I think we're getting much nearer to where we need to be. You can just sense this team is getting close to finding the level of performance you would expect from them.

I bet yesterday was the quietest it's been throughout a game at the Jungle all year. OK they can say they made too many errors and didn't play well but I'd like to think we had a bearing on that.

I would suggest loaning that young full back to us next season. Agreed with red John that he was motm. I don't agree that there isn't much between the 2 sides in general though. We were utter foul yesterday, void of intelligence at times, I'd agree and say we didn't deserve to win. We are so much better then yesterday as we have shown this year, have you guys shown that? With that being said I'm sure you'll improve bucket loads next year.

Supporters of a few teams we've played recently have complained that they can play better than that. The common denominator is you've been playing us. Our defence has improved massively under Iestyn, and we're stifling teams. You play as well as the opposition let you, and we're not letting teams play well at the moment. Once our attack improves, we'll see a huge improvement in our fortunes.

As for letting Niall go on loan to you...nah. Look what happened last time we let you play with one of our players. You squealed like wounded pigs when it was time for him to go home. Although I'll be disppointed to see Marc go, it will entirely be because he's a home grown player. Aside from his kicking game, I think Rangi is the more creative half-back. Niall Evalds, though, is the real deal. Letting him go would be just dumb.

Well what will happen to him? Is he friends with Marc? I've been quite philosophical about sneyds future but he seemed damn happy yesterday. I do feel for the lad at full back because naturally Locke will slot in there. Obviously I was joking about him being loaned to us!

Again, agreed...........are we related?

Evalds is only a kid, he'll learn a hell of a lot playing under Kevin Locke. He's been outstanding since being given the chance. He plays just as well at half back (his natural position apparantly) and wing.

Like I said earlier, the commentary on the Red Devils app mentioned no issues with the time and gave the exact number of minutes and seconds left during the last 5 minutes. While maybe not as natural a commentator as a 'professional', I think they did a much better job than they do on GMR in that they actually tell you what's going on in the game. On GMR often they'll go off on a tangent and miss about three sets before telling you someone's scored which becomes really frustrating.

Been impressed by what I've seen of Evalds. My only minor criticism of him is that when he's returning the ball sometimes he seems a bit apprehensive and dances about when he should just use pace to get those extra metres before he's met by the chasing defenders.

I'd say evalds is undroppable at the moment so when locke comes I'd have a Backline of

Locke
Johnson
Caton-brown
Sau
Evalds

Looks like our best back line, I'd say meli/MCB/griffin are all fighting for that last centre spot.

How did griffin go yesterday? I didn't get to the match, he sounded involved in a lot of stuff though?

With all the knocking of Dearden/GMR and our fans posting that probably didn't attend on this thread, our coach seems to have his own view on the matter and he was there.

[i"I don't think Castleford could break us down until that final play, but I don't know where all that extra time came from."[/i

Well said!

While I agree it's hard to see where those extra minutes came from, it's the idea that there's some sort of conspiracy against us that I find hard to agree with; the idea that the timekeepers fiddled it so that Cas could snatch a victory. That's Manchester United stuff.

Speaking of daft conspiracy theories, over on TotalRL, one Swinton fan has speculated that we've brought Ian Watson over now in order to help ensure Swinton get relegated. I think even Mulder and Scully would file that one in the round filing cabinet.