It seems there is a bit of a misconception around our pack. Whenever you lot are moaning about needing signings, most of them are centres, wingers and halfbacks. I've watched the Hull game again three times now as our Sky planner was taping two other shows for the Mrs. What strikes me is how easily our pack was beaten, it really was demolished. AND that Hull pack was missing arguably it's best two players in Pritchard and Manu. Our pack is a myth.

Alex Walmsley's season is a big concern for me. His body language is terrible and his impact, whilst it would be impressive for most players, is an absolute mile off what it was last season. I can only think of the Warrington away game where he's really stepped up and got on top of a quality pack. I've suggested a few times that he needs a couple of weeks off to re-energise and I hope that's all it is. If he's been playing injured all season then it's just stupidity. Note, not criticising him, he's a great player but he doesn't seem the happy chap he was last season and he's not having the impact he was either.

Kyle Amor is another player I've got a lot of time for, like Alex. He's a workhorse and invaluable to the team. But against Hull, like against Wigan and Catalans he was bullied and dominated by bigger, more aggressive players.

Robes, whilst still a high quality player is on his way down from the stratosphere in terms of performance. It's inevitable when he's played so many minutes for so many years and I would never criticise a legend like Robes. But the club has again failed to plan for his decline and IMO he's arguably not in the top 3 English hookers currently. He's been the rock of our pack for years and with the rest of the pack so weak currently it's getting hard.

Wilkin and Vea. Both have their good moments with the ball, but both are defensive nightmares. Between them they cost us probably 3 or 4 tries a game recently, which is unacceptable. Both should be going at the end of the season, but I suspect it'll be cheaper to keep them, so they'll stay.

LMS has his critics, but I love him so won't criticise him. He deserves a new deal, despite his failings. He's easily the fittest, fastest big man in Super League and with a proper front row set would be a great weapon. What happens now is he's trying to do too much in the wrong areas to make a difference. Tasi I won't even mention as he doesn't warrant it.

What I think the club needs is a new backrow. I'd sign one big monster prop and one backrower and promote from within for the other positions. The likes of Morgan Knowles, Luke Thompson and Andre Savelio should be playing over Richards, Vea, Tasi and Wilkin. Is Nzongou a prospect? Get him in, along with any other senior academy players who have a chance of improving us.

Amor's a very good player. Wouldn't quite make the England squad even when on form, but an excellent starting prop and good enough for a team wanting to win silverware.

However, he can't do it all by himself. With Walmsley off tilt, our two bench props in Tasi and Richards (while Sav and Thompson are injured) being plodders at best. He genrally still scores very well on stats, which I like to look at for props.

The back row is a muddle. Wilkin is rocks or diamonds, he comes up with some big runs, but then does some pretty woeful stuff, which includes crazy misjudgements in defence and nothing kicks on the 3rd.
Regard a high tackle count, that's bread and butter for a back row - you'll always find a back row capable of that. We've let go Flash, Ashurst, Dixon & Walker who could all have matched him on that. I'm pretty sure morgan Knowles could, too.

Whilst I have time for LMS, he doesn't know the hell he's doing, most of the time, meaning he is intermittently effective.

The mainthing for me is the TEAM fundamentals.
1. We don't get a roll on our sets on tackles 1 and 2, which is mostly the responsibility of the wingers. Swift's alright at it, but we generally lack size in the back 3.
2. We do not control the ruck speed in either attack or defence.
3. Our defensive line is slow.
4. Whilst we seem to favour a forwards based game, we don't play an offloading game, meaning we don't ever look dangerous.
5. Our controlling half floats in and out of the game.
6. Our backs moves are lateral and easy to predict - look how easily Hudds defended their line despite how much possession we had in their 20.
7. Dubious judgement when it comes to kicking early in the tackle.

Once those 7 points have taken effect, the game is an uphill struggle and then indiviuals start to struggle with basics, includoing falling off 1 on 1 tackles.

All valid points, which in coaching terms is an easy fix, what's annoying me most is this lazy attitude and approach to games that neither creates intensity or momentum. We never take the game to the opposition
for longer periods and seem to invite the other team to get on the front foot.

Another negative is time wasting which I assume is to get a bit of a rest to conserve energy levels, Walsh takes an age to complete a penalty to touch letting the opposition have a breather and setting the line, he also
gets no distance on his kicks equivalent to wasting 1 or 2 wasted drives.

Last season and this season we are mentally very weak, Wilkin is not a natural leader when the going gets tough and we seem to go into capitulation mode more this season, which for fans is not acceptable.

Get your point but don't agree about the International bit - he could IMHO be in contention and he should but his development has been stunted - if ever a player would benefit from a spell in the NRL it's Amor, he just needs the push. Won't happen though.

Yeah, but its probably Englands strongest position, along with hooker. Graham, Burgesses and Hill would all stand in his way.

He's not big enough to play international rugby. He gets dominated to much at club level.

He used to have good footwork at the line but that's gone.