Look so much more dangerous with some strike out wide

Thoroughly deserved that. Excellent spectacle, created by Flanagan's stupidity.

a game we were well in control of and then a brain fart causes pandamonium ... we should have been putting this game to bed and run away with it (as a listener)

also what a shock at PO road, never saw that coming

I thought we were very good for 60+ mins and should really have run away with it. Obviously Flanagan will cop for his riciulous sin-bin but I thought our captain again was found wanting in defence. Fax have had success from his defensive efforts every game we've played. Really don't know how he got the sponsors MOM.

We looked so much better with Keyes along with Ryan and Hytchcox on the wings. Neither Grant or DFJ would have finished any of those tries. Sadly Pickersgill failed to take his opportunity at FB.

Thought Pickersgill did ok along with Magrin and Garside.

Can't believe Crossley got mom either, Joe Keyes head and shoulders for me. Looked a total different side with him out there.

Great to have Hitchcox and Keyes back and we looked much more balanced for most of the game. A lot better attitude throughout but jeez I don't think the ref knew what offside at play the ball is. Shocking refereeing.

Honestly thought we were going to bottle that game. For 60 mins we were really good and created some good chances and played with a bit more flare than recent weeks. Flanagan’s sin binning turned the game and Halifax got a bit of a roll on. Their tries were very similar to the ones we conceded in the CC game, we’ve obviously not learnt our lesson there.

Positives were obviously the 2 points but getting Ethan back on the wing and seeing Jy and Keyes back in the starting line up were great to see.

I put a post on here all the way back at the start of the season that Flanagan would cost us some league points with the way he plays. I was nearly proven right today.
I don't want to see him in a Bulls shirt for a long time after that, if ever. He's ooc and I hope we don't offer him a new deal.
Wildie, Doyle and Hallas can cover the hooking position for the rest of this season, then hopefully in 2020 we'll have a new half and Lilley can move to hooker with Wildie and Doyle (Hallas also needs to be released).

Keyes was very classy today, looked threatening every time he had the ball, some lovely timed passes and double-pumps, Halifax looked terrified of what he was going to do. Very unlucky not to score in the second half as well, only denied by a brilliant cover tackle from QLT (who I thought was fantastic for Fax today).

I was also pleasently surprised with Magrin, who put himself about a bit when he was on the pitch and looked hungry.

Couldn't disagree more. Pickersgill was so indecisive all game, especially when the ball went high. There were several occasions where he should have been gobbling a ball up but whether it is a lack of confidence or whatever he just stood there like a statue waiting for his colleagues to do the work for him.

FWIW though, I much prefer Pickersgill at FB and Ethan on the wing - three tries we scored today (Ethan's and both of Hitchcox's) that we wouldn't have scored with DFJ or Grant in the team.

Much better performance and we played some good rugby in the first hour. The finishing for some of those tries was simply fantastic and we've missed some of that quality at times this year. It was hard to believe that Keyes hasn't played a game all year and Hitchcox has been out since early season. Hopefully both players have come out unscathed.

As for the Flanagan brain fart, I think he's probably found wanting a bit at this level despite all his desire and enthusiasm he comes up with some costly mistakes. Thankfully his teammates covered him today but only just. I think when Wildie is fit, he drops out the 17.

Plenty to be positive about if we can keep that backline fit and Keyes/Lilley combo is given some time.

Your analysis of Pickersgill is a complete contrast to
1. the comments made by John Kear in his post match comments
2. The comments made by Andrew Henderson in the Our League commentary.

I thought it was a mixed bag from Pickers, he cleared up some tough kicks but then seemed to dither a little on some others. He probably lacks the pace to cover some positional errors but overall I think we looked much better with Ryan back out on the wing and Pickers at FB. I've heard we've signed a fullback for next year from SL so it seems that Kear recognises it as an area that needs strengthening.

He made some good tackles too, so more positive than negative for me regarding Pickers.

1. Haven't watched but it makes sense that he would do that - the lad has had a bad time of things lately.

2. I listened, and he was by no means complimentary - rather, silent on the issue, actually.

I'll admit that, since I'm not really in the fan club, when he makes an error it probably becomes more amplified than his positives. But he didn't have a good game today by any stretch. Certainly not good enough to be mentioned ahead of Keyes or Lilley.

I think we deserved the 2 points today, a bit worried when Flanagan got the yellow. DFJ was sat in front of us and said he would have needed a step ladder for some of those passes.Glad to see Keyes back, he made a big difference. Also thought Magrin went well.