Quote Marco-Van-B="Marco-Van-B"This bloke, (one of the greatest half backs to ever play the game), had some scathing views, and we agreed on a lot.
1. Why play a hooker who is finished, at scrum half, when you have a good young half back on the bench?
2. If Tony Smith doesn't like O'Brien, why not let the kid go for the sake of his career?
3. Why did Warrington sign a 34 year old forward?
4. What is Myler's role, either shape the team around him, or ship him out.
5. Monaghan & Westwood as joint captains, whats that about?
6. With no forward platform, and no creativity, it will be a very long season for Warrington.
His final thought was a bit surprising.
7. Wire could do with a few more good hidings to shake Tony Smith out of his comfort zone, and have some pressure put on him.'"
1: Spot on. For my money Michael Monaghan was possibly the best player in SL in 2011 but sadly he has not looked the same since the injury at the end of that season.
2: Possibly too early after Briers' absence to say this, but yes, if GOB doesn't get game time in the months ahead he never will
3: Asostasi is slightly younger than that but the alarm bells which went off in my head when he didn't materialise in the Samoa World Cup squad seemed justified by his performance last night
4: For me Myler can be fantastic in a supporting half back role but isn't a half back who runs a game
5: Spot on again
6: If there is any crumb of comforting thought to be had from last night at least it's that I have seen all the forwards there (except Asotasi obviously) play better for us than that. Given the backline hadn't changed last season's there's still an obvious lack of pace there. Whether Russell and Penney can make a difference without, er, weakening the defence will be interesting.
7: Interesting comment, I'm a big Smith fan but if any complacency has crept in I think he'll be the first to recognise it.