With you on this Vasty.
I don't now how anyone (in their right mind) can say that when you more than double your opponents score and score 52pts is "edging it."
Unbelievable.

As a regular visitor to The Shay when Torquay United visit, I have to say that the pitch is always a bit troublesome - probably due to it being used for RL & footie.
On one occasion it looked like that they'd had a tractor on it ploughing it up.....


Also, the far side stand was never used for safety reasons - don't know if that's still the case......
But apart from that - its a nice place to visit with the added bonus of the excellent Three Pigeons Pub just up the road from the ground.

What's been impressing me and to be fair has been doing for a few seasons is how composed the youngsters look against opposition that is basically superior to what they are used to.

Although some are more ready than others they all look like they are actually part of the squad, they look as if they do actually train as part of the team, this has not always been the case. In the past, the youngsters look like they have been thrown in just to see if they will sink or swim. These current players look like they are at a planned part in their development and are being supported in it. Not all will make it even the ones who look like they will may not make the final step but IMHO they are being given every possible chance.

Our current first team is probably not as strong as that of a few seasons ago but there is more depth and more importantly a bunch of young players making their way at the club who have a genuine connection to the place and hopefully with that a certain pride.

The thing I'm liking most is the replacements for our previously weak areas.

For me hooker has needed a new face for 2 years at least, left centre is vulnerable in a key strike position with Bill being injured and right wing has never been the same since BJB left (even though a couple have made a good go of it)

Hood, Hall and Lineham all seem to be good signings that will improve those positions.

13 is the last one for me. I'm less worried than I was when Westerman went and I think we have a number of options now but it is still a question mark.

I'm actually not worried about Westerman leaving. Mainly because I always thought he was a bit too good for his teammates. His own performances were excellent but I'm not sure he was ever truly knitted into the team and I think that's been the case a lot during his career. He's a bit of a one-man-band better suited to teams with stronger players. I may be wrong it's just how I always felt when he played,

From Trinity twitter page

We've experienced a problem with our upload of the Halifax game to Trinity TV, with picture missing from around the 50 minute mark.

We will re-upload and update when the full game is on. Apologies for the inconvenience.

I was pretty concerned when Westerman left leaving a big void at 13. At times last year he looked a different level to most of the team barring a few in my opinion. I now believe that Pitt’s will complement 13 really well, he’s a great player. Excited to see the Hall and Johnstone combination in the new season, the lad looks the part and will only get better. If Hall plays well, it’ll take a lot for Tupou to dislodge him from the starting 13. Really looking forward to the Fev friendly

I still aren’t sure on this Pitts to 13.

Tanginoa was again massively effective and played left SR again yesterday. Pitts played the full or majority of match at right second row (where he’s featured at for last few years for us).

I still think Tangi and Pitts are our best SR options. Whitbread was best forward on field at 13 yesterday too which was pleasantly surprising.” That said i do rate Batchelor and would welcome a run at right SR for him if Pitts is to get a run at 13. We certainly have options in the forwards. What a headache for Poching.

My choice would be Tanginoa at wide left Batchelor at wide right... Whitbread (or Crowther) loose/middle and Pitts on the bench.

Whitbread looked good yesterday, but I reckon him, Fifita, Arona and Battye will be the starting props. Tanginoa and Pitts are our 2 best second rowers. Walker or Crowther at 13 for me. Walker from the bench could also cover at hooker as well.

I’m with you on Tanginoa. The guy is just destructive down left channels and despite a brief stint at right SR where he looks less effective it seems he’s got that left SR spot sewn up. Chester paid a price in trying to turn him into a prop imho. I’d love to start batch at right SR but Pitts is consistently very good and if the two are available Pitts gets that spot for me.

What we could do is start with say Whitbread/Crowther/Walker at 13 and then switch Pitts to 13 and bring on Batchelor to Right SR. There are a lot of options.

The added bonus for allowing Whitbread to 13 is the emergence of Aydin. He looks pretty much ready for a bench spot. I’m sure Poching won’t have played Jai at 13 if he didn’t see it as an option.

Pitts is a must pick to me. I think I'd rather have him on the right but 13 is an option.
He's captain material so needs to be in the mix.

Fax fan here, the highlights are on fax tv now https://youtu.be/kz7-WpIvAgA

Fax fan here, the highlights are on fax tv now https://youtu.be/kz7-WpIvAgA

I understand your view, i just think Batchelor is a better player.out wide ... I have Pitts on the bench for his versatility... although it seems batch was used as a middle against Halifax

Well poaching has one more game to weigh up his options before our forwards will get a baptism of fire against arguably the best forward pack in the league led from the front by Satae and Sao .Not until we get our forwards up against stronger super league opposition will we really know where we’re at ,and will give us all an insight to where our strengths and weaknesses are in the engine room . Get that balance right and we’ll be a match for most ,as give our half’s the room and we have a back line to trouble the best of defences .I for one can’t wait to welcome Hull and let the mind games begin .

And don't forget there's also Ashurst who I thought went well on Boxing day...who'd be a coach ??

Not in the same camp as you on Hull I don't rate them that highly. With speed and mobility we should break them and with pace outside I fancy our chances at home. They were the worst team in the league bar Leigh last season

Some of the signs were really positive yesterday. I was impressed with Isaac Shaw - who punches above his weight - as well as Corey Hall. Corey Hall looks like he could be a bit of a find. I'm in agreement with Tanginoa and Pitts being our two best second rowers. Batchelor and Ashurst are also great options in that department as squad players. Hood looked decent yesterday which was positive. Davetanivalu looks like he has potential and took a very tricky high ball under pressure as well as some very strong carries and probably clocked up a decent amount of tackle busts considering the short time he was on the field. I think Lineham could be under pressure if his trajectory continues upwards. Some of the goal line defence was good in the second half as we lost field position for a twenty minute period where Halifax had sustained pressure. i was impressed with Halifax second half and thought their half backs looked like they will cause many defences a problem. Keyes was a particular stand out. Whitbread is a shrewd signign and I'm looking forward to seeing him play. I think overall it was a positive performance and we should only get better. Hopefully we will play our potential starting thirteen in the last friendly and see the overall coherence of the team. Add Lino, Gaskell, Tupou, Fifita, Arona e.t.c into that squad and I think we should be capable of having a decent season this year.

I agree with this. I don’t fear hull these days and we tend to go pretty well against them. We can more than match them in the forwards but I think we have the better backs and agree that we have all the tools needed to break down hull especially at home.

Bring them on!

Agree with most of that tbh. I’m not sure where Gaskell will fit in atm and he may have to bide his time. Max is the best fullback and Miller/Lino are dead certs. I’m sure his change will come if he’s patient.

Just re watched the match and Whitbread like I suspected at the game was superb at 13. Scored 2 try’s and put in some good tackles and great drives too with some real metres. With Aydin impressing too I think he is pretty much ready to get a good number of games from bench this year.

Honestly I came away very positive. I thought our distribution and passing looked pretty sharp too.

Was saying the same about Corey Hall after the Fax game, I was thinking he would be a bit of a project signing and we may not see much of him but although he obviously still has a lot of development left in him, from what I`ve seen of him so far, he looks ready to play SL.

The only thing he is lacking is a bit of physicality that's all, He's probably a stone light and lacking that extra bit of muscle from what I can see but it's only what I see. In terms of technique etc he's as ready as it's possible to be at that age and with that experience. He looks like a natural player. as does Murphy who's in a very similar position right now (but younger).

The vibe is get is very much TJ in his debut season, lacking a bit of size and first grade experience. It's going to be very interesting watching him grow, I think come a year down the line after some minutes under his belt and a proper season he could be a very different player.

Pitts would be a starter and captain for me.play him at 13 with jai and eddie startingprops batch and kelepi in sr and fiffita arona/aydin ashurst walker on bench