I thought we were generally poor with the ball. Bar the odd moment like the Currie pass to Ratchford we were pretty stale to watch. And very scrappy. Getting bored of Hill moaning at the ref (just play the game Chris) and some of our passing at centre left a lot to be desired. But we played with much higher intensity which was good to see.

Defensively we were excellent.

Russell made a few errors but he also made a lot of metres, including a clean break from a standing start near the end where we were pinned down in our own end. The criticism of him is borderline hysteria.

We had two tries wrongly disallowed: one on the left when Currie was called for a forward pass that wasn't, and the utterly mystifying one where we got penalised because Inu slapped Currie. If either of those had been awarded we would have wrapped the game up more comfortably.

I was pleased with the performance but, until we get some creativity, we are going to struggle to produce the 4-5 tries you need to beat the best sides.

Russell’s strength is in kick returns and broken play, and he’s very good at it. I just feel that his negatives need a bit of work and it’s worth trying Brown there, who has a better all-round game, is more versatile across the back line, but admittedly is not as explosive. M Brown looked good in the pre-season games both on the wing and filling in at centre.

Ratchford was very clever at Fullback last night. I’m not convinced how he’d go at first receiver in the halves as he’s struggled to take responsibility there in the past. However that was the Smith era and Price might inspire him to better things. We’ll see when Brown retires at the end of the season.

Russell did a huge amount of work. Possibly as a result of using a 2 man bench for a lot of the match. The pub error I would put down to being knackered. Still he is this seasons scapegoat and will get no credit in some quarters. I do wonder. Which other winger that is in the squad is a better option (based on evidence rather than “abR” ...anyone but Russell). Brown not even in the squad and seem to recall Price has coached him previously.

"Cometh forward the front row!"

Cooper probably had one of his best games as a Wire. He looked a presence, bigger.
Hill didn't give away a cheap penalty tonight.
Crosby was solid in defence and invited 3 men to stop him as he took the ball in.
Clark did 80 minutes...at friggin last, I'm not a fan of TS mandatory 20 mins rest. If he shows signs of fatigued then yes, but to sub off SL's highest paid 9 for nothing other than fatigue or poor play is a waste of money.

The pack guys together made every back look great bar one, who was guilty of trying too hard and doing stuff he didn't have too, I don't need to mention him there's enough doing already. I'll give him a break as he didn't contribute to a loss....Plenty room for improvement in the backs if this front row holds out for sure, and will back rowers confidence too...Like Hughes, who got flak off so many people, he didn't have to try to do everything where the front row lacked and look calamitous.

FOR 2/3 YEARS WE'VE SAID OVER AND OVER THE PACK IS TOO LIGHT not enough biff, I for one have been saying it til I'm sick of saying it.
...the board have listened where TS didn't...we get BBM fit a Akauola up to match fitness for Westwood then it finally 'won't be our year'!

We're ready for Wigan now...a small improvement on vs Widnes will be enough for a home win. Wire was better than the scoreline suggests too. I'm happy.

COYW.

I don't care if we're boring to watch for a few weeks/months and the attack is, understandably, rusty for a while as long as the defence continues to be strong as it was last night. Good defence and good attitude - as long as they keep being present we'll be alright and get better and better.

I too was impressed with Crosby considering he hasn’t really played over the last 12 months or so. Was expecting little impact from him and a lot of errors.

Once Akauola is back, along with Crosby our pack looks a little more imposing. Hughes deserve some credit for a good performance last night too - the try that should have been showed he has some pace too.

turned it off after 20 mins and did some crypto trading instead... checked the result about 10 mins ago

bored of rugby league now i think.

Not hysteria.The man has been given chance after chance + still makes a load of cock ups every game.Deserves to be dropped.

My opinion of Russell has been formed over many months of watching him. The fact that last night he knocked on at the PTB wasn't an issue for me, it happens. His inability to finish was a worry, however my concern is mainly focused on his lack of impact at the try line. The kick to the corner where he got bounced in mid air by the Widnes young winger sums it up for me. He's not good enough and we should be out of the Smith era of nostalgia. I want this club to win trophies and i doubt we will with Russell on the wing, he simply isn't good enough.

Compare him with every winger in the top 4-6 teams and he's bottom choice, we shouldn't accept that just because someone gave him a 25 year contract!!

Fair enough, but unfortunately it seems there is no one better in the squad (which is a whole other issue) as I can’t see Price ruining his chances as coach out of sentiment for a winger he hardly knows.

Regards Matt he is better than that vs Widnes.
However it's time to invite Mitch Brown into the 17.
.... but in Mattys defence is it any coincidence every winger gets poor outside of Atkins? Look at Lineham now! RA is great at what he does but I'd dread being outside him.

stop trying to blame Atkins for everyone else's deficiencies.

Lineham was crap in his first season in the right wing due to lack of effort, and before he got moves to left wing.

Russell has been bobbins wherever he's played and Atkins has been nowhere near him.

Atkins unwillingness to pass has nothing to do with Russell not being to catch it hold on to a ball, or hiS judgement.

Chris Riley scored 100 odd tries playing outside Atkins.

spot on..why pass when he.ll only drop it

...and Smith let him go and he was eventually replaced by Russell.

Riley was no world beater but he had a better all round game IMO. Although Russell does kick returns better and is stronger from dummy half, which suited Smith’s style of play.

I’m not one of the anti-Russell gang but I can’t help agree their arguments at this present time. Certainly wouldn’t do any harm to try Brown there knowing the speed of Wigan’s wingers. Marshall could have a field day again.

But my point is how do you know that Brown will do a better job? It’s possible that he could do a worse job. Price sees them both day in, day out, if he thought Brown was better he would have him in, he holds no sentiment for any player after 3 games. It’s a bit like when there were calls for Prell to play from people who have never seen him in action.

Just watched the game again which is always useful.

I couldn't help watching Matty Russell after the comments on the forum. He lost the ball in the tackle early on. He dropped a high ball in the first half ... which was very difficult and anybody could have dropped and he cocked up a play the ball towards the end of the game. He looked a handful and made useful yards several times and made a super run in the 75th minute.
He does tend to really rush to play the ball and he probably ought to slow down a bit to ensure he plays it correctly. He needs to relax.
As usual weaknesses of our players do get wildly exaggerated. We watch our players so closely so we spot weaknesses but often fail to see similar problems with other teams.

I'll just go and get my tin hat.

Bumped off a 50/50 ball mid air by a winger with 1 SL game under his belt. Lack of finishing in the corner.

It's not about looking at Russell one game at a time, it's about performance's over the last X months. He isn't good enough to be a top 4 winger. Why should we, as fans, settle for it? He isn't a kick option and he's not someone I'd look to get the ball to on the 6th tackle. He's also not someone in want chasing back to stop a game changing try. I want my winger to score and prevent tries. He does neither.

I'll stop posting about him now, for my own sanity!!!

I think your right. I got flak for seeing something akin.
I did say he hasn't contributed to a loss.
I do think it's good time to try Mitch Brown though. FMC gave his counter post and makes a fair case that I can't argue with.

Matt Russell has scored 30 tries in 4 seasons at Wire, which is an average of less than 8 tries per season.

Just NOT good enough, for any team that has ambitions to win trophies

This is at the heart of the issue. As a kick returner or scooter he is very good. As a winger he is not.

Boss Hog has made one of the most valid points over the last couple of weeks on the issue of Russell. 8 try's a year isn't good enough . Marshal got four against us in 1 game. We need to find an alternative if we are to push on for top 4.

I think he got 7 in 180 mins against us last season?

I'm not a fan of Russell but he does return a kick well assuming he doesn't knock it on. But that isn't really what I want from a winger. I want someone who is great under a high ball in attack and defence - Russell isn't. I want someone who can break a tackle and get away from the defence - Russell can't. I want someone who can create excitement and beat a man - Russell can't. I want someone who can score 15+ tries a season even with poor service - the good wingers can manage to do this - Russell can't.

He tries hard and I can't fault his work ethic but that isn't enough for a team that wants to be higher than the middle 8's.