How on this earth is that rightly penalised when he was never taken above the horizontal?
Did he penalise us for showing aggression in the tackle or maybe it's our fault Burrows is only 3ft 2 and weighs 75kg?

No idea mate, it's also my name

Hull KR are my team I have to be impartial

I have to disagree with the tackle on Burrow, Paea picked him up, tipped him on his back and threw him to ground, he never went above the horizontal. Other than that I think there were more than a couple of grapple tackles/high shots that went unpunished. Anyway, regardless of the ref it was a good game and there were plenty of good signs for both teams.

Yes but when he's got all his winners rings on he weighs more than any of your forwards. You were beaten because despite playing for 60 minutes you fell apart for the last 20. Watkins has beefed up but the way he ran through your left hand side defence for the last couple of tries will worry your coach. Your forwards were awesome in the first half but a game lasts for 80 minutes.

We went OK in patches, dominated in the forwards for long periods but lacked a killer ball. This is going to be a bit negative but I see these more as areas to improve.

When playing away from home, if you concede two or three penalties in the first seven minutes for laying on, you absolutely make sure you clean that up, otherwise you'll get pinged for that all night and end up on the back of an awful penalty count.

We got bumped off in the initial contact far too easily, against a team like Leeds that are looking to promote the ball and ship it about they will expose that.

McDonnell's one on one tackling is a concern, McGuire was certainly favourite to beat him for the final try but I want to see the full back do more than brush the dirt off McGuire's shirt as he runs past so he looks nice for the photographs.

Hall at six has potential, we should keep him there but he needs to do more than slide across the defensive line and then give Mika a hospital pass.

Paea we need to wrap in gold, or krypton, or something that makes sure he plays as many games as possible, he was well covered by Leeds tonight though. Tackle on Burrow was silly and luckily Burrow wasn't hurt.

Left defensive channel was weak without Galea to organise and just be his usual excellent self, certainly lacked communication for Watkins (who was fabulous) second try.

I can see the point and am generally in support of switching Hall, Murrell and Lovegrove around in defence and attack, but Lovegrove going anywhere near the wing is not a great idea, we've bulked he lad up for three seasons and we missed some of his power through the middle, a wide running, hard working loose is what he is.

Typical Headingly evening for us, the game was there to be won but Leeds were clinical, they perhaps missed two chances to score and scored at least three that we should have prevented with McGuire getting his customary late on try.

Fair result and for a firt game of the season with a pitch that looked pretty solid along the south stand side both teams tried to entertain and largely succeded.

Leeds have only lost twice in their opening game since SL began.
And not since 2000
Which kind of proves your opinion totally wrong.

The first match doesnt mean "slow starters" which proves you wrong.

I thought in the derby friendly you were laying on in the tackle a lot which went unpunished that day. I don't really remember you doing that in the last few season is this a new Aus style tactic that has been brought in?

I think he means Leeds dont play well win or lose at the start of the season,but that is disrespect to Rovers good show tonight

Rovers played well apart from dobbos kicking for the first 60 but 60 mins not good enough I think this season will be Leeds season thought the rugby you played was very entertaining and we was taught a harsh lesson in the last 20 which by this time the circulation had totally gone in my feet, good luk for rest of the season.

I'm sure I'll get used to it eventually. Took you a long time but you have

Good start I thought, you are always going to be up against the decisions at Headingley much the same as teams are at Craven Park. It's annoying that he waited until the 4th tackle everytime before pinging us.

Good run out, plenty of wins in this team. The defence on the left hand side was poor in the last 20 minutes but nothing that can't be addressed it was more one on one misses than poor positioning

And whoever stated Dobbo should have let Hall take the kicks obviously didn't see his attempt against Hull

In the past 12 years Leeds have won their opening game on all 12 occasions.

Yeah great opportunity I don't think.

Far better to get them in week 2 or 3 when the world club challenge is nearer. Of course Hull FC know all about what it takes to beat Leeds.........NOT!

Now getting a jet lagged Warrington at home in week 1 - that really IS an opportunity.

Rovers played well and your forwards were getting some good go-forward. We were just alot more clinical than you. The tackle on Burrow was rightly penalised, admittedly there was no malice in it. Don't really know why you do all this switching around with Lovegrove and Hall, if Lovegrove is going to play on the wing then he can't find himself being shaddowed into touch by Danny McGuire so easily.

True to some extent but I think we've only lost 2 opening games since 1996. Thought you did pretty well tbh. Good following - as ever.

Was it McGuire? Couldn't tell from our end. How is that possible? Lovegrove should just steamroll McGuire.

I get the impression that Sandercock may have been chatting to Stuart Cummings before the game regarding the speed of the play the ball and tailored our defensive ruck control accordingly to find that Bentham continually penalised us on the 4th tackle (for what ever reason).

I honestly wasn't even going to go last night when I heard Bentham was the ref on the back of the scandalous performances last season when we got penalised out of both Easter games last season both at the KC and at Wakefield when the return fixtures turned out a dominant victory over FC and then a 70+ smashing of Wakefield. Not to mention video evidence that proves Bentham lied through his teeth to Clint Newton at the MM derby last year stating he held his arm up for the 5th tackle when the Sky replay clearly proved he did not.

Anyway as far as the game itself, I thought Rovers showed tremendous resolve on their own line when Leeds 1st try came on Leeds 5th set in a row and Rovers continued to show resolve throughout the half defending back to back sets on our own line and coming back after long periods without the ball to hit back and score.

The crucial moment for me was when at 12-10 up in the second half and well on top, Welham chose to be greedy and go for glory instead of putting Hodgson in who was in the clear with the line at his mercy - not acceptable - Champions like Leeds don't do this - they play and win as a team. That was a massive opportunity gone begging because had Welham passed we'd have no doubt gone on to win the game. Instead we were left to the mercy of Bentham's favoured 4th tackle penalties which resulted in a 5min+ periods without the ball in which Leeds continually hammered and tired out our right hand side and Watkins capitalised on the back of that. I think Watkins really will turn in to an international class player before too long.

Special mention for Greame Horne though, a few seasons ago I really doubted this kids ability but he really is standing up to be counted and maybe finally fulfilling his potential.

Good point about Welham not passing, as soon as he'd fended off the defender and gone through the gap Hodgson had about as much space as a winger is ever going to get at this level and would have had a nice little warming canter to the in goal area.

So explain how playing away from home against the Champions who have only lost 2 opening games in 17 years was a missed opportunity.
Good luck with that

I watched the game with a dozen or so Loiners and they agreed Bentham performed as if a brown envelope was waiting for him after the match. Some of his decisions were baffling but whats new there? He was Justin's thorn in the side, and it seems he is now Sandercocks lol!

Nevertheless, I still thought Rovers had enough possession in the first thirty of so minutes to have scored more than the one try; that was the difference for me, Rovers inability to turn pressure into points.

In the end, the Rhino's gave Rovers an object lesson in playing the full eighty minutes, but I have to say there were more than enough signs to suggest Rovers are going to improve on that performance. I enjoyed the game and felt proud of Rovers even in defeat.

How did Craig Hall go? He played 6 for us once at Headingley and was one of his best games in a Hull shirt.

Our coach broke down around 3/4 times on the journey to the game, well we never even got to Leeds on that coach. A few phone calls was made and another coach came from the ground to pick us up, I believe it was from Apollo and I would like to thank the lads and the driver for going out there way to look after us. Got to the game at 4-4, so obviously missed an exciting start.

Got to say I think we can take plenty of positiives from the game, we where easily the better side for 60 mins as most have mentioned. Last 10/15 of the first half though we should have posted more points on the board, we where very dominatnt in that period. We ended up in the new Carnegie Stand for the second half, really enjoyed it in there, very good facilities. Fans seemed pretty friendly too in there. A few dodgy decisions did go against us and was commented by some Leeds fans stood with us too. Bentham gave a penalty against us for a been all over Brent Webb about 10y yards right in front of thier posts and went down feild to score off the back of it. Webb never attampted to get to his feet to play the ball, the penalty could have easily gone our way. It was a problem last season conceding trys on the back of penalties and it proved costly again last night.

Had to wait around an hour for another coach from Hull to pick us up, yes it was cold but everyone was in high spirits even after the defeat. Really enjoyed the whole day and thank god the season is back up and running!!!!

Offensively we looked dangerous all game, and defensively (unit wise) a step up from last year. Just the odd lapse cost us dearly and teams like Leeds punish this. Obviously Dobbo's kicking was a massive let down (granted none were easy) but we know he's capable, and with a few conversions we'd would have been right in the game in the last 10 mins.

Bent'ham was a thorn in our side all night long, we couldn't cope with him - unstoppable if you like.


Mcdonnell's tackling maybe a worry

Still, a good start

Solid enough complete with a few 'Hall moments'

Negatives
A soft knock on in our 10m - which led to 4 sets on our line before Leeds scored (score @ 4-4 I think)
Failed to find touch from a penalty

Postives
Looked dangerous 1st half esp
Kicking - esp spiral bombs (I could almost hear Stevo and the words 'whoa it's got snow on it')