I'd describe that performance as gutsy & courageous but blunt.  We should have put the game to bed several times given our possession in the second half.  I expected a higher score against us so I'm pleased in that sense but we lacked a cutting edge in the opposition 10.  The test for me is how we back up from this, we have a chance to put a decent run together before playing Wigan on 8th August although Leeds will be very difficult next week.  Be interesting to see the mentality and how we cope without Dufty.

Agreed. There was only one borderline decision between defeat and today's game going down as an epic defensive performance like 2019 against Saints.

We made a few mistakes, as did they, we had an excellent kicking game - best I've seen from us in a big game since Briers was here.


We find it hard to score tries because we don't have enough game breakers but the organisation in defence and general effort was excellent.

Anyone who believes anything about the BBC, are mad.

Obviously the conditions blunted both attacks. The fact that both sides scored one lucky try from a kick says a lot. I don't think we should be too critical of our lads not scoring with the pressure they had in the second half. Individuals like Hiku & Lewis and Williams & Dufty were easy to keep quiet & found it difficult to create. The boys' effort was superb &  it was such a different game of rugby, because of the weather & the occasion, to anything we've seen all season.  

None of us expected our pack to more than match theirs but we really took it to them physically. Agree about lack of gamebrakers. Both centres have their strengths but lack pace and guile. The problem is we can’t bring that intensity week in week out.

No team can play with that intensity every week. 

Hard luck Wire. Cannot fault the effort as the players were clearly committed to the cause. Had enough possession to win. Let's hope our season isnt over and we can react positively and kick on in the league. 

Very proud of how the team performed today, they simply couldn't have done any more. It's been a long journey home but I wore my P&B with pride.


I'm glad it didn't become a story of King or Williams playing injured and the risk not paying off - both were clearly in good physical condition even if the conditions meant Williams (like Dufty, Lewis, Hiku, etc) couldn't quite split open the defence.

When did we have teams that brought real week in week out intensity?

Price's first season (2018 )


The peak TS years (2010-13) when people on this forum used to say we were putting in too much during the season and needed to learn to peak at the end like Leeds and Wigan


The last year at Wilderspool under Cullen (2003)


The Jonathan Davies years (1993-95)


Early Brian Johnson era when we had Des Drummond (1989-91)


Any others? Or am I looking at some of those teams through rose tinted glasses?

I seriously don't think any team can play with that sort of intensity every week. The current Wigan team definitely doesn't and they quite often have off days and one or two of their stars helps them out. I think we are imagining things if we think we played high intensity 100% of the time in say the Briers era. That game yesterday will take some getting over. The fact that we have had three broken eye sockets this year says a lot ... we are a very physically motivated team.
The game may not be as dirty as it was but it is still very tough. Leeds, who are a very physical side, will be licking their lips whilst watching the final.

We can question the validity of the try until the cows come home, the true focus point as a club is that for a stint of 20 mins we had repeat set after repeat set in their half and got nothing out of it. We even got away with messing up their drop out and giving them an escape route.


KR defence was solid and our creativity was lacking, though conditions and event clearly didn't help. We had about 18-19 foot of man on our left edge but never set up for an aggressive cross field kick in my mind.


It was a good game of territory from us and in other scenarios, Lindop puts that ball dead, we take 30 seconds to drop out and soak up their last set. Proper finals footie without the results. Hard lines