Quote: Tony Stark "I think there's been a combination of thing leading to our improvement over the last two games
i) As Robes said in his post match interview after Royce was sacked the lads had to take a good look in the mirror and admit they were desperately underperforming.
ii) The whole team have hit match fitness including Perry who, whilst still a few pounds over weight for me, has had a good two games.
iii) We've played two of the 'Big 3' and raised our game accordingly.
iv) We've had a largely settled squad/line up with no random chopping and changing for the sake of it.
v) Success and positivity breeds more of the same.
and the big one for me
vi) Urgency. We've not been the sluggish, slow and ruck dominated team we were for the first few weeks, we've been quick in the ruck in attack and defence and our line speed has been massively better than it was, our support running has been excellent too whereas in the opening games we had no options left or right when we broke tackles. Our 'lighter' more athletic pack have helped in this area too.'"
I agree with all this. I think the latter point is part and parcel of revving up as the season gets underway.
Mike Appleton said on Twitter that wasn't it good to see Meli enjoying his rugby again on the wing. Well sure, that's great for Meli, but it is not the best place for him to play. Had Warrington been on their game tonight, or Leeds last weekend, we would have been peppered down that side and much joy would have been had, especially with the daft decision to debut a player on that side against Warrington. I think indulging the senior players will come back to bite us.
Also, we looked fragile at one point in the second half when Warrington actually brought the game to us. We began making mistakes and giving away penalties. So even with Meli happy on the wing we look a long way from the side people are claiming we look like.
