How anyone can possibly stick-up for Howarth after his start to the season is beyond me. I'm not one for slagging players-off generally speaking, but Howarth has come in for deserved criticism. Too slow around the play-the-ball, distribution is poor, tackling is poor (Constant second and third man in tackles only fool the stat whores) no pace, and gives away penalties. He's not the only reason we have been poor as a team, but to have such a crucial role filled with such a mediocre player goes some way to give us an idea.

I really truly wish he'd prove me wrong and get his act together, but I fear this is the only act he has. I'm still puzzled as to why he gets a constant first 17 spot.

Spot on

Spot on, I know we haven't hit our straps as some expected quite yet but he is definately the weak link in the team, keep saying it but if Theo was good enough to be picked for his national team in the world cup at hooker surely he must merit a bench spot in the same position before Howarth. Theo looked dangerous in broken play the other day at Widnes so surely scooting from the ruck when the someone like Tasi has skiktled a few is preferable to Howarth and his 5 second pick up and head high pass to the first receiver.

Correct Bruce goes on all the forums after a reaction. He is definitely the best Troll ever.

I agree, I think Theo would do a better job as an interchange hooker. Let's face it, he's not going to be worse than Howarth now is he?

Howarth's just a scapegoat!!

Shame on you all!!

For all of the chat which has gone before, the sad fact of the matter is that, for the second week running on Sky TV, Salford Red Devils failed to play to their potential. Forget the injuries! The fielded players ought to have been able to make a better fist of it than they did.

So why didn't they? Is the conditioning right? Is the coaching right? Is the motivation right? If you assume that the players themselves have the requisite ability, the fault must lie in one of the above.

Oh, and for the record, while I am led to believe that Howarth is one of the hardest trainers at the club, I don't believe he should ever be used as a hooker. His distribution is far too slow, and dangerous for our players because of that. But where else would anybody play him?

I heard similar things in pre-season, Howarth was training hard and impressing the coaching staff etc. As you say, Howarth isn’t a hooker, never has been and never will be. His distribution is poor and slow. Has he scooted once yet in his spells at 9? So far McShane, Roby and Clarke have all dominated us at the ruck area. In answer to your question, I wouldn’t play him let anyone play him anywhere else. Fact is he isn’t good enough.

You make a valid point re the team’s performance, but you’re forgetting this is a new team. The bulk of the work we would have undertaken in pre-season would have relied vastly upon Rangi & Smith, that partnership lasted no longer than 40 minutes. We’re now having to play two scrum halves at 6 & 7 which isn’t ideal. We look devoid of ideas going forward and whilst I felt Theo and Smith looked better vs Widnes, apart from Theo’s off the cuff play we were still generally poor. Add into that Howarth’s spells at dummy half and you can see why the opposition are scoring more than us.

Other injuries haven’t helped. Rapira, Hock and Griffin have left the forwards lightweight. Meli and Sa’u have disrupted the backline and we haven’t had a settled wing/centre partnership once.

In all honesty, I’m dreading the Warrington the game this Friday which I didn’t think I would. Our defence is a massive cause for concern and I can see the Warrington backs having a field day. My head says Warrington by 22.

why all the negativity? we played well in spells in the widnes game showed some real class at times. Enjoy the ride it will have its ups and downs, Im looking forward to friday and hoping we can turn over an under performing team

It’s difficult not to be at the moment. After all the positives at the back end of the last season/pre-season then to start the season and lose so many key players to injuries.

I have every faith in the group of players we have, the coaching staff and the owner that it will all come good (I always said we’d need 10 weeks to gel) it’s just disappointing/frustrating that we’re enduring the setbacks we are.

Its not difficult. We have had lots of injuries and still won 2 from 4. We are in the top 8 still and the future is very promising. We are always going to have set backs. The players clearly havent fully gelled yet but as i say played only 4 games give it until may when players are back with a good few games under their belts. The devilution will be in full flow.

Think that pretty much nails it, you can't expect 14 virtual strangers in a playing capacity to start off like a house on fire, then to start to lose these players to injury so quickly can only disrupt what you can only imagine would have been carefully orchestrated plans and routines to facilitate the team gelling.

I'll be much more concerned when we are mid way through the season and the same types of results are still happening.

What is a worry though is the possible effect this will have on the psyche of floating (or returning fans) who will look and automatically think same old same old which in reality couldn't be further from the truth.