I too noticed how gobby that Welsby was.

He’s certainly very easy to dislike but I have a sneaking suspicion that in reality he’s OK. The one that gets me is Makinson he’s very intense/Uber competitive a la G Neville and K Sinfield. Or to put it another way he walks around with a face like a smacked ar##.

It’s early doors but I thought Leyland, Lovell and Storey did well. Everyone worked really hard from Parata who got through a lot of work to Davies when he came on. We’ll need that effort. On the downside. That left edge of Macani and Miloudi is a permanent worry and, generally I’m not sure Miloudi is who we need. Seems a lovely fella and has X factor but I suspect he’ll throw away quite a few points- points we will desperately need. As for Kennedy I’m hoping he’s just made a slowish start. As an experienced player and one of only two SL recruits (unbelievably) He seems to be too big to bring his man down and his desire to offload at every occasion, whilst laudable is a recipe for disaster if today was anything to go by. Campo and Meadows did Ok generally but I think we need a little more in defence from the latter and yet again we seem bereft of a dead ball specialist. Campo’s effort for two points was Coates-esq. And that drop out by Oli was bobbins. I just don’t think he has the gun for it. Converting tries will be important but yet again we appear not to have chances on anyone who is really reliable. Leyland is a serious minded chap clearly and works hard to improve but I’m yet to be convinced he’s the answer to our who should kick for two points conundrum.

The lads did ok given so many were p/t last season & some still are against a top SL side.

Oli very good under the high ball for a small fella but neither the speed nor strength to make that really count.

Found the commentary team particularly irksome with some fairly inane comments.

No doubt it will be tough again next Friday in front of a supposedly packed Plough Lane, so let's hope we have no more injuries.

Some good summaries of the game. We weren't bad considering the squad we have.

It's just a shame we're not looking likely to be competitive this season. Danny Ward's team beat St Helen's twice in 2019.

Not to take anything away, but those results were both at home and Saints fielded "rotated" teams.

I thought miloudi did OK, he worked hard and even when looked like he was injured he didn't shirk. Him and macanni need to click though. That left edge combo was shocking last year but mainly due to winger positioning, that could be poor comms or not trusting the guy inside you

Firstly, St Helens took it for granted that they could roll us over and it did not work out for them.

Secondly, Not only did it not work out for them once, they did it a second time and they failed again.

Thirdly, Our team at that time were not mugs. Wigan and Leeds both learned that the hard way, St Helens came to the same conclusion but twice. Perhaps they are a bit slow up there.

Oli must be the smallest fella on the pitch so to have him as FB seems completely counter intuitive but he did well. Having said that IIRC he was only challenged in the air twice and he won both times although to me seemed to be fouled the second time.
To give Barry due credit, the worst I’ve heard was on our league where Robbie Hunter Paul and a regional BBC ? female commentator (not ex WSL) who just blathered on the entire time. Really took away from the game. Barry’s points of interest to things said ratio is appalling and he really would benefit from letting the game breathe.

Things will become clearer when we play lesser opposition. Worth saying as well, that despite offering very little threat, a straightforward pass from Miloudi would have sent Macani in and if Welsby hadn’t made a strong last ditch tackle/ Miloudi not made a mess of it we would have scored again. The score line wouldn’t have been an accurate reflection of the relative merits of the two teams but 3 tries away to Saints would have been nothing to sneeze at.

And although they rested a few they were still knee deep in quality players.

Indeed. That Danny Ward side was IMO the best [iteam[/i we have had. Way more than the sum of its parts.

By comparison, Cake's sides often seem disjointed and rely on quality players to get them to tick.