First contact is with the knee, it’s a shocker IMO.

Also how boring are Saints? Just 5 drives and a high kick every set?

The more I see it, the worse it gets. Miles worse than that nonsense Flower got banned for. Wells will have a serious season-ending injury.

I think I was right on this - Hardaker could have backed up with him playing at centre on Saturday.

I know we’re 18-0 down but I’m really encouraged by the performance from the youngsters. Really putting themselves about here and making a statement

And in the same tackle, Lees has his arm pushed back as far as it will go (he lashes out at him on the floor) and Graham puts him in a crusher style tackle.

I'm not sure where Saints have 'dominated' as Carney claims. Clearly the better and more cohesive side but outside of the sin bin period it was pretty even.

The entertainers

Agreed mate! Other than Shorrocks I’ve been impressed with them all.

Saints dominating field position, possession and the ruck but our lads are hanging in there.

Expect Saints to run away with it in the second half but really pleased personally with how the forwards in particular Kilner are coping in the face of a massively challenging task taking on the Saints forwards.

Every one of these lads will be better players for this regardless of what happens in the second half and that is what matters in the long term.

Lots of hype around Hanley but he's having a mare here. Maybe take him off and reshuffle, not sure whether Bibby has played any full back? Impressed with the rest

I think you’re right there, obviously it’s disappointing to lose especially to Saints but we actually have reason to be encouraged. They’ve held their own against the best team in the league. I’m a huge Lam critic but no one can argue with the work he’s done with the youngsters. They’ve come on leaps and bounds.

By no means were we realistically going to turn Saints over tonight...but we’ve not half had some dog calls from the officials, starting with the sin bin early on.

Shorrocks offers nothing...Saints just crowding Smith out of the game because they know everything is through him.

Kilner as he did so often in the academy is the stand out,Hanley not ready yet by a long ways

He's a little overrated because of his surname. Watched him for years when he was at Shevvy, great in patches but would go missing for large parts of the games.

Hope I'm wrong but just like Tierney wasn't a patch on his dad Jason Robinson I can't see Hanley being a patch on Ellery (then again who is).

Will someone please snot LMS

I reckon Ellery now is better than his lad

Very difficult to gauge where they are in terms of development in a game like this. Hanley has had a lot of pressure kicks. Every one of them aimed at him. Few mistakes but you can see he has got the footwork already. I think he would be a different player playing behind the senior side but I think he needs a bit more confidence first under the high ball. Kilner and Rushton I wouldn't mind If I saw them in a regular 17. They look ready. Pity Rushton is off but Kilner is going to be one hell of a prop. Burrough has been busy without being spectacular and we all know Smith is going to be a superstar. The rest aren't ready yet. Not seen enough of Pearce-Paul to give an honest assessment.

Get a try or two late on and this hasn't been as bad as I expected.

Still hurts like hell getting snotted by these men though.

I understand why we've done it but I'm not happy with it. Massive pressure is on us Saturday now.

He hasn’t for a long time. I don’t know why he’s still here to be honest. Everyone has put a shift in tonight. Hanley hasn’t had the greatest game but equally he hasn’t really had chance to show what he can do. He will be a good player for us, he just needs time which fortunately for him, he has.

Clark has been ineffective completely IMO. Kilner, Bryne and Bullock comfortably outplayed him

Seriously wondering what Mitch Clarke brings to us. The last good game I remember him having was for Cas against us. I'm not querying the signing so much. He was a big lad who promised a lot. But in a game like this, as a regular first-teamer, I'd have thought he'd be leading by example. Instead, he looks weak and uninspired.

Clark has done nothing since he signed

Which is what I've said all along.