They wouldn`t be the first.
They`ve been buying top players for years and still haven`t won a GF.
Like I said anything out of the top 2 and it should be classed as a failure.
Back on Leeds and Hardaker.
My understanding from one of Zaks mates was that he would have stayed had we offered him 2 years but we only offered him 1 initially.
Leigh came knocking and offered him far more than us and understandably he took it.
Our best player by plenty last year.

Mate from what I`ve seen of Hooley and for that matter Macdonald they ain`t going to help our defence much.

No idea although from the little I've seen Hooley looks weak on the line. MacDonald probably cruised in most games last year as Leigh won at a canter. We can only hope...

smith has a reputation for 'thinking outside the box'.
Well playing four wingers across the backline, and the best two out of position, was shambolic.
the signings have been strange, and most of us questioned signing Robert's and oliphants whilst ditching hardaker.
as for wire and the salary cap perhaps if some of their yorkshire based ex players didn't come into work telling everyone about their extra payments and bmws arriving at their houses unannounced maybe there wouldn't be these rumours, which have been around for years.
not that it's done them much good....

That was a tough watch wasn't it. However poor we were I think Warrington have to take a lot of credit. The speed and intensity they came out of the blocks with they didn't give us a chance to play and by the time we adapted the game was gone. A couple of bits of bad luck thrown in for good measure. The two teams looked absolutely miles apart in terms of sharpness though didn't they? Our preseason schedule certainly doesn't seem to have delivered us in prime condition for round 1. We never seem to start strong through do we and I trust Smith to get us in shape but we don't help ourselves turning up so far off. Myler had a stinker didn't he. Just a really bad day at the office for him. I was really disappointed in Sezer though - didn't seem to want to get involved and left Austin trying to overcompensate and he suffered a bit as a result. Thought Cam went well when he came on as did Sangare. Our preseason approach made it pretty much impossible to get a true gauge on where we are. I guess now we know. Plenty for them to do this week.

Like instead of physical training, he had the players in at 5am and made to work on a presentation at 8pm for the whole of the team?

If that's true then WTF.

We were poor last night. Myler the stand out one. But its game #1. Let's take a deep breathe.

Awful performance and hugely disappointing. There's a long way to go this year and I expect us to improve on that. I also expect a typical Powell season for Wire with some lovely rugby being played but fall short again. But that's for them to worry about.

Thought Lisone looked good in his last stint amd Sangare added some bite with his runs. Holroyd struggled with the physicality but given his lack of playing over the last 12 months, it's understandable. I really struggle to see what Tetevano brings to the team. Doesn't make big metres and doesn't dominate in defence. I'd have Smith starting all day long. We seemed to have more going on in attack when he was getting his hands on the ball.

Wire had the game won before half time, and thankfully there aren't many teams with packs like that.

On to next week. But not really time to start panicking or thinking this game is a prelude to the season. Surely as Leeds fans we know its not how you start

Me too, it was done months before it was announced and as a result there was very little money left for Zak. When I say we chose Olpherts over Hardaker, I mean we chose to spend the money on him first.

I would start O'Connor and Smith next week. Use Leeming off the bench and bring in Walters for Tetevano.
I appreciate that it's the 1st game and we know better than most how things can change over the course of the season , but that was a terrible start. A real lack of intensity and effort on occasions last night.
Sangare looked a handful and should help Oledzki get us on the front foot when he returns. The starting props were 2nd best last night, but given that neither played much at that level last season, it may take time.
The halfbacks may have been behind a beaten pack and received little good ball, but they were poor, especially Sezer.
Olpherts carried the ball well and took his chance with an excellent finish. If we get everyone fit I can see him keeping his place in the side, although that would mean either him or Handley moving to the right wing.

I do have to question anyone who saw the squad Leeds put out and thought this would be anything other than a comfortable Warrington win.

Sangare did come on with some bite which we were lacking so that was positive.

Glad I’m not around to see that one.

On the passive defence, for my money Smith brought it in to
A) cut down on giving away 6 agains and penalties for high shots and offside
B) stop line breaks so you keep them in front of you.

He has had a pre-season to change it and hasn’t so reckon it must be the plan for 2023.
It works if the other team is not very good, makes errors, gives away 6 agains etc. if the other team plays really well I think you have big issues.

As someone else said Bentley is a huge miss in that side for all the graft. He was top draw at end of 2022. Add Mik as well.

There is along way to go but the club needs to be working on a quality pack leader to replace Tetevano next year and plan what to do at 1, 6 and 7. 6 and 7 are out of contract so need to up their game to get a gig at Leeds or anywhere else.

Well played Warrington, Powell is a good coach he has assembled a good powerful squad , should imagine if they keep injury free they should be in the hunt for some silverware this season. Funny old world ,just recalling last season the majority of Warrington fans wanted Powell out.
Credit to the club for resisting that clamour. As for us ,obviously we were blown away mentally and physically, didn’t expect us to win over at Warrington . But certainly never imagined that fiasco, letting hardaker go was a big mistake. Thought Smiths after match interview was extremely poor especially in view of the amount of fans who had traveled to Warrington. At the risk of stating the blindingly obvious ,failure to win next Friday will start alarm bells ringing. Or maybe they started ringing in the pre season games and smith choose to ignore them.

Remember you only need 5th place???

BTW, this is LeBron James the saints troll. He's no fan of Warrington and is a pain in the . Please ignore.

You guys were much better second half and the scores were level in that period. You had quite a few missing as far as I can see so I reckon you'll be fine.