We are way too flat in attack when in the oppo 20, no better illustrated than when Edgell knocked on in the last quarter, at the point the ball reaches his hands, Martin, mom and Handley are all a good meter in front of him, even if Edgell had cought it, the move was dead, all 3 had literally taken themselves out of the game.
Early season, but that is Amature stuff, they need to be smarter and/or Smith needs to be identifying it and fixing it.
Can have all the ability in the world, but if your full left edge are getting their timing so wrong, it explains why we look inept in good ball, and why some are frustrated.
On a positive, there were a couple of times i liked the numbers advantage we created on the edges, we just took the wrong option each time.
After re watching, Donaldson cost us big time and you really have to question his value, all well and good being a character around the club, but when you are, small, pretty unathletic and offer Zero ball in hand, you need to be almost perfect in everything else to be of use, he was a long way off Thursday night with more than one stupid involvement.
If Donaldson does get a ban, and I'm sure he will, it's the perfect opportunity to draw a line in the sand with regards to his selection. Ruan and TNW should be given their chance and stuck with. They are both bigger, more skillful players and the only edge Donno has on them is experience. However if that experience is losing more games than you win that what is the point of it? I'd really like Smith to be a success but if he sticks with picking a player who isn't even average I'll have had enough.
Indeed, we made far more many metres in the middle than Salford.
We didn’t against Hull KR (well, we did in the first half ) but then two of our forwards had brain explosions.
That was the worst conditions and game to go down to 12 for half of that second half, that’s what cost us the game, not structure or anything like that.
Our completion rate has also been very high im both games, id hazard a guess that its been higher than at any point in the last two years.
Is it time to consider Jack Smith on the wing for Roberts? Also I reckon McDonnell will be fit; does he replace Bentley or Goudemand, or remain unselected? Holroyd hopefully will be fit too. Would like to see TNW get a run too if there’s a chance.
I think for the Cats game we have to get as many of our big lads out as poss, hoping we see Oledzki and Holroyd starting and sangare and TNW bench, I'd also go Martin McDonnell second rows with Goudemand on the bench who can spell at front row or back if needed. I'd even potentially throw bentley as a bench option too.
I dont think its the loss as much as seeing the same / similar issues as last year. It feels familiar and that's frustrating.
In the big picture that game might not mean nothing, it will take time for the team to gel and we are super light ( not helped with poor balance in the pack), bad pitch etc.
Still, I'd have liked to see more structure,better kicking and to look like a team with a plan or one that can adjust to the conditions/ challenge of the game at the time.
Early days yet.
I kind of agree with this. It seemed like the same old Rohan Smith performance in many ways but likewise in the grand scheme of things, losing away at KR is not the end of the world and would have happened in the golden era seasons too.
I am far from convinced that Rohan is the man, albeit would love it if he was. For me, we need to have won 8 out of 12 minimum as I am done with win one, lose one. Our performances are very inconsistent and we rarely get a match where we perform for more than 40 minutes.
I am sure Rohan will have some 50+ point wins but then it is backed up by some god awful results. I just don't think he can get the most out of the team.
I just think it’s too early to tell much. Changing the key personnel we have done will result in different performances - I’d argue it already has.
Better and more consistent players in the spine gives us a better platform. The Handley wonder try at HKR looked like a training ground move to me and yet RS gets very little credit there… we just need to see.
First two competitive games together as a largely new team. Not bad but obviously a work in progress…with a decent bounce of the ball we win that game. Clearly better than last year already in my opinion. Having said that not confident that Momirovski and Frawley are at the level we’d want from overseas signings and the rule enforcement/changes are giving me the pip just like everyone else! I’m coming up to HQ from London for the Catalans game. Really looking forward to it. Last game I was at saw live was the Wigan massacre at the end of last season…I’m still recovering! In a sense I feel it’s this game that will set the tone for the season ahead.
The Handley try was brilliant but I'll be impressed when we can execute and look threatening in the attacking red zone. We've seen that early kick play before and as much as it's to be applauded, without the 'bread and butter stuff' connecting, it'll just be a gimmick as before and another isolated get out of jail desperate play.
I see tony smiths copping some flack for short kick offs from the FC fans where we invested a lot to practice them and have since ditched them (Millars absence noted).
First two competitive games together as a largely new team. Not bad but obviously a work in progress…with a decent bounce of the ball we win that game. Clearly better than last year already in my opinion. Having said that not confident that Momirovski and Frawley are at the level we’d want from overseas signings and the rule enforcement/changes are giving me the pip just like everyone else! I’m coming up to HQ from London for the Catalans game. Really looking forward to it. Last game I was at saw live was the Wigan massacre at the end of last season…I’m still recovering! In a sense I feel it’s this game that will set the tone for the season ahead.
Frawley's kicking game was poor last week, but he is getting in the right place at the right time, which is a start. On Momirovski, obviously early days. He looks strong and defensively solid, but can't help thinking we will miss the running threat of Macdonald. Not sure he has that. He clearly has excellent pedigree, but so did Tetevano. Hope he settles in and shows what he can do.