and looking to pierce through gaps all night. With Roberts new-found pace and sharpness I think those two will create a good partnership next year.

Other mentions:

Sean O'Loughlin = Leader of the leaders. Pure class.

Sam Tomkins = Dangerous all night. THAT run he went on was awesome, it would have been one of the best idividual tries I ever saw had he pulled it off.

Andy Coley, Stuart Fielden & Feka = Lead by example though out the game.

Joel Tomkins & Lee Mossop = Big, strong and dangerous. Great, young players.

Had a quid on Mossop for last try at 50-1, at the end I was cheering for both sides defence!

Happy with the performance, but lets remember who was in front of us. Crusaders are going to the whipping boys of the league yet again. They look like an average NL1 team and no miracle work from BN is going to make any difference.

On a good note, i was please with our line defence, many times last year we were caught flat footed with a defensive line that waited for the opposition to reach us. For once after a long time waiting it seems we have a defensive line that is willing to move up and meet the runners.

Deacon looks like he is going to be a very clever signing, he doesnt need to do too much when he is on the pitch, but it gives us an attacking option that we have been missing for a few seasons. I always remember the kicking partnership that Lam and Radlinski had, looks based on last night that Deacon may have this with Phelps. That try was the highlight of the night for me.

Roberts is like a new signing! The pace he has gained in the off season is fantastic, after 2 performances i could easily see him being our top try scorer this year. Hopefully a dangerous partnership with Gleeson who looks to have bulked up from last season.

Fielden impressed me, he looks bigger and his work rate was excellent.

All in all, positive but lets not get carried away, the next 2 weeks will be a good guide to how we have improved.....or not.!

One thing that stood out for me tonight was the energy and enthusiasum of all the players. They really looked "up" for it tonight and that's not happened for many years. Defensively we were excellent, our line speed was much improved and we were a lot sharper around the play of the ball.

In previous seasons we would have conceeded first, then built up a comfortable lead and then sat back and let them in for a couple of soft tries. Not tonight, we played hard for the full 80 minutes. No-one had a bad game tonight and if that continues we are in for a cracking season.

The only downside of tonights performance was that we looked a little rusty in attack, which is only to be expected first game of the season. We are still trying to force the pass when it's not on and there are still some unforce errors occuring. Hopefully these will be ironed out in the next few weeks.

If we can keep up the intesity we showed tonight for the rest of the season we will be there or thereabouts come grand final day. Overall, a very good start to the season which is very encouraging for us fans. For the first time in a while I can't wait for next week.

The one thing that really encouraged me last night was that link up on the right hand side of attack between Joel, Gleeson and Roberts. It looked our most dangerous side and we threatened down there all night. That makes a very pleasant change because we've been a side that normally does most of it's attacking down the left through Carmont and Richards but that was probably due to us having Hock.

Another players preformence that really pleased me was Phelps. He's had his knockers in pre season and people have questioned his place but that should have stopped for at least a few games after last night. I know he wasn't hugely tested at the back but in attack he was fantastic. He chimes into the line and adds pace, power, bravery and a real eye for a pass or a kick. He scored one and set 2 up last night and you can't ask more then that.

Madge and Lenegan have been striving to acheive a real family atmosphere at the club, I thought it was obvious last night that team spirit had improved, there was a real sense of togetherness and this is important in wining games. Individual efforts (as good as they might be) will not get results - it has to be a whole consistent team approach.
Last night after the game the coaching staff, team and wives (kids etc) all sat down for a meal at 11pm- something unheard of in recent years. This imo is another important step in the right direction.

I appreciate Crusaders are a weak side and a win was to be expected but the manner in which the team did it was significant. Onwards and upwards!

Team spirit seemed to play a big part last night, and after last nights game I noticed Tommy go to every player and pat them on the back when they was walking round the pitch clapping.

I like the sound of everyone sitting down after the game idea aswel.

Anyways the performance wasnt the best ive ever seen due to the opposition but we did what we had to do without causing too much fatigue and causing any potential injuries for next week which may of been an instruction from Madge and Wane.

Gleeson and Roberts look like new players. Roberts looks like he wants the ball so he can stretch his legs and Gleese looks like he also wants the ball to create problems for their defence and play in Amos.

Mossop Joel and Hansen put terrific stints in all night - How good to have 3 lads from the academy in our back row playing with passion for the club.

Sam was trying his best to get on the scoresheet, his run was superb and it was a shame he couldnt have finished it off. He can create out of nothing and this is going to be a great asset this season especially with Deacs directing us around the field - his kicking game is awesome.

Props looked alot more interested in running the ball in albeit against a poor defence, lets hope there upto running in against Galea, Newton, Morley and Carvell in the next few weeks.

Finally, Sean O'Loughlin - Quality... "..I want curly hair too"

Bailey,O'C, Goulding & Pryce must wonder when they'll get a game.

Bailey will have a real job to replace Joel, H or Mossop. Joel was the only forward to play 80 mins and was outstanding.
Goulding to replace Gleeson or Carmont must only be due to injury, same for Pryce whereas he can play all 4 3/4 positions.

Crusaders were very poor and hardly completed more than a couple of sets in the first 40.
Our defence is much harder now with us adopting the Aussie style of two men up top and one around the legs. They went down on first impact as happened at Wire, last year opposition players pushed 5-10 mtrs as no one was tackling around the legs. The tackles are going in faster and harder.

Considering the number of try scoring chances that were blown it was a very dominant perormance against a team who looked liked they'd never played before and apart from last week hadn't.

Looking forward to HKR next week, they have a warm up v Salford so we'll see how they go.

Positives
- Good performance against a very poor side, we applied a lot of pressure on them and forced mistakes, when last year we tended to make bad sides look good.
- I've doubted Phelps' defence but fair play he made a one on one tackle and collected kicks well today. Hopefully it will give him confidence for when we play the better sides.
- Fielden looked much improved and yet rusty, he looked 100% stronger taking the ball up but he didn't quite break the line and knocked on once. Having said that he got us a couple of penalties too. Looked better than in any game last season, let's hope he can carry it on against the big boys.

Negatives
- Not much to moan about really, though we did seem to give away loaaads of penalties in this one, and the Wakey friendly for that matter, we need to cut that out. Individually I can't think of anyone who should be dropped, I'd keep the team the same next week.

Amos Roberts looked absolutely fantastic! Surely we must have sent him back for repairs or something? He just doesn't look like the same player! He looks dangerous in attack and is taking the crossfield kicks with relative ease [Fair play he was lining up against Gareth Raynor, but still!

Fielden is looking better, he broke the first line of defense a couple of time and even nearly scored! He looks more committed and fired up than he has done for a while. A new coach and the fact his spot ISN'T secured will probably have lit a fire under him.

Gleeson is starting to shine for us now, I think that right hand side may be more effective this year than our left was last year. I can see Amos getting 20+ tries if he and Gleese carry on like this.

Deacon looked shakey when he came on - nerves I suspect on his first home game, but after 5 or 6 minutes he was right into it. His kick for Phelps' try was nothing short of sensational. Something we have really missed was a decent kicking game down in the last quarter. This aspect will be what wins us tight games.

Joel had a stormer, he was busting people off left and right, looks to be making real strides as a backrower. Long may that continue.

Nobody had a bad game, the attack was a little rusty at times but this will come with more games played but our defense is solid. There was no way through for them last night. I reckon the lads got a right bollocking when they went in at half time for letting Crusaders in for that soft try. Bring on next week and let's see how we do against a better team.

Everybody played well but for me Joel was superb, if he can continue on in that form there'd be no better backrower in the competition.

I know Hogan was worried about are backrow before last night but if they can continue on like they've started we've no need to worry. It'll be a good test for Joel and Mossop next week against KR who for me had the best backrowers in the competition last year.

With a little bit more cohesion between Mossop, Joel and are ball players and those two will be unstoppable, the only other backrow comparable for size and strength would be Leeds with Eastwood and Lautiti.

If both can keep it up all season they'll be pushing for England spots.