This definitley happens - where players can't do right for doing wrong. Jack Murphy getting booed for Ashley Gibson missing a high kick which lead to us conceding a try was an obvious example. It also happens in reverse where players get lauded from day one despite being consistently poor. Korkidas being treated like a demi god when he played for us because he punched Ben Westwood in a pre-season friendly - despite the fact he was an error/penalty machine for the rest of the time we had him. People like jumping on an easy bandwagon to look like they know what they are talking about.

That aside, Howarth was dire yesterday and I don't the reaction on this thread (as opposed to people near you in the ground) is based on the general anti-Howarth bandwagon. I think people were willing to wipe the slate clean for the new season and he was praised for his display at Wire in the friendly. However, as others have said his distribution was painfully slow. There was a period when we were on their line before the Hansen try and he consistently gave Smith poor ball that lead to attacks dying before they got going. Noble in his post match interview also pointedly didn't praise Howarth (unlike everyone else he mentioned) and said that Theo etc need to be looked at for next week.

Plus now Simms has left we need someone to blame everything on.

29 tackles, 2 missed tackles according to the SL stats. Could this be a case of you just seeing what you want to see?

Can't disagree. As I've said, I don't think he's a hooker and would much prefer to see Gareth Owen there. I just don't think he gets recognition for what he [idoes[/i do.

I'm no Howarth apologist but know enough about people and perception to know that some comments on here are factually incorect: that's why eye-witness evidence is checked. The stats say a different story. I agree with Red John that some posters have made their mind up before the game.

I also have never posted a criticism of a player that I will not say to his face.

However, "Plus now Simms has left we need someone to blame everything on.": it should not be a player so votes on who?

No.

I did as Walshy states above and gave him a clean sheet for the opening game, I thought he had turned a corner when at Saints and for one bad game I have not given up on him nor do I intend to pre-judge him on his next game. I may have an opinion of him afterwards as I would any player. As I have stated he had a shocker yesterday, you say he was outstanding defensively? He wasn't, missed tackles and the high ball being a perfect example.

That high ball was pretty bad. He didn't even attempt to jump or catch it.

As I posted on another thread Howarth had a shocking game clearly not good enough for super league.

Just watched the highlights on the official site and the pass for their intercept is worse than it looked to me yesterday, and that's saying something. Telegraphed it and didn't even see Godinet who was 2m at most away by the time he threw the ball.

Think some of the criticism of Howarth is a little over the top. To judge a player when he's playing out of position is harsh. On the interception he messed up but this even happens to the best every now and then. Anyone remember Rangi throwing a speculator against us that cost Cas the game?

Throwing a spectacular pass to win you the game is different from a simple 5 yard pass in your own half that is so slow Godinet called it 10 minutes before it happened.

Bad game, needs to accept the criticism and move on.

I'm pretty sure Tommy Lee was playing out of position, not Howarth.

It just seems some people always have to have a player or person at the club to whine about. This time last year it was the young kid on loan from Wigan Jack Murphy. Had the boy come through our academy I doubt he'd have received half the stick he got. For once it would be a refreshing change to talk about the positives rather looking for negatives.

Personally I think the motivation for some is because they want Theo in the 17. I say let Noble do what he's paid to do and pick what he believes to be his best 17 based on what he see's in training and the opposition.

Correct.

I thought the same as you until yesterday, I've changed my mind on the matter now though. Either Gareth Owen or Theo need to be given a crack at interchange hooker after yesterday IMO.



This is going to happen anyway, it's not like we're bombarding Noble's inbox with messages demanding he change his lineup. Well, I wouldn't put it past 1 (3?) particular poster but I think the majority of us are just airing thoughts & opinions on the game.

As for positives, there were definitely plenty I think.

All the talk about how bad we were in the second half and how Wakefield could/should have won remind of of something I've seen said a bit in the past, more from football, about how good teams can still scrape win even when they put in the second best performance on the pitch.

Johnson was solid on the right hand side. He shows great potential IMO. Hansen and Hock for me were the stand out though

It was pleasing to see Tim Smith with two try assists on our right. When we get Rangi back we'll have a real attacking threat on both sides of the field. Another pleasing aspect about yesterday was seeing the forwards drive the ball in hard and straight. Yes I know sometimes it's effective running angles but there are times you just need to make the hard yards.

I can only see us improving with more games.