Wigan try Matty russell

6-6 half time

Wigan 12 hull kr 6 pat try and conv

Baby Josh try in the corner.

Pat Try 77 mins...

4 to 1.

Great performance considering the line ups.

22-6

Sounds like a typical (recent) Hull KR-Wigan Clash, they dominate for about 15 minutes in any stage of the match, us the rest.

Pretty good blowout that.

First 30 minutes was pretty lackluster going forward but we were decent (with the exception of the try) in defense. KR did most of the running and had a much better shape than us. After the Russell try before the HT hooter we pretty much dominated and looked a much better side.

As for the new boys and young lads

Gelling - got to say i am quite impressed. He looked very lively throughout and made a very good break knocking over a few men and dodging a few tacklers. Defiantly has potential. Looked knackered at full time and seemed to have been struck with cramp in the latter stages (which is to be expected).

Dudson - Looked big and was relativity busy whilst on the park. Lots of effort in defense but was put on his backside a couple of times going forward. Stacks of potential and a good work rate.

Flower - MOM for my money. Very quick for a forward and ran the ball in with real intent. Was constantly hunting the big shot in defense. Of all the signings made, he was the one i was least exited about, If he carries on like that we will have a very good forward on our hands.

Russell - Had a real stinker of a first half and made a plenty on unforced and silly errors. Scored the try just before the break and it really settled him. Made a cracking break in the second half and looks to have stacks of pace. Day and night performance pre and post try.

Powell - one word about his performance and that's composure. Looked very assured with ball in hand and never got flustered. Showed a few nice touches and can throw one hell of a left to right pass. Decent game.

Hughes - Plays like a baby Gaz Hock. Really aggressive young lad who was in his element down the left flank. Of all the youngsters today, he was the one that left the biggest impression. Rough round the edges but very impressive non the less.

Logan T - did nothing wrong, but never shone. Decent distribution but i cant really remember him doing much.

Lauaki - Got to be said that he had good hands for a big lad and i am pretty sure it was his pass to Goulding that set up the Russell try. A bit of a plodder tbh, but then so where a few of our forwards. Hurt his right arm / wrist (i think) midway in to the 2nd and came off.

Tom Spencer (i think it was him?, number 33?) - had about 15 minutes and went ok. Thats the first time i have seen him in the flesh, but he is one BIG lad . We might have the biggest pack in the league next year with the size of some of these lads.

Good blowout, average performance in attack but good in defense. Nice that we could actually kill the games off and ran a few in against a KR team that started well, but where blowing by the 2nd.

7 out of 10 with plenty of promise and plenty to work on

Edit - it was Powell and not Mellor at half back?

A minor point, but the bit in bold is one of Powell's best attributes. Most players are right handed and are more comfortable passing to the left. Deacon, for all his qualities, was downright awful passing to his right and that made it harder to build good attacking moves down the right.
Powell's ability to pass very well in both directions is brilliant and added to his kicking game which is generally very good I think he's got the makings of a good replacement for Deacon.

Sounds like it was a decent and tough blowout. TBH no-one can expect a 'glittering' performance in the first friendly game. They're just there to see how much more work needs doing and what needs tweaking, with also the added match fitness prep in there. Good result but I'll reserve any opinions on performance until the season starts and where we'll likely finish til at least 5 games in.

Bear in mind that at halftime it was 6-6. Rovers then rang the changes fielding a much younger side. We where also was missing Michael Dobson, Kris Welham. To name two. Still good performance from your guys in the 2nd half. Felt Rovers dominated most the 1st half and lost the cohesion when we made far to many changes. Well done from your supporters in the West stand. Did you proud.

Good turnout from your lot, kudos for travelling down a frosty M62.

Good blowout for both teams, didn't recognise half of your team but you second string side were far superior to ours, that showed. I feel we'll have a good season, providing our first half side, with additions, can play like they did for a whole game.

Fair play to Sam Tomkins and Sean O'Loughlin for taking the time to talk to some Rovers fans, myself included.

Good luck for the season, like you'll really need it.

Both sides looked pretty young in the second half but mostly where I felt we were let down was our ability to field a competent half back pairing which meant you started your sets on the half way line when with Dobson and Green you'd have probably started attacking well within your 20.

In the first half both sides fielded a fair number of first teamers, us more than you admittedly. For us to only score 6pts and that off a kick was worrying but I will be more concerned if we do that with Dobson included.

Thought our pack was dominant in the first half and impressed with them in the second half in the most part.

Can't really read a massive amount in to these games as neither side were playing to the interchange rules and neither fielded an actual 17 that would have been selected in those positions during the season.

Both sides I think came out of the game unscathed which is deffinately a major plus.

See you in the season and credit to those that made the trip over you made us laugh over in the East stand, reminded us of ourselves at away games!! Hope you had a laugh.

it was a decent hit out yesterday. I was actually impressed with goulding in the centres. He was definately playing for a place and put some good hits in.

I noticed how lean we looked for this time of year aswell, clearly Wane has got his wish and the lads look very very fit and mobile Lauaki looks like he's shedded a bit of weight from his time at hull.