Taking McIlorum off was ridiculous and we lost momentum. I'm convinced he could play longer minutes (and thrive) then he is doing.

I'm just hoping it was a case of easing him and Lockers in to the season.

Several people made this point around me. Flower, Lockers and MM off and it let Les Cats back in. They were not causing us any problems until then. If Wane wants to rotate his props at least do it one at a time and not then go and take the hooker off as well.

Powell on the bench is a total utter waste of time. Haven't got a clue what his supposed strengths are. We may have demolished any aspirations he had of being a quality half back due to our insistence of easing MM in for virtually every game we play. I find spelling pretty pathetic to the point that I'm gradually loosing faith in what was for me the greatest game of all.
Tonight's atmosphere was dreadful and a continuation from last year. A pretty awful way to spend a Friday night.

I don't think the weather of the state of the pitch helped as it really affected the game. The pitch wasn't fit for a school team. Some bloke in the south stand just before kick off deserves a medal. Got everyone going and was brought up on the big screen waving hos shirt around. Give him a job!

Going off your posts mate you're loving the 2016 season already

MM shouid be doing 60+ mins (if not 80 mins) per match. He's too important to us to be taken off the field for too long and he isn't running himself ragged with the ball so I don't see why he can't do it.

DaveO that sums tonight up.
Some Aussie guy chucking around 75p t shirts got more atmosphere than 17 blokes who appeared to have just been introduced to each other.
Weather doesn't dampen urgency and our urgency or lack of it in the last 2 years is for me quite startling.

it is his job he has done quite a few rugby matches doing the same thing

This...... First game of season, on a terrible surface against a team who were being tipped to do well before a ball was kicked...

2 points, job done..

Whilst Powell can cover both positions 9 times out of 10 he is average to poor. Once in a blue moon he does have a good game but they are few and far between. Normally when he comes in we spend the next 40 minutes running round the pitch with little or no direction, we lose intensity in defence (not helped by subbing Props at the same time) and generally look like clinging on until he goes off again.

We desperately need to sign a quality hooker and Prop if we are to persist with this in game rotation policy.

I highly doubt if Powell had come through the ranks at any other club he would be on our radar. You can't fault his effort or desire but ultimately he just doesn't seem up to it. Personally would much rather have retained Logan Tomkins if we are going to continue subbing at 20 minutes.

I'd much sooner have Powell covering 6,7,9 than Logan. I can't even remember seeing Logan play in the halves.
Our sport is salary capped, can we afford a 'quality hooker' on Powell's salary? Probably not. Could that player also cover 6 and 7? Who knows but Sam can.
Sam's involvement isn't just about his ability, it's about having a manageable squad within the cap.

I mentioned that I hope it's just a case of not burning him out and easing him back in early in the season but longer term we need to get more minutes out of him I believe. It's not a case of him having to do 80 mins every single week but in close games I'd be loathed to take him off for too long. If we're a good few points up then take him off and keep him off if everything's going well so he can get some rest for situations like last night.

First game back in poor conditions after an off-season of recovering from pretty major surgery. In context I'm ok with Mickey not doing the full 80. There's a bigger more important picture to consider.

Completely agree with all of the above!

The title is won in October, not February. I'd rather Wane sub by the clock and keep our pack fresh for them to be fully fit and firing come the business end of the season. Bare in mind Catalans pack, Wane managed the forwards well last night and we controlled their middles. I don't think our forwards will come up against the likes of Stewart and Dave Taylor every week!

After the match last night, I'm happier than I have been about the start of our season since Madge's first year in 2010. Considering the internationals have had 1 week of training with the 1st team, we looked cohesive and considering the conditions- tried to play a bit! There wasn't much rust considering the internationals haven't played in 3 months.

After last night I am confident that we will be successful this year, a lot of teams seem to be in a transitional period whereas we have maintained that squad balance for the first time in I don't know how long!

If we don't want to burn Micky out, how about giving Waterworth some playing time?