This.

I think the Walne's need to step-up this year. They've been given enough game time now to be over the nurturing period and need to start making an impact that doesn't involve giving penalties away. We've got a decent amount of young forwards competing with them this year, so hopefully that will kick their backsides to up their game, or lose out to the younger guys.

Isn't it possible that he'll start with O'Brien at full back ?

What's your reasoning behind that.

Correct me if I'm wrong but GOB isn't a out / out FB, so why would he drop Evalds based on last seasons performances?
Id have thought he's been brought in for his versatility to cover numerous positions during injuries?

Surely the idea of the GOB playing at FB for the two friendlies was to give him some exposure, so that if needed he wasn't just being thrown in the deep end?

Just my thoughts.

I'm not arguing that he should start.
Just thinking out loud,really.
I rate Evalds.

I was impressed with how trim Sa'u looked.

Jones,
Vidot,
Griffin,
Sa'u,
Carney,

Can't think of a bigger back line than that.

That's some back line.

With a back line that size maybe makes sense of the forward pack more, each one of those taking a drive every other set really helps the forwards and in Vidot there's a real battering ram who played at prop for Brisbanes reserve grade.

Just my thought on our lighter forward pack this year is this.

1 Our forward pack is much younger this year and look a lot fitter.

2. We can afford to get 3/4 players into a tackle, to bring down the attacking forwards, get up and get back onside in time to face the next attack.

3. Our back line are going to get more involved with driving the ball forward.

4. The 5 drives and a kick rubbish has ended.

5. We are going to play a more speed game and get the ball out to the and wingers and give the forwards more of a break in attack , and use them more for defence in a pack.

That is my thought on the team this season.

Top six finish for me if we can keep the squad fit enough, and we get more refs call this season than we did last.

I have never seen a Salford side look more organised than they did against Wigan but will they be able to pull it off in a more intense Super League game, I think so.

Early days but Lui looks far more use than Chase.
Sure we won't have the brilliance for 4 matches a season but far more suited to partnering Dobson

As much as Chase was the greatest player I've ever seen in a Salford on his day, I would still rather have Lui for a better overall team chemistry.

From what I've seen from him thus far I am expecting us to get a lot of repeat sets and trys from kicks next season because his grubber kick game is on point.

I read an Australian article a while ago that was pinpointing why Queensland produces so many good HB's in comparison to anywhere else. It was an interesting read, with plenty of input from coaches and people in the game. To cut a long story short, the crux of the matter came down to the fact that kids in Queensland are not 'over-coached' and encouraged to try things and show flair. It isn't long before they become very good readers of play and leads them to produce HB's that control the ebb and flow of games more than anywhere else. I can see these qualities in Robert Lui in abundance. He's a typical Queensland HB product that has talent but also has that ability that is so hard to coach and that's the ability to dictate and make the right decisions at the right time.

We haven't had a HB like him in a very long time.

We'll miss the flair and outrageous ability of Chase, but in return we'll be getting a player that can control a game and offer a lot more than just flashes of brilliance. I'm very happy that we've got him and Chase is just a memory already for me. A good memory on the whole, but still a memory.

From the snippets so far does anyone think Lui is going to have the same affect that Kelly had with KR.

I am excited about seeing him in a fully competitive SL game and think Sheens has pulled a trump card with this signing.

Jones is a very good signing for you. I'm gutted that Saints have lost him to a now failed jaunt down south.
He works very hard and is a capable back row, but is an underrated talent in the centre. Expect to find a surprising amounts of tackle busts and break in the stats reading.

I would confidently say that Jones could be a future Salford captain and, if Sheens and Co manage to keep improving performance, lead your side in a period of relative success.

Spoke to him after the match: sound and friendly character who obviously wants to do well.