Nicholson and Harrison(along with crowther and philbin)were immense today. Williams is playing without a half back partner and we have an old man at centre. Effort was superb today, lack of creativity was the problem.

Considering Burgess fell out with Souths because he wanted one of the world's best players dropped for being out of form, I doubt that he'll be starting Currie ahead of Fitzgibbon. I don't have anything against Currie personally, but he isn't good enough when the chips are down. He's champagne-stuff when we are flat-track bullies, but he's certainly not a Burgess player. I like what I've seen of Fitzgibbon.

Effort should always be there as an absolute minimum. I won't commend them on effort.

Williams is no doubt talented, but for me has massively under performed for us so far. So what do you think he needs in the team to be the superstar he could be?

Depends whether Burgess sees Nicholson as back row or 13? If he’s going to play him 13 then that leaves Currie at 11.

Someone makes this sort of obnoxious comment every time, but most people can recognise a tough, gritty effort where a team runs their blood to water to compete against a bigger, more fancied side.

How is that obnoxious?

In the same way I don't question the effort or will to win I also wouldn't give a big pat on the back. Shouldn't they always try? And I thoroughly believe they all do

I’m not sure the comment was intended that way, more as a “that level of effort was good but should be at that level by default, so I’ll commend things like clever set plays, intelligent rugby, ball control, no silly penalties” etc etc (which obviously we didn’t really show today).

Not good enough but better than last season.

It isn't.

Effort should be there every game. The fact that it hasn't been in all games this season is obnoxious.

Wire tried hard against a better, more organised and confident side who, whilst not at their best, were playing at home. The result was never really in doubt for any significant time and we were never ahead in the game. We never looked particularly threatening and looked vulnerable through the middle (as you would expect with our 2 best forwards out). Best team won.

Yes an improvement on 2022 and just below parity with 2021 and 2020.

Just heard Saints have their appeal in against the MRP already.

See I would never throw lack of effort at them as I personally don't believe that's the case. Lack of composure absolutely, poor decision making yes, and possibly lacking quality. But I completely respect your opinion and enjoy hearing other people's perspectives

Currie is just a scapegoat for disgruntled fans. Someone has to be, but it’s just conscious bias based on Curries reputation and reportedly high wage. He didn’t do anything wrong today, yes there was a call go against him when getting to his feet, but realistically in real season games they are given a penalty and we go in 8-2.

It makes no sense to look at Currie and think that he was to blame today, at all. It’s completely mindless.

The facts are, we signed 6 props (7, if you include McGuire) to add to Philbin in the past two years, and Matty Russell is the most effective ball carrier. So we’re back to the drawing board for the middle unit. They just don’t perform. No platform for the halves to play off, no damage to create room for the backs, no discipline to pin them in their line and win the territory battle. The middle unit is poor, Vaughan aside.

Nothing to do with this but Woolston Rovers won promotion today.