I don't think we are going to get anywhere this season because IMO our squad is totally unbalanced. We have:

NO specialist full back
3 wingers - Richards, Roberts and Ainscough
3 centres - Carmont, Gleeson and Goulding
NO stand offs
2 scrum halves - Sam Tomkins and Smith
5 props - Fielden, Coley, Feka, Precott and O'Carroll
3 hookers - Riddell, McIlorum and Tommy
3 2nd rowers - Hock, Bailey, Hansen and Mossop
2 loose forwards - O'Loughlin and Joel Tomkins
2 utility players - Phelps and Pryce


There are several pushing up from the reserves, most of whom I don't rate physically ready yet: Mark Flanagan, Ben Davies, Liam Farrell etc.

We do seem to be crying out for full back and stand off but, for me our weakness is in the pack. We do seem to be well served in terms of numbers but what is obvious to me is that we lack punch up front. I think playing Warrington tonight proved that, even Barrett would have struggled to impose himself on the dominant Warrington team.

I am quite happy at loose forward with O'Loughlin and Tomkins, but our second row, apart from Hock frightens no one, as does our front row now that other teams now seem to have Feka sorted (and we don't use him properly). We will get precisely nowhere until our pack can consistently get on top, and with the personnel we have I can't see this happening for a while despite ILs current rip to Australia.

A LEADER anywhere on the park would also help.

I am really despondent after tonight's game and can see only more of the same for the foreseeable future.

Am I being too pessimistic?

Liam Farrell & Ben Davies are a million miles away from first team football. Great prospects yes, but nowhere near ready.