Looking back at it, it wasn't as bad as you think. Defensively we were sound for the most part. Two tries from uncontested kicks was dissapointing and Ryan Hall showed some class off the ball before walking through Russell & Ratchford. So from that point of view it was ok.

In attack it was a different matter .So many concerns. Brown was just as bad as last year. No plan, the same kick with no purpose, not once on the ground or on the line to test them.

Roberts was more of a concern. That performance was nothing to do with match fitness or new team. Continual blind alleys looking for runners who he'd never spoken to and had no idea what he was doing. His decision making was atrocious. Running at gaps that weren't there and ignoring spaces. BMM our big signing wasn't used properly. Two drives in the first half and a penalty.

Cooper, Goodwin & Philbin (to a degree) stand up and take the applause.

Oh and we never conceded a point when Westwood was on. For all the failings his advancing years bring you could see him organise our defence on our line.

Sitaleki Akauola who's a new forward we've signed. Other than that, no. We have no "real" interchange hooker. However, G King and Philbin I'm fairly happy with. But we are probably 1 decent forward light in the squad.

*Edit Forgot Dom Crosby and Luis Johnson, both forwards - but Johnson and Akauola are unknown quantities, and Crosby hasn't played enough yet.

Here's my random thoughts -

Both teams were rusty. However this was the first game in a long time that I enjoyed watching. Last season was often the case of 2 crap teams battling for who could be the worst. This was better.

On the result, even in our "good" seasons, the Leeds games could always go one way or the other. A 4 point loss to them in any season is not a bad result.

Ratchford and Atkins were poor individually, but it's just one game.

I didn't even notice BMM was on in the first half.

We were't a well-oiled machine by any streach, and things were a little messy in the last 20m, but we didn't look totally clueless in attack like the last few years.

On another day we could have won it. Leeds defended exceptionally well. We were held up and were just short enough times. If we were a little more clinical, we'd have had a few scores. This is something that will get better as the match sharpness comes back.

Roberts will get better as he adjusts to life in SL. Sandow was fairly average in his first game - a heavy loss to Leeds. Roberts' passing was like an arrow.

On that, the whole team's passing has greatly improved.

Goodwin is a fantastic buy.

Cooper is much improved on last year, as was Hill in his short stint. G King and Philbin are coming on nicely too.

I said before the game I expected Myler to struggle as the lead halfback when paired with Moon. He proved me wrong in spades, his kicks for the tires were pinpoint.

Watching Goodwin and Watkins compared to Atkins showed up how one-dimensional he is.

Would I have like'd a rampaging win? Yes. Would I liked to have seen Roberts run rings around everyone? Yes. Is it disapointing to lose? Of course. But as a first game, I'm still just as positive as I was before a ball was kicked. There's improvements to be made for sure, but I still think we'll be in the top 4 come the business end.

bmm has to be used when he is running and not given when standing still!

FROm a neutral point of view think it's pretty harsh on Russell last night, thought he made good yards went looking for work and had a decent game. Kevin brown isn't good enough for wire and a team that wants too challenge at the top! BMM very quiet, Roberts trying to find he's way in as said think he's distribution was top class and shape will come in the next few weeks. For me you need a full back. Mitch brown was good for us good strong returns just lacks a bit of pace but would be a lot better option than ratchford

we were sooooo flat though, whenever we got in their then, leeds defence was like off a shovel out, we were stood pretty flat and it was exacerbated by the slow looping pass from dummy half, the defence was on the first receiver like a flash.

Eh? Am I mistaken or didn’t Leeds score two tries when Westwood came on for Goodwin and Hughes went to centre?

BMM reminds me a bit of Ali Lauitiiti (although I dont think he is in the same class tbf), in that he is a strike weapon who needs to be facilitated with a couple of workhorse backrowers.

Wow Roberts FIRST game, had no warm ups and already being slagged off! The attack undoubtedly needs work but the priority was shoring up the defence and that certainly seems to be coming along.
I think the team will improve significantly, give them time.

Agree
Roberts didn't look fit - But looks a class act to Me
Moon ghosted past him a couple of time
A fully fit Roberts would have gone on his own & not passed to Atkins for the flying pig impression
The gap was there to be taken

You have him then.