Chisholm is still coming back from that season ending injury last year.

Physically, he seems to be fine, but with an injury like the one he had, there's always going to be a mental issue on top of the physical. Minds take longer to heal than bodies.

That being said, he's doing a damn good job even at 50%

Given the skinny ten, the fact that off side was poorly policed and the fact the ref had the most random approach to deciding 'held' I think we did ok.

I know there's a lot of gerrum-onside-ers who never shut up shouting for off side, without actually looking at the PTB/defensive line in relation to the pitch marking, but on Friday there were at least 10 occasions where we PTB'd on a line with the defensive line being set 2m inside the ten.

As they were allowed to lie on/prat about at the ptb, by the time the ball hit the ground the defensive line was 7 m away and the marker defence was a square as The Oval it's no wonder we were snuffed out as an attacking threat.

Given the amount of defensive work we gave ourselves in the second half I was pleased with the scoreline.

But I missed how in the second half, in the middle of about 4 sets on our line, the ref gave Newcastle a scum on ten metres when they appeared to have thrown the ball to ground? I thought we would be breached after that.

I don't think it is particularly bashing him its just expecting more out of what is most likely our highest paid player. Look at the bashing George Williams is getting as a marquee paid player, it makes expectation go up. I'm not for any stretch saying its the same situation but playing wise he is our marquee talent. Maybe its a case of in his head he can ghost through against lesser opponents. There does seem to be plenty more gears he can go up, he is a far cry from performing like he did against KR last year. If we are to go up I do think he needs to up his game but maybe thats just it and he is just playing whats in front of him

Its an old adage but you really can only play what is in front of you. If you can win by 30, 40 or 50 points without breaking a sweat then really what is the incentive.

This year was always going to be a catch 22... pretty much brand new team, hybrid pt/ft training arrangements, lower quality opposition and even worse lower quality officiating (I didn't realise it could get any worse after the last 3yrs).

I'd be happy to see out this year with promotion and take it as a learning curve. The team will have to drastically change next year and I think it will. Then the real hard work will begin as Championship sides will not be as friendly as what we have witnessed this year.

Watching the highlights makes it seem like the Dane Chisholm showhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v

I thought we played well against a defensively strong Newcastle team. Onwards and upwards!