I'll be honest thinking about it overnight I hated that game yesterday. They do nothing but lull teams into a false sense of security imho and leave the team unmotivated. Perverse as it sounds I'd rather us lose as that tends to fire teams up and sets a platform.

If we treat it as a glorified training game then fine but if we think it gives any idea how well we will go against the misters we are in for a rude awakening!

We have got quite good of late but we must never lose that underdog spirit - it's us against the world and nobody is going to lay down and take it from oiks like us.

I'm not being pessimistic but they are waiting for us this season and in that respect yesterday didn't help other than give a few players a run out.

I'm worried about our first game in particular, the moment I saw it I thought it might be trouble. We need to be super up for it imho, we don't have to win it but we have to look competitive.

Agree with you Vastman, although I do think we will be competitive this season. Yesterday’s game was nothing more than a training exercise for us. We never got out of second gear. The team spirit looked good and defensively we were sound. The players couldn’t do any more than thrash the team in front of them. Huddersfield will be a better test. I will say though if Finn and Millar had played against Leeds on Boxing Day we would have beaten them.

That fax team contained a lot of kids and trialists not a starting 17 so don't get over excited

If you read the thread properly then we are clearly not but thanks for the advice.

I also have my doubts about HKR and if we go into that game thinking we are favourites we will get spanked.
However I get comfort from the fact Chester is the coach and he was dumped by HKR. I am sure when he looks down the fixture list that is an away game he really wants to win to prove a point, so I am sure he will have the players in the right frame of mind.

Its also a factor that the players will not want to let C C down. Kr will be up for the first match back in SL and it could well come down to who wants it the most. KR will see the game and think lets get our home matches off to a winning way, Trinity on the other hand will probably set about the match cautiously and ease themselves in to things.
Should make for a very interesting first match of the season.

I dont think anyone is excited about yesterday.
Halifax were bloody awful and although most will have expected a comfortable Trinity victory, most would also have hoped for a bit more spirit from a "top" Championship club.
Usually Championship clubs use these games to try and show everyone that they are ready for SL but, Halifax just turned up to get beaten by a very competent and professional Trinity performance.
Wakefield were rock solid in defence and although there were a few players needing the game, most of them will probably be more knackered after a decent training session.

Was very impressed with Horo yesterday, mainly his stint in defence, but also looked like trouble every time he had the ball. He was my MOM.

TJ looks to be back, and that run out will defiantly of built his confidence coming back from injury.

I was quite surprised by Kershaw, he ran the ball in at pace and went looking for work when he could.. He looks to have plenty of pace, unfortunately i dont think he saw much ball from his centre throughout.

We will more than likely go into that game as favorites with the bookies but I doubt many players will take any notice of all that. It's all about having the right attitude and also confidence in ourselves for me. Obviously, with Hull KR coming up, they'll want to put a marker down but personally, I don't think it's a bad game to start the season off at all. Like you say I fully expect CC will get them fired up and be ready for the test ahead and will want to stick it to his former employees for his own reasons, plus he'll also stress that no one's position is safe this year, so no one can rest on their laurels. I'd be very surprised if the lads aren't well up for that first game and tbh if we have any pretense of being a Top 4 contender again we should with all respect to Hull KR be putting them away.

Our next friendly game is Batley where CC says he won't be playing any of his first 17. So the next test is Hudds who will bring us down to reality IF there is anyone that thinks we are the complete package(which I very much doubt there is).

If he stays injury free Horo may well be the signing of the season, he's very professional in his approach.

That said PP stood up well. Didnt shirk and did a long stint - his 2 tries all be it against weak opposition still showed what a hugely powerful man he is. Be happier when some of the strapping goes.

I actually thought TJ looked knackered at the end however all the skills and determination were there. He outpaced the Fax defence at what I'd say was for him a glorified jog so no damage to his speed by the look of it.

Finally no injuries.

Got to agree Vasty, I worry that games like yesterdays do us no good at all. I like Trinity teams to be underdogs and not to fall in love with themselves. That said I also think that the team team showed up well in defense yesterday with only the Halifax number 9 causing us problems with his running from dummy half. I was really impressed with Arundel who has a great understanding with Johnson. I would think from what we have seen so far that Toupo and Arundel must be our starting .

I watched him play in the NRL City v Country game from 2017 a few days ago, which was when he came back after the car pile up he was involved in but before he broke his leg and it's the same leg strapped now. So I can only imagine it's either a precautionary thing or maybe something he wants to protect from the accident.

Very happy to see TJ jogging down the wing again at Belle Vue. I think that match for him was more about getting through 80 mins than really showing his speed and agility.
His link up play with Arundel means I’d definitely be having those two forming a wing centre pairing come the start of the season.
Kershaw surprised me, never heard of him before the match but was very impressive on debut we’re well stocked in the wing department but I’d like to see him get some game time over the season.

Keeshaw was a bit of a throwback. Reminded me a lot of the wingers that were common in the late eighties early nineties. Head down run hard be stay on your feet as you bounce of players looking for a gal. Quite stocky and solid for a young player. Hard to tell how quick he is.

Polar opposite of TJ, terrier v greyhound.