I don't understand Byrne's running style at the best of times. Most of the time he seems to make contact with the upper body, his legs freeze and he collapses. Most other front rowers pump the legs after contact but for whatever reason he doesnt do it. His lack of intensity and tendency to coast has been going on for a while - take the lack of intent against Philbin in the buildup to the first try. No use of the body to impact the tackle, only a loose arm around the ball which Philbin shook off and then offloaded.

I really don't see this, why are we bending the team around for an average player? We've done it for Powell, now doing it for Miski (to an extennt), please not again.

Not sure how it’s bending the team around by having a guy who can play 4 or 5 positions as your last sub, especially when recently the alternative has been to have Cust playing for 10 minutes and struggling defensively, while offering little in attack (something Shorrocks will not struggle with). I agree, he’s not amazing in any position but he gives the team security in case of injuries/disruption in a game.

That feels harsh on Miski as well. I’d say he’s performing well above average at the moment and is adding a lot to the team.

Absolutely this. How anyone can be critical of Miski is beyond me. He's performed way above his pay grade and I'm not sure what more people could ask for. Absolutely invaluable bringing the ball out of our own half and an excellent try scoring rate not far off 1 a game!

I’m worried KPP will get done for a hip drop.

Wouldn’t be surprised to see a 1 match ban.

Miski is one of the first names on the team sheet for me

If you want to reward effort then there is no way Miskito is dropped, one of the best early tackles runners in SL

Liam Byrne’s first stint was borderline embarrassing from a Wigan prop. Not just his “attempt” to wrap the ball up on Philbin, but when he got pushed back over the line for a drop out, running sideways on your own line as a prop is shocking. However his second stint was more promising but wires forwards were tired at that point. Ellis was good on his return, just can’t seem to get him and Havard in the same team at once lately.

Didn't want to be critical after what turned out to be a very comfortable victory but Byrne's first stint was down there with George Burgess's debut, not surprised he got hauled off.

Small update to my original post having had chance to rewatch the game. Bevan was very good and looking much more like a 6. Still lots of improvement in him, I suspect, but looking to have made bigger strides in the position than it appeared at the match. Quite assured in many aspects of the position. Great pass for the Marshall try, solid defensively, some nice kicks and got the balance right between running the ball and his kicking game. Good half back's support for his try too. Definitely growing into the role.

If we're patient with it, I think it can work out really well, as he gets used to the role and gains confidence. One thing I think has been overlooked to a degree is that any halfback struggles to play on the back of a pack that isn't dominating and I don't think we've really dominated in any of his games at Stand Off. I also don't think as a team we've been quite there with our concentration levels. If I compare us recently to the way we were switched on around Good Friday and that Wire away game in April, it's chalk and cheese. Everyone looked in the zone, the defensive intensity was through the roof, the forwards carried with vigour and our errors were extremely low and everyone can play on the back of that. If we can get back to that in the big games coming up, I think French will continue to look more and more at home.

Very good point NK. It was, of course, notable how much more comfortable he looked on Friday once we'd gained ascendancy in the forwards. Like you say, that goes for any half. He's very strong in defence even when the attack is stuttering which is a massive bonus too. I think he's among the best defensive halves I've seen. Maybe Tommy was better but not many others. For a man of his size he doesn't half "ragdoll" players. Very consistent too and doesn't often miss.

Very promising performance on Friday. I thought at the game that he'd taken steps forward but on watching again he was even better than I first thought. He's mixing it up really well and has lost the "kick first" approach he seemed to have in the first couple of games. We all want to see him running at defences and I thought he did that much more on Friday. More to come, I'm sure, but very encouraging.

All clear disciplinary wise, French got a fine for that bloody good hit as did Hill for something or other

I see French (and Hill/Ellis) has been charged by the disciplinary but thankfully no bans. I thought when he did that tip tackle he may get a charge. As soft as it would've been, they're all over them at the moment. He will need to be careful going forward with it though because he does have that style of lifting players as he tackles them.

That's fair to me - it was a potentially dangerous lift from French but thankfully he let go at the right moment.