Geoff Clarkson.

Early reasons for optimism:

- The defence was ok, looked reasonably organised.

- The players competed with Leeds for the full 80 mins although they were definitely second best. It wasn't one of those losses where heads drop and players start hiding and waiting for the hooter, letting in soft tries.

- We played the SL champions, and were still in it right till the end - one good play at the end and we could have had a spectacular win which would have created a great atmosphere to start the season.

- Bryson Goodwin looks a good player and tough too.

Sitaleki Akauola.

I hope you are right. We still look clueless in the opposition 20 and we were saying this all last season too.

Optimism - we could be 7th in the league after this round.

We were competitive against the reigning champions. Our star half back has never played in a competitive match with his team mates before (cf Sandow 1st few games).
Ratchford will rarely make that number of errors in a match. Cooper looking more like it, Philbin stepped up. 2 other props to come in and the chances of Hill having to disappear mid way through a match to attend the maternity ward shouldn't happen again for at least another 9 months. Hughes pace AND determination to track back on the weirdly coiffed Hall.
Oh and I really can't see Atkins ever trying to fly again.

we weren't great, but we were fairly solid.. and apart from 2 massive errors from Atkins and Ratchford, we would have possibly won the game... i thought it was a big improvement on last season.

All very good points. I suspect the Hughes track back on Hall is the sort of thing coaches really notice.

Effort the players played to the whistle and diddly loom disinterested. Is biggest reason to be optimistic. I'm not reading too much into the game as a sign if how the season will play out but if that's as bad as it gets this year we should do OK

Interestingly he does slow down and hesitate when he thinks Ratchford is going to make the tackle, he could've made it without that hesitation.

Lesson there is never assume!

Having rewatched the match last night, I've tempered my views of the overall performance somewhat; I stand by what I said regarding Russel, and the sooner Johnson or Mitch Brown replaces him the better, but Hughes was marginally better than I game him credit for. Marginally.

Ovetall though there were plenty of grounds for optimism. Hill was like his old self, Cooper was much better and Goodwin was excellent. Roberts will improve and with more foot-soldiers to boost the pack I'm fairly happy. Fairly.

Next week is a big game though. Huddersfield will be be wounded animal, and our reputation for charity preceeds us these days. Another defeat and we're looking at another poor start breeding anxiety, doubt and fear.

The coaching staff are as much on trial as anyone, so I hope they'll be plenty of fire in every belly.

Not seeing much signs for optimism here

Soon be Christmas