we weren't good, we lost as a result, hope the injured lads make a quick recovery

good support as usual from the usual few hundred, roll on next week

Grix, suspected dislocated shoulder
Brough, Dead leg.

I wouldn't worry too much about tonight. The weather was so bad that the first half was a write off. Saints scored three tries (I think) from kicks, which gave you lot a big mountain to climb. You looked impressive in spells but Saints had a heavier team and it wasn't the ideal conditions to chase a game. You'll be fine.

Was a rather good start. We were kicking long and turning saints around. Although not managing to hold the ball in field. Defence was rather good and we managed to stop many meters being made in the first half.
Some frustration in attack the line depth. The questions of a second phase were not there as we were too flat. Dummy runners and the big lads crashing onto the ball when we had managed to get close to saints line just was not being Utilised.
Discipline however wasn't right again. An on going theme of our recent years! Decent kick, good chase, some decent line speed in the first few tackles and give up a pen! A lot of the early yardage for saints came from this. Second halfb saints came out and the tackles that stuck in the first half weren't in the second. Fatigue on our part and a more determined effort from there boys I feel.
Losing brough we were still be able to create some things but players across the park were out of there usual position. So the fluidity suffered.
Was a few good moments in there! Second half Ellis on the 5th shaping to kick and giving a blind pass to a rampaging Ollie Roberts who made a very good effort at the saints line. Connor managing another 40 - 20! Leroy running hard back at the line when covering at full back.
Saints overall the better team but that last night was not our A game and we have a load of improvement in us! Keeping the faith as to be fair it is round one at one of the best sides, away from home, in the worst kind of weather, with all kinds if injuries!
So roll on Wigan! Coyg

Thought both sides were poor but in those conditions it was hardly going to be a classic. We looked ok in spells but absolutely shocking in others.
Didn't help losing 2 of our most experienced players during the game though.

What did please me was the performance and attitude of the young uns....i thought Roberts, Connor and Leeming especially showed up well and Rapira will be a monster for us. No need to panic though it was game 1 !!

Well I hope that's us for injuries,6 already and we have played 1 league game. Coincidence maybe, but getting rid of someome who knows rugby league inside out in Greg Brown and replacing him with a winter Olympics strength and conditioning coach seems a strange choice.

Going to be some shuffling if Brough is out now, in the off season we had Connor there to cover centre, full back and stand off, now potentially we need replacements for all 3!?

Thought we looked ok in patches last night, we still lack composure in key areas and other than the scrum play for murphys try, our set plays are pretty woeful, or at least they weren't tailored to the conditions.

Thought all the young lads stepped up, Leeming was lively, Connor has the most rounded skill set in the team and Josh Johnson ran his blood to water when he was on - all played with desire and tackles about there weight.

Thought Larne put himself about in defence and if we keep Rapira fit we have signed a very good forward.

Not too down about the team performance as a whole, just really concerned about our depth and the number of injuries at a time when all our players should be well rested and ready to go.

Agreed with all the above, Rapira is a good 'un. Thought larnes defence had geatly improved, let's me honest a win last night would have been a bit of a surprise. I would think anymore injuries before easter though and signings would become a must. Grix might be out for a while. And to the guy stoid behind me that got it into his head the team was fat in the second half, particularly smurph, you know nothing pal. They looked fit to me, smurph no different than last year, fittest they've been according to Thorman. down to 15 in those conditions l thought we stood up pretty well and you should get behind your team instead of slagging them off in the first game of the season.

Poor game plan, the weather was poor but one up up the middle against a big pack was never going to do it. Our outside edge didn't receive the ball out wide and our second phase runners didn't materialise.


However.
Discipline. Cost. Us.

Same story as last season. Piggy back the opposition up field, give them metres they haven't had to work for, in the meanwhile kicking early in the tackle count.
Less possession+ less field position= loss.

Some pleasing stats from players who we really needed to step up. 44 tackles and 7m per carry from larne, Ollie Roberts 28 tackles and Ovwr 12m per carry(mostly from that fabulous break- what a shame he didn't kick it!) Bruno 23 tackles and 9m per carry- great improvement in going forward. Hinchcliffe 39 tackles, Johnson 33 tackles.
Can't fault the hard work I don't think.

bad discipline again from us, connor to the fore on that front in the first half , saints scoring from pens.

we showed some good flashes of rugby in parts but all undone by above.

walsh had a great game and kicked us to death.. how many did they score off kicks!

rapira went well for us.

patrick....the knock on king!!! even a season at wigan hasnt sorted this persistent problem he has to hold onto the ball

injuries mounting up, well done the new backroom staff.. good start to the new regime

We were and yes he is.

Not too downbeat.

Conditions were biblical 1st half, where I thought we were in it, and looked forceful down the middle and in fits and starts looked like putting a few things together. We ran out of steam in second half, with hard 1st half and reshuffles catching up with us. Added into the fact that saints, despite not being vintage are still a top drawer side.

Rapira looks quality. Did more minutes than I expected, ran it in hard, showed good hands a few times and looked settled in in game 1.

Hinchcliffe looked steady, and involved throughout. He'll improve as he works on the plays more and more, and our lot learn what runs etc he likes.

Some plus points from the usual, and nothing to worry about too much. We look much better prepped than start of last season anyway. We've been lucky with injuries for a while now, so we need to roll up our sleeves and crack on. All the young ups stepped up well.

I think we can hit top 6 by end of regular season, and as long as we're within touching distance of top 4, could get a crack at OT. I'd settle for that. Hinchcliffe will be worth his weight in gold at crunch time of season. If we can add some quality depth through the season (I'd take a real good centre), and give the likes of Connor, leeming, Simpson, Johnson, Roberts and mason real game time we'll be in fine fettle. Oh and a cup run would be nice.

Good away following, with decent atmosphere again

We have to be in the top 4 to have a crack not within touching distance !!

Good post though, summed up perfectly, no need for knee jerks !