As the season goes on we will of course get a better indication of what exactly Gentle has changed and whether it has worked, but having now played a competitive game what are your first impressions.

For me the big change is in our goal line defence. Last year against the good sides it looked like whenever they got near our line we would just step aside and let them score. Whilst we conceded a couple of soft tries yesterday I thought on the whole we kept our structure, scrambled well and most importantly showed some pride.

In attack we also seem more willing to attack from deep and with McKinnon we actually have someone supporting the ball and looking to keep the move going. Some of our set plays need ironing out but it is good to see new ideas, we are providing more options to the man with the ball. Kicking also seems better.

On the downside we really need to respect possession more and keep our discipline, but that goes hand in hand with the weather we saw yesterday I suppose.

Mindset, simplez.

By stating his dissapointment at only getting a point and seeing it as a point lost rather than one gained proves to any of our squad that were here for the past few seasons that things have changed for the better.

Agree our line defence looked good yesterday and we promoted the ball a lot more. Looks like Mckinion will be a good support player which we desperately need.

The negatives for me was our play of the ball still slow we never fight to get off the floor, some of it might have been down to the opposition and our passing is still relatively slow and not that accurate compared with the top teams.

For me the whole club seems to be more professional since Gentle, McRae and Pearson has come in. On the pitch obviously our defence not only our goal line D but actually holding the player up then dropping him to the floor and working the player on the back. With keeping them on there feet for an extra couple of seconds helps with the defensive line getting set. In attack it looked alot more organised and that was without our main organiser in Seymour and put Heremia in there aswell. Like us working the short side aswell. We look dangerous from scrums aswell, again going down the short side, its easy to see that Gentle came from Wests when you watch us with the way he is trying to get us to play. Yesterday a few things didnt come off in attack like Horne going into touch from the scrum but was really pleased to see that we stick with our methods and not change the way we play like we have over the last few years.

Certainly the mindset.

The amount of times Wire attacked our line would have seen any Agar side wither away.

We did not want to give up that lead that's for sure and to hear Gentle come out after the game and say he was dissapointed with a point is very refreshing.

The thing that I was impressed with was how when we went in front after Tickles last try we still tried to play some stuff instead of simply switching to the mindset of 'Lets hang on now'.

Also we are playing so much more depth when attacking and having players in motion off the ball. Its clear that when we take a set up drive in the opposition red zone its for a purpose now as our 2 lines of attack get set.

I also think that the military guy must have put an input into the team talk. Apologise for not knowing who he is.

I think the competition for places in the first 17 is helping, you get the impression that if any of the first team train badly or show poor effort in a game they will loose their place to a fringe/youth player...whereas Agar generally stuck with the same team no matter what.

the other main change for me yesterday was the aggression, for too long we've stood back and played too nice (who can forget winning the Fairplay trophy in the awful 2009 season!) whereas yesterday we weren't scared to get in Warrington's faces.

I agree with this , Wire looked a gear faster than us in both areas mentioned . Kicking game looks like it's been worked on . Horne needs to be less predictable when he's got the ball. Second half defence was encouraging to see, Maybe last season we'd have crumbled .

Strange lot you are,1st game in the season where results are always all over the place( as you reminded us in the derby mullering )and you have got your peckers in your hand,only last year you went to warrington and wasted them by 20 pts or something on a short turnaround after beating us in the good Friday derby.Me personally thinks your so desperate for it to be glory days are back after agar out.

Agree with that being one of the main things. We know the last coach would have been singing the teams praises at getting a point off last seasons league winners etc. Gentle showed the team with his response that 2nd best or joint best is not good enough.

Are we supposed to be depressed? Nobody on here is saying we are world beaters but we have every right to feel optimistic after a good game with both sides making plenty of errors with ball in hand.

Like a 34 to 16 drubbing, yeah mate, results all over the place


After seeing this result my pecker was in my hand

Those last two words do it for me.

To be fair, we've been guilty of the former for more years than I care to remember, I certainly recall having a go at Bomber about this when we were still at the Boulevard.

Our discipline has also been a problem for the last few years, I put that down to fatigue and lack of a credible game plan in the past. What we've seen lately may just be a hangover of the past.

Gentle appears to go about his business in a calm, ordered manner. I have absolutely no doubt that he's nobody's fool and anyone who crosses him would be a very foolish man indeed.

I read an interview with Karren Brady this morning. She recalled when she first went to Birmingham and one of the players said "I can see your tits through your top". Her reply was, "Don't worry, you won't be able to when I sell you to Crewe". He was gone before the end of the season.

I have this strange feeling that Gentle operates in similar subtle ways.

Touché ,just saying don't you think hammering wire away with the season in full swing with agar in charge was a tad better than a home draw,yes.

What you saying cod ed ,that gentle has moobs

Nope....the performance yesterday was a lot better than our last home game where they put 30+ on us...More structure to the team,a gameplan,interchanges used well and players in right positions....this didnt happen with he who must not be named in charge

I forgor myself the other night when watching the Widnes game as the camera panned to the brains trust of Agar and Webster in the stand. A shiver ran down my spine until i remembered it was not our problem anymore!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!

I know what your saying Kitche, I just could resist the urge to be honest.
I was happy with a draw, preferred the win but that wasn't to be. After losing our scrum half only a day or so before the game I thought a draw was a half decent result under the circumstances. We have so needed a play maker and for the last four years have lacked in this area. I'm in the belief that had Seymour been fit then the two points would have been ours.

a bit like some of your lot who seem to think matching leeds for an hour is some kind of moral victory

Whats changed. Everything from top to bottom, with that much pressure we would have collapsed last season. We seemed to be free from nerves ( diving for kicks)
Everyone talking even when behind. Horne back to his best. Playing a top team at their own game. Attacking from our own half making opposition think about their defence not just wait for crap kick
I know its only one game but its a helluva long time time since I felt this good about a season.
Now just watch some bugger go spoil it

No, I'm saying you are a stupid, imbecillic moron who is not welcome here until you can string a half-coherent sentence together.

Happy with that?

Well even if he manages to string a half-coherent sentence together the distasteful little runt should not be welcome!

Yeah agree with most of the posts on the thread.I also think most of us got value for money from the all round display of the team and i for one felt the entertainment was first class.The only disappointment was leaving the ground not getting the win.