I think it's the fact that a fair bit of expectation and hype came with him, not really helped by Fifita saying he's gonna cause more havoc than him this season. Plus people aren't that interested or to some extent what injury he's recovering from and how much pre-season he missed when their paying at the gates. Don't look at the longer picture imo

It was obvious we bought him as a chance that we could have one the best front rowers in the League if we could get him back into decent shape. For me, it's gonna take a few more games to see, especially since it dries up because that's an energy sapper for a huge man like him.

Anyway it's whether CC sees Baldwinson as more of the work hose and a safer bet but in the long term what is chucking PP down to the reserves gonna achieve. Maybe a game wouldn't hurt.

horo though, we've no excuse with the likes of Batch, Crowther & Annakin chomping at the bit.

As a neutral regarding Pauli Pauli, he ran at Gsle several times and I thought Gale coped very well with him given the obvious size difference . That's quite telling, he should've been running over him.

I don't think you could question the effort of our boys tonight, they gave their all and on another night would have won that game. I just think we could be a bit smarter and clinical in the opposition 20. Hopefully the pitches will dry out soon (will they ever?) as these sort of games don't suit us at all. Hope to see a few changes on Monday, a few need a rest and some deserve a chance now after 3 straight defeats.

Shouldn't they suit you though? The much mentioned size of your pack should suit a poor weather forward dominated game, especially against a team that likes to throw it about. If anything the weather should've given you a better chance, not hindered you.

If you've got a pack full of massive forwards and you say these conditions don't suit you then you're doing something wrong.

Why don't you just go on your own forum?

If that were our main/only strength, then perhaps that would be true. The big props (the rest of the pack isn't big) allow us to occupy and compete with the better/more expensive forward packs in the league. However, our real threat comes from out wide with Miller, Ashurst, Tupou and Johnstone. We play our most effective RL in the summer when Miller is orchestrating that attack. Look at last year's results for the evidence.

Because we didn't play tonight. It was fair enough questions.

To defend wakefield a little here, they've actually been the side throwing it about a bit this year, playing pretty exciting stuff, either TJ and BJB scoring plenty between them, whereas we've been pretty steady and had a few grinds already this season. They have forwards who like to promote the ball , last night it wasn't really a suitable option. Massive week ahead for Trin with hull away and leeds at home. Gotta win at least 1 to show their credentials.

Thanks for pointing it out, I realise that due to your commitments on rlfans it would be difficult finding time to get down to Bellevue, but I know our coach would welcome your input with open arms down on the training ground if you could possibly find the time and bob down for a couple of training sessions you'd make a lot of Wakey fans happy

No, a bigger pack tires quicker in wet conditions.

In fairness I agree with the poster you quoted. The wakey pack may be huge, but they're not the old fashioned lumps who trundle it up. They're fast, fit & have a quick ptb to put their backs away. It's the distribution to those backs that isn't quick enough to do the damage it could, but that's another story!

It’s good to hear a bit of comparative perspective from 2017
It would be interesting to see what our points difference is compared to last year too. Better I would think

We are going good imo, we just need to keep the faith we’ve beaten all the teams we should have so far and have run Wigan wire and cas v close

Pauli is getting better with each game imo
I think the move to him as an impact back row will really work but it will take time to perfect the plays involving him and for his fitness to improve which it definitely is

I would defo like to see more of Batch too, he’s still v young though and his time will come, Horo only on a years contract, to me he’s just filling in while batch does his time in the reserves

Webster was exceptional in defence last night
I’ve never seen another centre man mark and contain bill Topou so well

Looks like Batchelor will become the next Jowitt.

Well for my money its a no brainer. Horo hasn't produced so far so straight in with Batch, that's what competition is all about.
As for Pauli, it would be nice if he could be moulded into an Ali L type player, he has the size but whether he has the skills for out wide, time will tell.

Reading some of the comments on here is embarrassing. We went toe to toe with last year's Grand finalists and some people are putting us down for the bottom four. We lost against Wigan and Warrington by 10 points each away from home, though how many would put them down as wins at the start of season. People slagging Horo and Pauli Pauli off, for me Horo's biggest pitfall is he tries too hard and Pauli is just coming to fitness in weather and conditions he will have never experienced. Nobody has mentioned Finn dislocating his finger/fingers, cannot imagine how painful that must be especially for a ball playing halfback.

You will get a few moaning especially on here, but the majority know we've a good team which if a few key playing and refereeing decisions had gone our way could have won our last 3 matches. Aslong as we keep focused and disciplined we will alright.

Up the Trin

Pauli has the ability to be a very destructive runner with ball in hand and has the size and power to trouble most sides.
However, he doesn't look to be working hard enough in defence.
All too often it's a lazy arm (usually quite high) or a shoulder charge, with no actual attempt to affect a tackle and we can afford the cheap penalties.
On the plus side, he is one of the few players fighting for quick ptb and is gaining a few in our direction.
Chester must be pulling his hair out.

1.Realistically we look 5th to 8th.
2. So do Cas

Maybe we are victims of some over hyping pre season if you like, there was talk of this being the best squad in 30 years etc, and that may well be borne out as the season goes on, lets hope so. I just think generally people are expecting a bit more from us, we just haven't played that convincingly in any of the games so far, but obviously done enough in the first 4 to get the points. I also think the conditions in some of the games have been a red herring, HKR, Salford, Catalans, Wigan & Warrington, although cold, were decent enough conditions for February and March. Last year has probably given us expectations to 'kick on' so to speak this year, and it's like we're nearly hitting our straps but not quite yet! Let's face it, it's gonna be difficult to crack that top 4, the last 2 seasons no one saw Leeds and Warrington being so poor, doesn't look like that's gonna happen this year with one of the big guns.......although, brings me to Hull, if, they lose today, they are gonna be under a bit of pressure on Monday against us I think from their demanding fans, so maybe a HKR win could help us over there, and it looks like the weather could be similar to last night.

Chris Chester is fast becoming Richard Agar. his loyalty to players who are past it or out of form . and his treatment of our own especially Jowitt who never gets even mentioned by him is just like the treatment of such as Cowling by Agar.

I have never known such bad weather for the start of a season and Easter Monday looks like being equally bad. We are a dry weather team so to win 4 games lose 3 by no more than 10 points and have on abandoned is pretty good. . The effort against cas who can blow any team away was terrific. I would like to see Arundel Batch and Hampshire get starts on Monday. Finn Horo and Tupou to be rested for the Leeds game.

Surprised at all the negativity after the lads put absolutely everything into last night!

To address a few points...

Those disappointed we didn’t create that much in the second half...Cas were the dominant side in the first half...what exactly did they create in the first half? They’ve perceived better halfbacks than us in Gale and Roberts and all they came away with was a try that looked like a forward pass...they weren’t chasing the game either so I think it’s really harsh to have a go at ours...we scored the best try but it just wasn’t meant to be, we got in more scoring positions but just couldn’t finish them off...

Our forwards in the conditions...surely for a really big pack it’s much tougher to be mobile in wet boggy conditions? We’re getting bogged down at the ptb and that’s our main problem at the moment...on the odd occasions we do get quick ptb’s we look very dangerous, we’ve got two quality hookers in Randell and Wood who are just not getting the chances at the minute but when the better weather comes and dryer pitches I’d expect our back to be able to get us on the front foot much more...they are big men yes, but they aren’t like the props from the old days of winter rugby they are athletes and much fitter...it’s killing our offload game too...all our big men are excellent with theviffload and I’m sure we’ll see that much more in better conditions...we’ve pace in the three quarters to burn too which will also come into it more when we’re able to shift the bill about a bit quicker...I’ve absolutely no doubt at all we will be a far better side in the coming months...

On Pauli and Horo...I think Pauli is a decent work in progress and to me has looked better the last twice when playing as a back rower, not prop as some have said...it’s the one ingredient I think we miss as a team...a blockbusting type backrower...most of our others as very similar in size and the way they play...if Pauli can develop in this role it gives the team something extra...he’s a young lad come over to a new country and a new style of play...he’s only played half a dozen games so let’s cut him a bit of slack! Defensively he looks to have a bit to work on but he’s shown signs that there is a dangerous player in there and he’s another who I think could be much better in dryer conditions...Horo has been a little disappointing only for me because he’s taking the shirt of arguably one of the best young players we’ve produced for some time! There’s no lack of effort there but it’s clear to everyone at the moment he’s not offering anything Batchelor didn’t last year...again though it is early days...

Horo signed for 2 years.