I know a lot of fans bemoan our lack of power in the middle, but looking back at the game, I think the lack of real pace in the backs really held us back. Roberts especially had a chance in the 2nd half that I think a winger like Marshall, Johnstone, or Ashton finish in the corner, we're creating lots of half chances out wide, but i never feel confident we're going to score unless we get a walk in.

Martin is always solid wherever he plays, but we really could do with a pacy centre who can deputise when Newman or Mom are injured. Has Simpson recovered from his injury yet?

Very fair comment.

From what I’ve seen Jack Smith has more toe than Simpson; Max is more a Keith Senior type player who will be a big physical thing when he fills out.



Mom should be relatively quick we just haven’t seen him show it yet.

We’re clearly a much better side than last season, which is what fans wanted but looks like that still isn’t good enough and the usual lot will moan regardless.



We showed that we have attacking structure with the try, we also created that same opportunity a couple more times but they weren’t finished. We just need to show it more when in their half.



Saints defence was outstanding, and apart from a poor read from O’Connor, so was ours. Bentley seemed to be in every tackles, crazy that people can’t see what he brings to the team.



We defs miss Fusitua in yardage out of our own half, as Roberts was pushed back pretty much every time.



Frawleys kicking game doesn’t seem great, always gets caught on the full. He does seem to bring the organisation and defence that Sezer didn’t.

I'm not sure we're a MUCH better team than last season.

We're probably marginally better.

We have better players.

And defensively we look more solid.

We have won some games that we would have lost last year.



But there's still a lot to work on to compete in the top 4.

We still look very disorganised at times.

The attack is very unstructured.

We make far too many mistakes.

We haven't yet competed for 80 mins.

We need more on field leadership.

And we're lightweight in the pack.



I still expect us to probably finish 6th.

I know he’s been injured and ill so far but I want to see more from McDonnell as the year goes on. Falling off too many tackles for my liking. Thought he was our best back rower for chunks of last year.

Very very early in the year and lots will change. I think what we’ve seen so far indicates we are a top half team now, which was kindof minimum expected.



For me, the key is the stupid errors. If we don’t make three or four daft errors last night I think we win that game, Saints looked gassed when we played tight and clinical on them for half an hour.

The defence has gone to sleep 3 times this year costing soft tries against Salford, Catalans and Saints. Those errors have to be cut out along with the kicking out on the full.

The game changed when the ref stopped applying the laws of the game and allowed Saints to slow down the play the ball , now don't get me wrong Saints do not mind giving penalties and an odd six again away as they trust their defence , very much the same as Wigan . We are not at that level to be able to do that . We are as everyone knew short of a couple of big forwards and some pace in the backline . Can we beat Saints next week ? The answer to that is a big NO , are we better than last year ?, then yes probably . Are we going to get a top four spot ? Probably not .

Of course we can beat saints next week, typing no in caps doesn’t make it true





Im not sure where this lacking pace in the backline is coming from, miller , mom, Newman and of course Handley are all quick.



Don’t think any of us expected us to be in the top two this year, and we won’t.



We have far more pace in the backline than Saints for example.

It seems like you're hankering for a Ian Watson coached team. Think you'll continue to remain dissapointed in that regard. This talk about not competing for 80mins is way off. We've competed hard throughout every minute of every game this season. What I think you mean is we haven’t been on top for 80 mins yet. Well, we all want that, but that's not how sport should be, is it? I think we'll be better next week with 4 proper props for the first time this season. A lot of simple things should fall into place off the back of that. Whether we get the win or not is a matter of conjecture. I actually think the two games (Cas & Wire) that follow will tell us a bit more about how we'll do this season. Win both of those and we'll definitely be making progress. Lose and the doubts will creep in.

Agree about the competing for 80minutes. I suspect what they mean is haven’t put a perfect 80 minutes in, well that doesn’t happen very often for any team, unless it’s a mismatch.



The Cas and Wire games are important, we have got to go and give it to Cas and Wire drift in and out of games and we need to take advantage of that. Win those two and were 5 from 7, i think wed all take that wouldn’t we?

I’d much prefer 5/7 than losing them both and 3/7. The latter would really set the alarm bells ringing.

5 from 7 would be very good. 5 from 7 and still in the cup would be excellent. Fingers crossed.

I’ve said for years we need pace at Halback, to suite the way we play. Imagine Croft with a fast runner/finisher off him. Say French!

Croft and French would not work.



Croft is no slouch, he is the running halfback, you need an organising one alongside either Croft or French.



You ditched radio this year for Sky?

Really enjoyed the first half but credit to Saints who kept to us 2 points up when against a lesser team we would have been at least 2 scores up.

Bell made the difference and was my MoM.

We didn`t have the powerful runs in the second half and had a very lightweight bench that was never really going to get on top of Saints.

Like what`s been said with Fusi and Lisone in the team we make more yards.

Ball steal by Saints led to their try at a crucial time and a poor read by Handley led to another try.

Small margins but those small margins are the difference that win you games and trophies.

Mik and Miller our best 2 and I`m still waiting for Newman to show he is International class.

Frawley steady away and that`s about it.

Now if we had my favourite Mikey Lewis in our team then who knows!

Can’t believe they gave Dodd mom, it was Bell all day long

Dodd trysaver on Newman though at a crucial time…



Miller would have been close to MoM without that awful kick off out on the full, he busts so many tackles he’s great.

Fusi and lisone will help but I still think we won't be beating saints /wigan in the big games until we can add some more power / strike in the pack and be able to keep up pressure ahd intensity for most of the game rather than 40 mins or so

Not sure why you draw that conclusion Arthur.

I don't rate Watson at all.

But I want to see progress.

And a team with an identity that is organised and structured.

Still some way to go on that front.

And by competing for 80 mins, I want us to be competitivie in both halves. Too many games where we are decent in one half and poor in the other.

But I do think we are better than last year - but it's a very low bar.

How about both having a bit of both, like McGuire Burrow…! …lol…

Frawley is way too slow, poor kicker, and not really that good at organising. Feels harsh to say as I wanted it to work, but that’s how I saw it.

On holiday in Loch Lomond, hotel has sky so getting a fix…

Also mate and I will watch sky and attend few games this year.

Will still be bit of radio thrown into mix too though…

Still happy for Frawley to shut me up though, and appreciate others see the subtleties in his game. Played NRL last year, so clearly has quality. I’ve decided it is harsh, and wrong for me to write him off this this early……

On the basis that you would seem to prefer a % based, mistake free, meat and potatoes down the middle gameplan, which is what Huddersfield do - badly. As spectator who regularly attends the games, that's the last thing I want to see. Smith's vision of the game, which was very well executed in the first 40mins against Saints, is far more appealing to me. I accept that because of it's ambition mistakes will inevitably occur. The crucial thing for Smith, is demonstrating that he can win games on a regular basis with this approach to coaching. Now that he largely has he players he wants I think it's fair to judge him over the first dozen games of the season. I'm really hoping he can pull it off.

Mcguire and Burrow worked because Sinfield was in the side, who often played in the halves anyway.



You’re being Harsh on Frawley IMO