Can anyone explain us opening up the game by kicking on 3rd? Put Leigh in the front foot straight away IMO, didn't really seem to catch them out of position or give us a chance to challenge for possession.

it was baffling, makes sense when powell did it late and no one was there but he kicked it straight to the winger. like they'd agreed to do it before the game and didn't change when leigh had it covered.

I think all our backs missing will have hindered go forward too. hanley is probably to young and small, i dont think field touched the ball until he got injured. wingers are important to get sets started and manfredi and marshall should help if they ever get fit,

Not taking too much from that game. disappointing we didn't open with much intensity but good to earn the win, hopefully we'll be better for it.

rlhttps://www.rugby-league.com/match_report/133703rl
Stats. Harvard the only non embarrassing metres, think he got more than partington, bullock and singleton combined.

My concern is that we need a genuine quality Prop and I can’t remember the last time a quality player became available mid season.

I’m not saying it doesn’t happen but I’m struggling to think of when it has. Maybe going back to Ali Lautiti.

We don’t need a project or a fringe player we need quality.

My guess is we will be relying on a player to have an off field issue for someone of the standard we need to become available.

I’m hoping Lams knowledge of the NRL will help us pick up a good one, even if it’s not a big name. We are hoping though and that’s not a great place to be in. A couple of names I noticed were playing Queensland Cup were Andrew Fafita and Herman Ese’ese. I know Fafita is out of favour at Cronulla but I’m not sure why Ese’ese is playing in the reserves (maybe coming back from injury). Now I’m not saying they’re players we could get or should even be trying to but there’s some good players sat outside their clubs 17’s already.

Fingers crossed something drops later in the season.

As well as props who can make meters we used to have backs that could make plenty ground as well.
There used to be Gelling, Charnley & Sarginson who all made over 100 mtrs and sometimes 200.
We are now missing Manfredi, Marshall & Gildart.
Those backs make a massive difference to the teams meters gained and the problem needs sorting.
We watched the first game of the season in appalling conditions.
The performance needs to improve but I'm pleased the lads got the two points.

I don't think there's any need to panic after that one game. Yes, Leigh dominated down the middle but our pack have only had about 20-30 minutes prior to get match fitness (and there was a 2 week break before this). Leigh had 2 pre-season friendlies. Sidlow had a good game but it was Leigh's outside backs causing us real problems down the middle. When we're pinned in our own 20 you don't really want props to be making every carry. That's where you want the outside backs who are quicker and more mobile to make ground. That's where we missed Manfredi, Gildart and Marshall as that's their bread and butter.

Once we're a few games in we'll be able to see which props are performing.

Havard 129m from the bench

Bullock Singleton and Partington combined for 126m

If there is that aggressive spark inside of Havard it could be the difference between him being very good and him going on to be a top level international. His numbers are staggering for such a young lad and he does it with no fuss whatsoever. He just seems such a quiet lad that he leaves you questioning if that edge could develop or not. He’s undoubtedly very young and not many come through snarling like Partington and Smithies did. It’s not a case of wanting him to go around hunting for trouble and he’s brilliant as he is but as and when the rough stuff crops up, I’ll certainly watch with interest to see if he’s got that in him.

He’s some player to be fair to the lad. He could be anything if he’s got that but of mongrel inside him.

Diabolical meters from Singleton, Partington and Bullock.

Partington's metres per carry was better than Isa, Byrne, Shorrocks & Smithies. And was only slightly less than Bateman's.

Is that maybe going to be a bit easier once he's a little older and more established? I know some players like Partington and Smithies did it from their debut but Havard might need to settle in before coming out of his shell.

I’ll take Havard every day and on Sunday’s too over Partington and Smithies. Only Havard of those three will have a long career at the top. The other two are limited in every area. Smithies in particular needs to have a good year or he’ll just be another numbnuts in a team like Wakefield.

Gotta admit I'm a little confused on this one. Havard makes the most yards out of our pack, despite the fact he's only 20 and yet he's been labelled as a concern earlier in the thread?

If you look at the majority of the top props in the game, they are mostly level headed at the min. I can't remember the last time someone like Papalii, or Jason Taumalolo did anything other than make massive yards. That's what sets them apart imo, not the other stuff.

The so called 'mongrel' in players is a dying art, just look at the weekend headlines for Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for a perfect example.

It’s far from a concern, he’s a brilliant player. It’s simply an observation that he’s yet to show if he does have that side or not and if he does then the sky is the limit. I get your points with JT and JP but they’re hugely aggressive in defence and attack with the force they put in to their running and tackling. I’m not saying Havard should be laying cheap shots on people or starting scraps, I’m simply wondering if he’s got that instinct inside him to absolutely wallop somebody in defence and get a real enjoyment out of it, the way that you can sense somebody like Partington does. If he has that side then wow, we’ve got something very special indeed.

Harvard makes big meters but at the moment and he is a wonderful prospect but to take his game to the next level he needs to improve his contact in defence as he isn’t particularly hurtful in and also his play the ball isn’t very quick.

He makes great meters yes and is still only a baby in real terms.

Having the mongrel in them is nothing to do with what JWH did at the weekend it is being spiteful and hurtful in contact. One of his and all good Props job is to soften up a team when they have the ball.

That is the area he needs to improve, some can and do but it tends to be a thing you have naturally. I’ve not seen it yet in him.

As I mentioned Coley seemed to stagnate a little when we signed him from
Salford. He joined with a rep of being one of the gun props in the league who needed to step up, and whilst he went about his business efficiently he never developed into his full potential until Madge arrived where he added that aggressive side to his game.

Harvard needs to add that, it is one main thing lacking in his play.

He adds that and we could have a very special player on our hands.