Watched the game last night in work. Now the dust has settled, here's a few observations:

Absolutely thrilled to hear the attendance of 8k, it'd be brilliant if we can make that an average over the year with some big away followings to come. Looked like a good 800 or so from Wakey too so good on them. I assume the West stand was used with the offers handed to schools? Brilliant take-up. The fans were a credit, even the atmosphere didn't get going as it should have, as I've read on the boards since the match.

Couldn't knock Widnes' enthusiasm throughout the match. But as John Kear said in the first half, I could only see one winner over 80 mins. We weren't as sharp as them. We looked disjointed and really shallow in attack in the opposition's 20 while Wakey were clinical and composed in defence. Our passing was a bit off, not quick enough and not always going in front of the chest / breadbasket, stopping our flow.

Scott Moore and Ben Cross need to clean their acts up. They're two of our most influential players but they let down their teammates by conceding cheap penalties. Likewise, the discipline needs to get better. I think it will with a couple of games.

I thought the contributions of Dave Allen and Frank Winterstein were promising. I wasn't convinced with the signing of Winterstein but he's put some size on in the off-season and looked dangerous in attack. And Allen ran his blood to water. Likewise Ben Kavanagh, who will go on to become a good player in SL. I still think we need to utilise him in the back row, at least once we get Kite in.

Jon Clarke looked tired and slow, I hear he was carrying an injury. We need to keep him away from the halves, White should have been in there from the beginning instead of interchanging at hooker.

Wasn't convinced that Pickersgill is worthy of a SL contract, but I don't want to fall into the trap that most chemics do on TIW by calling for heads so early. I think we need to be careful with Mullally too, don't expect too much from him too soon.

It's obvious we're not blessed with the best squad in the league so a clean bill of health is vital. We were unlucky to be missing the likes of Flynn, Watts and Briscoe so early and I think with these guys back, and the two new signings in, we'll be a great deal better. Don't understimate how important it was to be missing five of our top guys.

Keep the faith!

Good write up that Richard. Spot on with pretty much everything you say there.

That is spot on, Richard. I agree with everything you have written there.

For what its worth I thought it was a good game by two sides that had only just been put together.I was quite surprised by Winterstein hes turned out better than I thought he would.I think as the season goes on you will get the better of a few sides being an unknown quantity.Things will come with time the timing of the pass and the automatic knowing of where a players going to be when you have the ball.You have too many good players to finish as wooden spooners as some of the rubbish jurnos predict and can see 3 teams below you come the end of season.

Agree with all you've put Richard.

I can see certain positives which save me from outright despondency.

We had set after set on their line. Now, the fact that we failed to convert that possession was not in our favour, but we worked hard to get there. With some of our first choice players in the team you have to think we'd have converted more of our chances. Our discipline was atrocious, and something we have to work on. I can't fault the referee. He punished us, but it was the same players over and over again and you have to look at that and come to a different conclusion than some of those frustrated fans around me who were calling for the referee's head. We were tackling high. I too thought Pickersgill was wrong for a contract and unfortunately, he stood out as someone who looked out of place.

Isa for me looked shaky, but on the plus side, Ah Van was one of our best players. His kicking isn't good enough though and I don't understand why we don't let someone else do it instead but his running was particularly good.

Too much one man rugby. It didn't work for us in the championship, it wont work for us doubly now. We started to chuck it about at times and we looked far more dangerous but for the most part, one man, one drive. It never works.

Not a disaster by any means. We had key players missing, we've got a new squad, and we weren't totally disgraced. I think most of us appreciated we were in for a long hard season, and we should get better as players get used to each other.

A lot to work on though, chief of which should be discipline.

Good review on pros and cons their Rich! I do think if availability wise would have been on the other foot / eve equal we would have won so hopefully if these lads are back for Salford we'll put on a strong display for the full game!

will this Gerrard guy be getting a start any time soon does anyone know?

Highly unlikely. Though will hopefully get a hand ful of run outs at some point.

Isa did look shakey i agree however he was one of our top tacklers. Hopefully with time we will get the best out of him.

ok guys many thanks.

You mean Alex Gerrard?Why has he been playing well as not seen him recently.Maybe a dual registration.