How did nobody see it coming when the exact same thing has happened for the previous 2 years?

I don't get too excited by boys who seem so clever with hindsight. Hindsight is so cheap, very cheap and so easy.
A trawl through the predictions on this forum really does indicate our true thoughts prior to the game.
I couldn't find a single HKR Win prediction. Most predicted a Wire win by quite a few points.

I thought you started really well, normal barn storming Wire charges down the middle that went so close several times. You’re in a lofty position in the league because usually that is enough to get your noses in front, and more often than not your able to capitalise on that dominance.

Thursday was different, you were up against a side equally driven to keep you out, with a will to do so that was fierce and intense, almost feral. Their will to keep you out was the strongest.

When 6 or 7 consecutive and powerful drives right on the Rovers line were repelled, Wire started to doubt themselves. What do we do now ? This isnt working to plan !!

Compounded by Rovers first piece of real ball in 20 mins leading to a try. When it was time for leadership composure and re-setting the game plan, the leaders who took control were not playing in Primrose and Blue. In fact It was a Rovers side already down on key player s who stood up and re-doubled their efforts to maintain Smiths outstanding game plan.


To be fair Warrington tried everything, but when everything but everything is smothered with extremely intense fast closing down with real power then one got the feeling Wire couldn’t breathe let alone play open rugby.

Sometimes being hot favourites creates a mindset of just focus on attack, on how we get over their line. But when questions were asked the other way round, I’m not sure the defensive elements of Wires training regime were really evident. Wire defence looked like it was reactive rather than planned and organised.

Pretty soon you could see a team playing to a carefully organised plan, and another who’s plan, which normally works, found it wasn’t working after 20 mins and chaos set in.
That’s all that happened, but one has to take a hat off to the winners because they played like lives depended on it. They played as one, and they got what they richly deserved.

Good post, no way price sends us out to attack though. Conservative rugby, set completion and respecting field position. In all fairness to Price the players didn't come close to doing that either.

Just dreadful in all areas, with a coach who has absolutely no idea how to change a game.

The thing that surprised me the most but I was very pleased about was that the Wire spine did not show any invention. Where was the chip over demonstrated by Lewis? Where was the attempted 40/20 from the 20 metre restart tried by Abdull? Admittedly although unsuccessful was disallowed as a controlled restart was required. The attempt demonstrated that when we had difficulty in getting out of our own half something different was required.

I was amazed that Widdop and Williams continued for 80 minutes with plays that on the night were proving unsuccessful. Thanks very much guys!

In the first quarter of an hour both sides could not keep hold of the ball & players were slipping over more than normal. Sky commentators were mentioning "bar of soap". HKR improved, after getting ahead, but Wire had problems all game especially as they were chasing the game. We hadn't had this problem v. Cas, Salford (?? did not see game) and definitely not v. Wigan. In addition we have played well vs. Cats, StH & Wigan in the last few years with same Coaching Team and virtually the same players. It's a tricky one.

Let's be honest ,we have been lacking the x factor from the time of the last days of Smith & in recent years we have served up many stuttering displays . Real roller coaster rugby for the fans. I hope Powell can bring some continuity to the team & step up the use of young ,enthusiastic squad members to refresh the match day core of the team.

Great atmosphere at the Catalans Hull KR game - really feels like an occasion which isn't something you can say about many RL games just lately

Great isn’t it, hope they win tbh.

It's a great atmosphere but it's going to look a little ropey with less than 40k at Old Trafford.

Terrific atmosphere.

Good game from both sides, Hull KR lacked a little composure in the second when 2 scores down. Very brave, very plucky. I hope they improve again next season.

Good luck to Catalans next week, they deserve it this season they've been the best team.

Get yourself there then as a neutral and shout for Catalan. I am.

Leeds get there and I will. I'm not watching Saints lift a title in the flesh thank you very much.

But imagine being there to see them lose yet another Grand Final

You have to risk a little in life sometimes.