Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:29 am  

Ok start from Leeds to get the 4 points on offer but stuff to work on. Encouraging that we are finishing games strongly and the addition of Cuthbertson looks to have taken a chunk of workload off Peacock which will only help him as the season wears on. The interesting news from Leeds is that Burrow simply wasn't selected for the Widnes game, however I reckon his omission harps back to his long standing groin issue. They couldn't solve it during the 3 months he missed last year for his collarbone injury and he only just made it back in time for the start of this season....perhaps doubt as to what the future might hold for him. Strangely, going forward it could come as a blessing for Leeds as the team on the whole would be better balanced imo.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:50 am  

It is only 2 games in but those who said Leeds would finish 7 or 8 might need to rethink it. The next round is massive Leeds have Hudds, if Leeds win Hudds will be 0 and 3, same for Cas who have Saints and Salford who have Hull FC, those 3 teams had top 4/top 8 hope leading into the season.

Round 3 is a big one! The new format is doing its job.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:13 am  

No surprise to see Saints and Wire going well; and Saints remain the most entertaining team in SL - playing a brand of rugby that doesn't leave a sour taste in the mouth...

Speaking of which - Wigan look a bit weaker, but they'll dog their way into contention.

Cas, HKR and Salford, despite confident predictions going in to the season, have looked pretty grim - Cas are still well drilled, but have lost too much quality to repeat what they did last season; Salford look totally rudderless and without any team spirit and HKR I suspect are too 'new' a team to gel just yet - of that three, they seem most likely to come good.

Catalans - typically dumb rugby with flashes of brilliance; they're as impossible to predict as Elois Pellisier's hairdo.

Shudds & Widnes look ordinary and I haven't seen Leeds or Hull FC yet other than highlights.

Biggest surprise has to be Wakey - we were overwhelming favourites to finish bottom (as per) and yet we're 2 from 2, following a brilliant resurgence against Cas and a comprehensive taking apart of HKR on Sunday.

It's a long season and there'll be some changing around as teams gel or find form, but some have already put themselves under immense pressure.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:23 am  

bren2k wrote:

No surprise to see Saints and Wire going well; and Saints remain the most entertaining team in SL - playing a brand of rugby that doesn't leave a sour taste in the mouth...

Speaking of which - Wigan look a bit weaker, but they'll dog their way into contention.

Cas, HKR and Salford, despite confident predictions going in to the season, have looked pretty grim - Cas are still well drilled, but have lost too much quality to repeat what they did last season; Salford look totally rudderless and without any team spirit and HKR I suspect are too 'new' a team to gel just yet - of that three, they seem most likely to come good.

Catalans - typically dumb rugby with flashes of brilliance; they're as impossible to predict as Elois Pellisier's hairdo.

Shudds & Widnes look ordinary and I haven't seen Leeds or Hull FC yet other than highlights.

Biggest surprise has to be Wakey - we were overwhelming favourites to finish bottom (as per) and yet we're 2 from 2, following a brilliant resurgence against Cas and a comprehensive taking apart of HKR on Sunday.

It's a long season and there'll be some changing around as teams gel or find form, but some have already put themselves under immense pressure.

Slightly contradictary, if Cas & Rovers are so gash, then surely it's no surprise whatsoever that Wakefield are 2 from 2?

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:31 am  

SirStan wrote:

Slightly contradictary, if Cas & Rovers are so gash, then surely it's no surprise whatsoever that Wakefield are 2 from 2?

Great post.

(Except he never said that Cas and Rovers were gash!!)

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 10:42 am  

SirStan wrote:

Slightly contradictary, if Cas & Rovers are so gash, then surely it's no surprise whatsoever that Wakefield are 2 from 2?

It would be, if I'd actually said that.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 11:50 am  

bren2k wrote:

Cas, HKR and Salford, despite confident predictions going in to the season, have looked pretty grim

For the benefit of the tape, "pretty grim" & "gash" are not a million miles apart.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:02 pm  

Haven't seen enough of Leeds to know how we'll fare against the top sides. We should make the four but based on what I've seen then fourth might be our limit - although FC could be the side to scupper that prediction.
Huddersfield and Catalans aren't going to meet the expectations of some, I feel, whereas Wakey are already exceeding those of many. Salford and Cas may well turn things around but will it be soon enough to matter?
I haven't changed MY VIEW THAT WIRE, SAINTS AND WIGAN WILL FINISH 1ST, 2ND, 3RD (though I have hit caps lock by accident).
Who does that leave? Widnes - will do ok but not the 8. I tipped HKR to finish last. Maybe they will.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:45 pm  

The jury is still out for Leeds for me. Yes they are two from two and scoring points but they haven't been convincing. Yes they won easily in the end against Widnes but we're being held at half time. Both of these were games they expected to win anyway.

Their next two will give us a better indication. Particularly their trip to the KC imo.

Re: Two Games Down : Mon Feb 16, 2015 12:57 pm  

SirStan wrote:

Slightly contradictary, if Cas & Rovers are so gash, then surely it's no surprise whatsoever that Wakefield are 2 from 2?

I think the point is: it's a surprise considering most people tipped wakey for rock bottom, but Cas & Rovers to be in or around the 8?