Game in progress. He plays and has just scored.

EDIT - He’s just scored again.

2 tries,the second was from a great back of the hand pass which he finished well.

Not come on for the second half but I don’t think he’s injured as he seems in good spirits chatting away on the sideline

It was a decent effort from Dom given how long he's been out. He's obviously a long way from match fitness but that 40 minutes should give him confidence. The game wasn't great though. Looked like men against boys at times as Fax had a very big side that was struggled to deal with. Samy Kibula was our best player and played about an hour. A good first stint as a ball playing 13 and was a key part of the attacking structure. Had to be more direct in the second half but created a try with a very good pass.
Sam Grant was also very impressive at centre and caused problems. Our halves really struggled though.

I like Kibulas handling skills but he doesn’t hit the ball up enough for me and he is very work shy defensively. He is very good at passing on the line ala James Graham and his show and goes he looks like a half back but im not sure where he is going to go in his career,maybe trim up and be a ball playing 13 or a short stint bartering ram prop?

That's why I think he's better off as a ball playing loose forward. If he plays the same way as Lockers he'd do half as many drives as the props but get his hands on the ball quite often as first receiver. As you mention at the moment his issue is his defence. I don't think the issue is necessarily that he's work shy, but that he's slow in and around the tackle. He turns his back too often when he's slow to retreat and sometimes when he's not first or second to the tackle he's left grasping or slow to bring the man down. Best thing he could do IMO is work with Ben Flower as there's nobody at the club better at controlling the tackle and making sure the defenders have enough time to retreat.

Excellent news about Dom getting through 40 minutes with the tries being a nice bonus. Doesn't matter for me if he doesn't manage to play for the first team this year so long as he can stay injury free and get his career back on track.

I focused on him a lot in the reserve game against Halifax a couple of weeks back and to me he seemed to stay away from getting involved in the tackle unless he really had to, he would never get in as the second man even when he was the closest man to the initial tackler. He did play the majority of that game but I’d say he’s work shy, he certainly doesn’t have ‘mongrel’ in him that someone like Hamlin has.

He’d be a very good ball playing 13 imo, I’d try make him a bit leaner and fitter, at 13 he’d be taking in less carries and making less tackles

The more that I see of Grant the more I admire his skills. With a bit of building up he could do very well.
Sammy Kibula is an interesting one. He probably has another six years before reaching his peak. His ball handling skills are good enough to play in the backs. I would hate to see him relegated to nothing more than smash and bash. Here is a left field idea, what about bringing him in on the wing

He and the club are in a bit of a conundrum with regards to where his career will go, the fact you are suggesting he could play on the wing,however tongue in cheek says it all.
For me I’d like to see him as a ball playing prop, making passes at the line ala Graham and causing havoc offloading ala Cuthbertson. He certainly has the skills to do this but he has fairly glaring weaknesses which will get exposed in the Superleague at the moment.

Have to agree with the comments about Kibula he’s a long way from being ready but if they invest the time in him he could be special,but he’s nowhere near ready for the first team in my opinion,quite why people were raving on about him being ready I’ll not know,he’s just giing at his own pace and that’s fine I do feel if they stick with him he could be something indeed.

As for Don it was great to see him,and I’ll say this I hope they don’t put him anywhere near the first team this season get him right for next year why rush him really?

It was great to see Dom’s big right foot step for his second try. It’s a thing of beauty that step and I’ve missed it!
As for Kibula, the lad is 18 and has a ton of development in him. He’ll develop physically, mentally and in terms of skill. However, I’m not sure you can develop the ‘dog’ in a player. The difference in his debut to that of Partington on Friday was huge. Partington’s was the best debut I’ve seen in a forward for years and he’s got plenty of development left him plus he’s got a load of ‘dog’ in him already. I hope he keeps his place in the squad, I’d love to see him at SL level again.

Kibula is a really infuriating player for me. He has so much talent, bit doesn't work hard enough. A friend of mine likens him to Karl Pryce, just too "nice", I tink a year at somewhere like Workington would do him a world of good.

Sam Grant IMO is the most improved player in the academy. His footwork and acceleration are excellent but his ability to roll out of tackles is probably something I haven't seen since Gary Connolly. I think it's his last year at academy level and certainly should be a "keep" He seems to have grown taller but has yet to fill out. If they can put another 10 Kg on him he could be a Superleague player in two or three years time.

Being an old git, Sammy has a similar skillset to the great Bill Ashurst he just needs to find some of Bill,s aggression. I hope hope does not grow any more in size but develops massively in strength and power in the next couple of years. For such a big lad with a decent turn of pace he does not seem to be able to run his weight, I am sure this will happen as he develops.
If he does he could be the answer to the Lockers conundrum for many years, that is of course unless it becomes " his dream to play in the NRL" a couple of months after signing a lucrative contract at the DW and makes an absolute nob of himself by taking the p**s out of the club that made him what he is.
Also really impressed with Sam Grant has terrific potential and one to keep an eye on, good pace and skill.

That's a pretty good comparison to be honest as Karl Pryce had all the skills needed to be a top player but none of the drive. It seems the club are deliberately leaving Kibula on the field for longer than he's comfortable with and they'll have their reasons. I think when Shaun Edwards takes charge it will be make or break - I can't see him tolerating any forward who isn't dogged in defence.

A few times when Grant was caught in possession he did very well to stand up in the tackle and shake off his opposite number. Size is important but it's not necessarily as important as strength. Manfredi has never been a big player but has always been powerful. There won't be much difference in terms of weight between Marshall and Manfredi but Manfredi is so much more powerful and athletic.

With the right amount of bottle in him Karl could easily have been our answer to Greg Inglis. Shame really but he was always same in junior rugby in Bradford. Things got tough he would shy off. Bags of talent mind

Wonder if Manfredi might just be back at the right time given that Marshall is likely out for the season.

It’s a horrible way for Manfredi to get his chance but he must be really excited and I’m looking forward to watching him. I guess he may share wing duties with Escare for a while to ease him in but we’ll see.

What a game to come back in!!

Agreed - Escare did ok when he came on against Cats - and it was interesting to see that when Sam was taking conversions Escare went to FB for the kick off after to give Sam time to get back in position. Such fluidity of position is a big help.

I'm interested to see how we line up v Saints, all of which could effect our attack on the edges.

Wane alluded to keeping Sarge on the left edge, meaning Gildart will play right centre. This could either provide Davies with more ball or negative effect Gilly's game, who is used to playing on the left side.
I could also see Wane holding back on Dom, keeping Morgan on the wing, or even playing Gilly on the wing keeping Isa in the right centre.

Keep Morgy on the wing and loan Dom out so he can get match fit in a less demanding league, would be a big mistake to bring him back so quickly

You can't loan Manfredi out at this stage of the season. He'll pay for Wigan reserves on Wednesday and I guess if he comes through a full game will be in contention for the Saints game.

You learn something new everyday

I’d be a bit hesitant at chucking him back in after only a handful of reserve games and in all honesty I wouldn’t play him this season at all.