Widnes (H) Challenge Cup

I don't think we have been as poor as yesterday since the away game at Keighley last year. That was a combination of us being very poor and Cougars being very good.

That was not the case against Widnes. Apart from being well marshalled around the field by Gilmore, I don't think Widnes particularly offered anything that we shouldn't have been able to overcome, We lost purely down to how bad we were.

Whilst the warning signs were there from the start in terms of lack of creativity, the key turning point for me was the loss of Doro. From that point, instead of being camped inside their 30m we ended up losing ground and momentum which ended with us playing in our own half for the rest of the game.

Clearly injuries and absences are causing us issues. Three months ago we would have expected Holmes, Blackmore, Gaskell, Scurr and England to be in the starting 17. McGowan has been more than a capable replacement at full back, but we have lacked the strength in depth to cover the other losses.

Lilley's deficiencies as a half back are exposed when he doesn't have a Gaskell alongside him to take that weight off his shoulders. Who ever chose him as MOTM wants their head examining. And As much as I appreciate Billy Jowett's enthusiasm, he is not a half back in any shape or form.

Flanagan and Hallas... why are they getting a game??? Neither offer anything other than being lazy, sluggish and penalty conceding machines. Last week I did think Hallas had turned a corner but he was back to his normal self on Sunday.

How bad is Dan Smith? I thought Ant Walker and Levy Nzoungou lacked mobility but this guy takes it to a whole new level. I thought they announced a Super League prop... more like Super League Pudding!!! Someone please put him on a diet and get him fit.

I really hope to see something different against Swinton. A real positive for me would be to give some of the younger lads a run to show what they can do. Give Barraclough a go at hooker instead of GFS, the kid is decent and needs a run. I'd say the same for Jamie Gill. That lad is an absolute unit and doesn't take a backward step. Also where the hell as Eliot Peposhi gone?

Put Myers back to centre, Oakes or Scurr on wing and Arundel to SR (which actually suited him better last season) with Davies as 13. I doubt this will happen though and we will see a virtually unchanged side apart from those newly injured or suspended.

My only hope right now is that we end up picking up some decent re-enforcements after the Easter period in a similar way we did last year. Tuafoa, Gaskell, Baitieri and Segeyaro all joined late and offered a great deal. I'm sure we could do the same again with some clever recruitment.