Very frustrating, but also relief, we definitely need more size on the bench next week. We just put the cue on the rack after an hour thinking we'd done enough and gifted Cas countless chances to get back into the game. Hoy and Clifford look like they'll be good for us.
Dont know why they were allowed to wear the same colour kit as us.

Well that was fun



Horrible last twenty minutes but Cas to be fair were really throwing caution to the wind.

First half though was very good and hopefully we'll see that sort of rugby this year. Some cracking tries. Dwyer was very impressive in that first forty.

At least Smith has a idea what needs working on.

Its two points Chris but i think we will have to get used to what we see as seemingly questionable selection decisions by Tony Smith.
I agree playing Houghton for 60 mins was crazy.He tried to play at a faster pace but was still much too slow but i think he will go with this Dwyer/Houghton combo for most of the season if they are fit.
Didnt help us either to have Taylor,Satae and Evans all off together.
You have to wonder sometimes what goes through the heads of coaches.
Thought Griffin and Lane were ok but i think we need more than OK in this position and just hope Savelio gets some form back
Carlos hopefully back in for Cam Scott and he may help Ben McNamara with a bit more on field talking and we shouild have Ligi Sao back to give us a bit more size and punch down the middle.

I’m not particularly concerned. We did look a bit shaky in D but new structures should and relationships should become second nature soon.

I also think the edge of Mcintosh, Scott, McNamara & lane really struggled. If you suddenly replace Scott and lane with Carlos and savelio we probably concede 3 less tries.

The lads will be better from the experience and Leeds looked poor. Should be able to win there and then move into round three/four finding some momentum and continuity.

I’m not particularly concerned. We did look a bit shaky in D but new structures should and relationships should become second nature soon.

I also think the edge of Mcintosh, Scott, McNamara & lane really struggled. If you suddenly replace Scott and lane with Carlos and savelio we probably concede 3 less tries.

The lads will be better from the experience and Leeds looked poor. Should be able to win there and then move into round three/four finding some momentum and continuity.

Not sure what to make of that hope I'm wrong but looked like 2 sides who will bottom half

Clifford looked impressive we scored 32 points but cas defence was horrendous and think they'll deffo struggle

We need to get mcintosh out for Mitch so much better

Dwyer was class needs to start every week

55 minutes, total control, some excellent tries, stopped Cas offload game.....then the sloppy penalties crept in and stupid pass from McIntosh gave them the momentum, just hope its a bit of first game fatigue as Cas' bench looked stronger than ours, Sao and Savellio play, that score doesn't happen, i think we made them look better than they actually were imo

Excellent attendance of 15,383.

Have to say the Westerman stuff went on far too long, it got tiresome and was hardly having a negative effect on him.

Disappointing not to keep our foot on the gas and really run some points in. Think we would have done if we scored when McIntosh was held up near the sticks. He handed his own player off when just a little pass would have seen us in under the posts and 30 points ahead. Cas should have worn their home strip.

Plenty to still work on but in week 1 you can't ask for anything more than a win really.

For me the bench selection was suprising and no real need to accomodate Houghton at all at the expense of go forward in brown.

Looked very slick and orgsnised with Hoy and Clifford and Dywer pulling the strings, doon as Houghton was introduced it totally threw it out with the lack of props, and also Houghtons needs to take charge away from.Clifford.

Watched Clifford and Hoy get set for a play ,only for Houghton to totally ignore go the opposite way resulting in a very disjointed off the cuff attack which broke down. Running theme between Connor and Houghton last season for me.

im sure Smith saw the same and with carlos, sao and savelio back wel see the same mistake not repeated.

Thank you danny but time to take a step back and let the new kids on the block take charge

Tend to agree, thought we were very good early on, scored some lovely tries and definitely signs of more variation (e.g. short dropout to reclaim possession). But, and it's a big but, our pack is a concern. I just don't think our props as a group cut it unfortunately. We need Sao back sharpish and Taylor to show his pre season form.

We just dont do boring do we?

Opening games are often odd, we raced out of the traps whereas Cas didnt wake up til the 2nd half. So glad we clung on for the win as a shock defeat would have really hit morale.

Saw a lot of promise in that 1st half but consistency has long been a problem and it will take time. I also still feel we are a big prop short, even with Sao fit.

Great first half, passing was crisp, had structured plays, looked enthusiastic, mamo and Kenny Edwards kept finding gaps on our right in the second half...we shouldn't have had lovodua, Houghton and Dwyer all on at once, that's where things went wrong. As others said, think the pack looks a bit lightweight, lane, Griffin and fash as the back 3 isn't the long term answer

Glad we finally managed to rid ourselves of the big crowd curse too! (Although we almost reverted to type)

15,383, that's really excellent.

As others have said, having Carlos, and Savelio back on that right edge will be a big plus and also having Ligi back will help our go forward too. I'd also have Mitch on the right wing too as think he's better defensively than Mcintosh.
No surprise they started getting a roll on when we only had one recognised prop in Fash on the pitch but the positive (apart some outstanding rugby in the first half) was that we would definitely have lost that game last season.

Didn't see the game but listened on Radio Leeds.

They thought that the first half was more a case of Castleford being woeful rather than anything exceptional from Hull. Obviously they favour the West Yorkshire team so maybe that coloured their judgement.

But what a typical effort from a Tony Smith team. His teams love to play expansive rugby but are not nearly so keen on defending, He's been away from Australia for so long now I do believe he is out of touch with modern coaching methods.

Castleford couldn't quite pull off a remarkable recovery but had the game gone on 5 or 10 minutes longer they surely would have.

2 mistakes in that second half nearly undid all the good work in the 1st half. Firstly, Smith taking Evans off and not putting another prop on. We had a pack of Cator, Lane, Fash, Lovodua, Houghton and Griffin, and we lost our control of the ruck, as a result they then scored 3 tries I think...before error 2 of the half...McIntosh pass to Hoy after collecting the kick. Absolute shocker and think they then scored twice.

Hopefully Smith thinks again about his bench, today it wasn't good enough. Brown must have been fit to be down as 18th man (HIA interchange)

says it all

could say the same about Wigan!

Thought we looked really slick in attack. The passing was as crisp as I e ever seen us. We scored off two scrum plays, when was the last time that happened?!?. I've had my reservations about Dwyer and his distribution, but his running game caused Cas no end of problems.

Not to single out players but Mcintosh come up with two clangers. The pass to Hoy and a high tackle when we were under the pump. Think cas scored of the resulting sets. Thought Evans had a nervous start too.

Thought Smith got his interchanges a bit wrong today. Would've brought Dwyer, Taylor and Satae on a bit earlier to try and nullify them.

Glad we hung on but I'd make some changes for Leeds.

Not sure what Houghton brought. I'd take him, Scott and Cator out for Leeds and bring in Carlos,Andre and Ligi.

Fair assessment, like you just didn’t see what Houghton brought and don’t see the logic of playing him the whole 2nd half and having him, Lovodua & Dwyer on at the same time.

Listening to Smiths post game interview he intimated he maybe hadn’t helped with some of what he did. It was good to hear he wasnt happy even in the 1st half and thought there was some laziness etc.

Agree re McIntosh as those two errors were needless really and could have been much more costly. Thought the decision to have Evans, Satae & Taylor on the sidelines in the 2nd half also allowed Cas to make easy metres and get a roll on.

Didn’t sound like Carlos will be back on Friday due to a foot issue so Scott still in the 17 for Friday. Hopefully we’ll see Sao & Savelio back for Friday and Brown back in the 17.

Conceding 30 points at home is not going to win any Comps so Tony is right to have a dig from day one !

We don't want Keegan-style matches 5-4, but rather Arsene Wenger 1-0 !

I gather we were playing a new style of rugby in attack - ' Tonyball'

Huge crowd rewarded with two points, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly disappointed with the final 20 minutes, but as Tony Smith said, it’s the first 80 minutes these lads have played for a while. When you walk away with a win, it’s forgivable, I have trust that this is something which will be worked on over the course of the season. Shame about Carlos having a setback, Sao and Savelio would be very welcome returns for Leeds on Friday

Smith On Humberside said pre game that he would accept the group competing as a successful season. He is either trying to nullify any preassure on the players from outrageous predictions or he has seen enough to know this squad isn't destined for great things. Unfortunately I think it is the latter and I guess us as supporters would accept the team just having a go and not getting hammered.

Post match he admitted he got a few things wrong but it is a concern we are hearing the word Lazy again and players crumbling under a bit of a rollocking. Be interesting to see who he keeps from the OOC list.

I think we have to be realistic, last season and a few beyond, the table doesn’t lie, we’ve been cannon fodder, capitulation was becoming almost inevitable, so yesterday’s result was very much a gain, Castleford did the double over us comfortably last season, so for me the two points were very welcome, and despite the exhilarating ending, and our decision making capitulating alarmingly, we hung on, result.

Considering our recent turmoil a fabulous crowd of over 15000 was absolutely remarkable, and shows just what would happen should we actually become the side we want to be, the long suffering supporters of our great club prove once again how steadfast they are.

Some superb passing from Tex creating a bit of style to our play, opening up Cas with ease, playing a clever brand of footy which has been missed for so long, for an hour with Dyer electrifying our go forward the two young Australians had solid debuts, and a strong Cas side were put to the sword, with a very nice brand of football, which was a joy to watch, it was at last, so good to be back, well for an hour anyway.

With again three hookers on the field, Westy was coming into his own, the more he was targeted by the crowd, the more it seemed to inspire him, and the rest of the Cas pack finally woke up, and after the withdrawal of Mahe, Cas destroyed our right edge defence at an alarming rate, this is one area of our play which must be strengthened.

Good result I’ll take it, small steps.