There's little doubt that Warringtons big forwards out-muscled our guys on Sunday. Carvell is a great prop and he had the likes of Wood and Hill alonside him, thankfully Morley was missing. Amor was good, gave his all and he did make yards, as did Raleigh. Johnson was better then I have seen him this season but his progress forward was quickly halted.
As for the half backs, probably they are behind a beaten pack week after week and it must be hard to be creative on that basis but how I wish we could find another Toppo or Poynton, somebody who could break the opposition line! I don't know if this kind of thing is coached out of them or we just don't find that calibre of player. Astute passing is great if you have a player in the right place at the right time and travelling with purpose. To pass to a player as our halves do rarely creates anything and is frankly predictive and boring!
Some talk of the old days prior to the great SL being boring but there was more artistry and creativity then than there is now!

Sykes and Smith worked PERFECTLY well today imo. Sykes took some responsibility off Smith, allowing Smith to pass the ball when he wanted, attack the line when he wanted, etc. Fair play to Sykes, I was a little worried when I first saw it! But well done nevertheless.

Aye, that was an option that no one on here suggested, but it worked well; Smith seemed to be more composed and played with more confidence.

Be interesting to see what happens next week.

Agar called it, against all expectations, and it worked.

It was a rough-and-ready option, so should get better with practice. Now that he's called it, he should stick to it for the next few games, at least.

Tbh Sykes rather like Agar arrived with a tarnished reputation. Sykes gained his when picked for GB when he wasn't good enough and then played out of position. I wasn't keen I have to say.

What I had forgotten is that he has played a lot at S/O and was playing there when he left the Bulls and playing well according to them.

I had him down as a Centre who was mainly there to kick goals. As it happens he's a decent S/O. Along with Cockayne, Mathers and Raliegh he's proving to be one of the surprise signings.

Before people bag John as a waste of time, Sykes has years of experience over him - and the Sykes of aged 22 was no better - it takes time and Sykes may be the player who has given us that breathing space.

Id like to point you in the direction of the 2nd comment in the "Time for change" topic on page 2.

Me and Haribo Rich are on the same wavelength