One thing I did find interesting was the presence of a small playmaker for Wire. (Albeit a back up.) I'm told their third in line is very young, very highly rated and vey short by pro RL standards. Are we begining to see the high tackle changes already influencing what clubs look for in terms of height in some positions?

For the work he gets through, I think Butterworth would be the biggest loss of the three. Although I guess with the challenges we are having physically, being the smallest of the three loanees is his downside.

Couldn’t agree more. I heard that Lovell apparently has a 10% ACL tear and apparently Butler didn’t train all week due to the back injury he picked up making that try saving tackle against Wigan, not to mention he’s also had is knee heavily strapped for however many weeks now, no idea what he’s done there.

On the whole, I think we will improve when players are back, it’s just a shame that I think it will be too late by then. We seem too soft defensively on the left especially, don’t run the ball in and play with the intensity required at this level (highlighted massively on Sunday when compared to Warrington)and I don’t feel like we are getting the best out of our better players due the lack of quality else where. Take Butler for example, we know he can be good, he was brilliant for us in 2019, made England knights squad etc etc, but we don’t get the best out of him because he’s having to make up defensively for others and constantly playing when he could do with a week off because we are so thin. He’s in almost every bloody tackle when he’s on the pitch, and then when it comes to go forward, he’s too bloody knackered to do what we need from a middle of his size. Compare his tackle count to the likes of Paul Vaughan and he’s making over double the tackles Vaughan is almost every week…. We get back Bienik, Waine, Sid, etc and I think we will start to come good and get the best out of our better players, But it’ll be round 15 + by then and the season could well be over for us at that point. I do genuinely believe we have a good squad, good enough to be competitive in this league, but just that quality is not deep enough and a couple of injuries ruin us.

One thing I can’t fault is effort. I genuinely believe those lads give it 100% every week.

Yup agreed they are definitely trying and get through a lot of work but they are struggling to make metres.

With with the workload Butler is getting through it’s really difficult. If he breaks down we are in strife. Real shame Bienek has not been fit to take some of the load. Together they are two strong SL standard players. I thought young Rogers did well for us against Wigan but was quieter against Wire. He runs in really hard and makes a real impact but if you watch him just in general play he walks like a 60 year old man. Their bodies really do take punishment which is why they need to be rested now and again.

Thought he played well in both games. Not really sure though how much we can expect from players on two week loans. Feels a bit desperate we are in that position so early in the year. Appreciate it’s really difficult to know whether to stick or twist this season but it’s now three seasons on the spin we have started with a squad which most could see before a ball was played was short in quality and numbers. It really is odd because apart from anything else you only get one chance to make a good first impression and getting decent crowds in to see sub optimal squad is a mistake in my view.

There does seem to be a fitness question mark around Rogers. I believe he is averaging just a third of a match, the lowest of every London player. Arguably the most effective of the Props going forward, but just isn't around to do it often enough.

From what I could tell yesterday he started and went off inside 20 minutes (not unreasonable for a Prop). But I don't believe he returned until less than 10 minutes of the match remaining.