A few thoughts:

Wire deserved it, very committed in defence. Ben Westwood was magnificent.
Bentham was not magnificent but I can live with his performance. His decision to penalise Singleton was easily understandable even if he was incorrect.
Video refs are sh_it, improve the game by dispensing with them entirely.

Ash G did fine; his physical resemblance to BJB is maybe too close for comfort though and I expect there'll be defensive frailty somewhere down the line. Hope I'm wrong.

Aiton is doing the business and needs as much game time as poss. If Burrow is to play, let him come on from the bench for either Sinfield or McGuire, whichever happens to be playing worst. Or not come on at all if both are performing.

I understand the criticism of Peacock. Don't write him off just yet - do you really think our conditioners are daft enough to have him at peak fitness this early in the season??

Singleton is a revelation. Watkins looks twice the player he did for large parts of last season and both wingers look sharp.

As many have noted, wire were a cut above last night. Fear not; in super league a good performance is usually only the precursor of a horror show. We've as good a chance as anyone of trophies this year.

Victory over Phil Clarke's bum boys next week and last night will be forgotten, another defeat though, and people will be getting flashbacks to last season and our dismal record against the big teams in the weekly rounds. Our kicking game last night was again poor, 5 out of 6 kicks in the first half claimed in the air unchallenged, unacceptable if we have any pretentions to win anything. Sinny will only be getting in the team for his place kicking and reputation alone unless he can improve, and his choice and quality of pass will pretty soon get a team mate killed, McGuire is streets ahead in that respect. We missed Achurch offensively when chasing the game, neither Ward, JJB or Delaney have his bulk or dexterity from second row, and we obviously missed Zak in attack. Wire weren't fantastic, but we're good enough and made the best of the 50/50's in their favour. Bring on the pie munchers.

Might have to reevaluate that one based on today's news

On Rooney being the England captain. He's captain because he's a Man United player, not because he has any skills of captaincy. Rooney, Ferdinand and Beckham have all captained England mainly because of the huge support that MU have in the media. Rooney's the Man United captain now, but only because all the real leaders have left United.

I'd say that most of England RL accepts that Sinfield has been a truly awesome captain for Leeds Rhinos, but as an England/GB player most were luke warm and I'd say ice cold to him being captain.

Hardaker as Leeds captain in the desire to make him be more responsible??? The answer to that is a resounding no. IMO even if he's 100% guilty of a serious crime I'd still back him as a Rhinos player. But I'd back Ronnie the Rhino to be the next Rhinos captain before Hardaker.

This having players that are deemed "untouchable" despite poor performances needs knocking on the head asap imo.
I said it last year as did others and i stand by the opinion that Kylie is done he's a passenger and should already be gone.
Thus far this year Sinfield goal kicks aside has had a decent 20 minutes v Widnes & an offload v Wire as positives the rest just isn't good enough to warrant automatic selection now.
Now don't get me wrong i know its only 5 games in but how long do you give players that aren't performing?
Whether the CEO & Coach accept it or not the ageing stars are on a downward spiral irrespective of what an idiot has done off the field.
There are players waiting on the fringes and options to try going forward if it doesn't work then the GH better blow the cob webs off the Cheque book.

spot on in every respect. you have to add the forward planning has been shocking

Good post rhinoms

One small aside, but in 30 years I've never seen any team play for 80 minutes without committing more than one offence worthy of a penalty. Assuming the 7-1 count is correct of course.

from memory I don't think the 7-1 was correct. I'm sure they were pinged for a high shot and an offside. I can only think that the 7-1 covered a period of the game.

Edit, - just checked SL website rlhttps://www.superleague.co.uk/report/11053rl and the penalty count was 7-5

referees usually even it out near the end by giving the losing side a few near the end

it was 6-1 until 15 minutes to go think? lol

Penalties were awarded in the following sequence to

W,L,W,W
H/T
W,W,L,W,L,L,W,L

IIRC in terms of low counts either Leeds or Salford once went 80 mins in a JP/Regal semi-final at Valley Parade without conceding any penalties.

Also a Hull FC - Leeds game at the KC where neither side conceded a penalty in the opening 40 minutes.

Remember that one also now and without needing to look it up it was Steve Ganson - letting everything go including the occasional head shot.