I said the same at the game. Crowther looks in great shape and the most athletic I’ve seen him. That’s the sort of dedication that can pay dividends on the pitch. Efforts off the pitch can usually reward in performances.

Some idiot behind me shouted you can’t tackle for toffee Crowther when Jordi missed the Leeds winger (Tindall I think it may have been). It wasn’t his best effort that’s agreed but it’s rare Crowther misses a tackle and his work rate is fantastic. Looks like he’s going to be playing as a link between backs and forwards now as well from what we saw Boxing Day so he’s going to have some really heavy involvements. He’s a player who has improved year on year and I’m expecting a really big season from him this year.

Yes it was a poor effort and i bet when he sees the replay he wont be happy.
However ! At least he got accross to make the effort !
I also liked that little move in the first half where he put jowett through from under our posts. I think we may see a bit more of that one during the season.

Yea I think we will. He’ll also keep teams on their toes as sometimes he’ll be doing the hard yards the other times he’ll be used as a link man. Can’t read too much in to Boxing Days game same as with most friendlies but you can see we’re going to be quite an improvement expansive side and there seemed to be a marked improvement in line speed which is something we’ve struggled with for years for some reason

Albeit against a lesser opposition, I was impressed with quiet a few on boxing day but to call a few;

Ashurst doesn`t look to be slowing down at all, I was worried that age might be catching up with him at points last year but he looks as fit and as hungry as ever.

Atoni looked as strong as an ox and exactly what we need in the middle, to say he won`t yet be in the best condition having just arrived I thought he was a real handful.

Whitbread seemed to beat the first man every time he took the ball up, but I was particularly impressed with both Butler and Bowden who I thought looked strong in the carry and found quick PTBs.

I watched on trinity tv and Whitbread was head and shoulders the best player to take the field by a distance. The guy has such an engine and will be vital to us.

Bowden and Butler were solid in the middle making decent yards and crucially as you say a quick ptb. This is what we need from them, run hard and quick play the balls. I’ve no doubt the forward pack will be working hard to be in the best shape possible and be working on the technical side so they can carry us forwards.

Whitbread had a good game but head and shoulder! Can’t agree there tbh.

Friendly games mean nothing ,though I am paying to go to hospitality for R Lynn testimonial. We will see were we are when the season starts My thoughts are ,though pack looks strong apart from 9 could be a hard slog for us to survive .Hope I am proved wrong

Optimist as ever.

Friendlies are no indicator of who will win when we meet Leeds in the SL, but then neither is the previous game a lot of the time.

What you look for are the following, imho.

First is Individual performances, especially the new lads and young kids.

So, Smith in truth was excellent and looks just what we need. Antoni is not Fifita, nobody is, but boy he looked quality on that showing.

Of the younger players, surely you had to be happy there. Of those on show both Eseh and Windrow looked ready to step up, physically both are very big units. Bowes looked like he'd mentally made the step up, looked first choice to me. The rest looked what they are, first season rookies, but good ones, gap fillers if needed.

Second is team cohesion.

By nature friendlies are chaotic and messy, especially in recent years in our case, so when you see a performance that isn't you have to be happy. If you can get your team playing off the same sheet at this stage then something is going right. If we carry on in this vein against Fax and Fev, we may actually hit the ground running and win some early points, something we have not done for a while.

On one game it's too early to say, but if the other two friendlies pan out the same, then I'd say you'd have to feel more confident.

However, when it comes to points, there are no prizes in friendlies, they are in essence enhanced training runs, but very worthwhile imho.

Fully agree with you Vasty, and add hopefully no serious injuries.

Watched it live and twice since. Only reinforces my opinion, Whitbread was the best player on the park or best forward. Atoni though did have a good game with two very good offloads and took his try well.

High workrate, good yardage post contact. Technically very good getting fast PTB.

Then the extra’s you don’t expect from a prop in cutting down leeming who broke the line and chasing and diving on loose balls.

It’s fine if you don’t agree though and you’re free to put your points across on your player.

I came away feeling positive though looking at the 30 man squad I’m already quite optimistic we will have a decent season.

Highlights now on YT https://youtu.be/HaCiI0DjZ_U

Highlights now on YT https://youtu.be/HaCiI0DjZ_U

rlFULL MATCHrl

A sign of things to come?

Leeds Rhinos forward James Donaldson has been charged with a Grade B offence of Throwing following his sin-binning against Wakefield Trinity on Boxing Day. The Cumbrian back-rower was yellow carded following a tackle on Trinity’s Oliver Pratt, but a change to the sport’s on-field misconduct rules means Donaldson has been fined, rather than banned.

The Match Review Panel, which met yesterday, charged Donaldson with a dangerous throw and issued a £250 fine, but he was not suspended. The panel minutes stated: “Other tackler’s actions were part of the problem (only applies where player is not aware of other tackler’s actions).”

Up until the end of the 2022 campaign, grade B charges carried a ban of one-two games – depending on the player’s previous record- and a fine would only be issued if the case went to a disciplinary hearing. Now, a grade B offence will now result in either a fine, one-match suspension, or both. Grade A offences - which previously could have led to a one-match penalty notice (ban) - will be punished by either a caution or a fine.