That’s the first pre season friendly out of the way for the 2024 - 2025 season. Unfortunately Cas won the two games that mattered in the 23-24 season. Most of the Cas players had bodies in Headingley and minds in Benidorm last night. The best part for me was being on the Western Terrace while the inbreds survival party blew up in their faces. Comedy gold.

How did the protests go?

Clearly they need to threaten protest more often xD

Tadster totally agree with all this.

Johnson was really bossing the team about last night and organising them, think he enjoyed a more senior role. His game is not flashy but all about control and he needs a dominant pack like all 9s.

I actually think this Harvey Smith from Wakey would be a good complement for Johnson as he is pacier and more direct.

O’Connor looked better a little wider out but I don’t know what his position is still after years watching him.

It's catch 22 with both of them. O'Connor is a far better defensive player in the middle and that is extremely important. Equally his distribution can be very poor and Johnson’s tends to be far better. Neither has got much of a scoot. It's a puzzle.

My oh my how bad were Cas tonight.
I`ve not been a fan of Johnson but he played really well tonight as did Fusitua.
Who got MoM?
I would have given it to Sinfield.
And I agree Cam Smith once he has a couple of decent halves to play with would be much better than trying to run the show on his own.
Great to see the team get back to winning ways but I reckon Stanningley would have pushed Cas close last night.

If CJ and Oconnor spend the preseason training improving their skills ( and hopefully we have someone to teach / improve that) I'm sure they can add to what they already do

O’Connor came through as a 13 in the academy although has played other positions as a junior I believe.

Johnson has put a bit of size on this season, if he improves again for me his distribution and game awareness is just better then JOC. I think Jarrod might end up in the back row again but he’ll be yet another Donaldson/Bentley/McDonnell type.

Now I did spot that Jarrod could play hooker early, and he can, but I don’t think he’s at the right level for Leeds as full time hooker - even though he kindof pushed Leeming out.

Was watching quite closely last night and so many balls from DH were at the receiver’s face or to the side, it stops their momentum, increases chances of errors and reduces their impact at the line.

Oh for sure, I just think both are young enough that some hard work will improve them no end.
Might not become world beaters but if Joc can boost his passing/ distribution abd CJ get a bit more of a scoot/ smart plays then the team will do much better

Sam Walters was MoM. I agree that Sinfield deserved it, and would have been my vote.

Sam had a decent game, but I got the feeling it was partially a farewell gift.

I think RS needs great credit this week. Under all sorts of pressure, and the team we had out couldn’t have gone much better.

I thought he really for the side up for that game and we smashed Cas to the point they didn’t want it.

if he deserve credit for getting them up for last night does he not deserve criticism for his failure to do so for the vast majority of the season?

I don’t want to get carried away as Castleford were dire last night, but it was the first time it actually looked like we had a structure to our attack. Like they genuinely called and lined up plays when in the opposition half. Was strange to see after looking clueless for the majority of the other 26 games.

I like the way JOC and CJ were used. I don’t mind JOC as a solid first 30 mins tackle everything. CJ is much more fluid in attack and without out Smith/Sezer/Austin outside he was calling plays and taking control. Sinfield looked good as well, good controlled kicking game and I loved that inside step for the Lisone try.

Without another few signings of proper quality it will likely be much the same next year. Happy to sign off the season with a win.

Im not sure it would automatically be the same as this year, look at all the disruption i cannot see that happening again next year