Pint of whatever you're drinking please.

As far as I remember today the first two occasions we got into an attacking position our attack broke down due to handling errors that would be an embarrasment at schoolboy level. You can ask why we don't do this or do don't that. You can question the coach and the systems, however nothing will improve, this squad is not at the level of the rest of the competition.

Can't argue with that. Spot on. Although, the first 30 minutes aside, upon reflection I don't think we're a mile away. We just need to start doing the good stuff more consistently. The team is clearly better than last season. I think when scott moore comes back in and tupou goes back to the centres (i'd take arundel out personally), I think the only real weak spots are Anderson and Scruton. Both don't have what it takes in my opinion. Scruton has always been ineffective but Anderson is along with Sio taking up a quota spot and they are both not that good.

I can't believe that you thought Catalan were beatable. They are bigger, stronger and possess a squad of internationals albeit not very Gaelic. They can leave out their best player from last season who was watching from the stand.
I thought we did quite well with the size of our pack and playing the juniors which appears to be the answer to everything would have only made things worse. We are a small team they had centres bigger than our props. We must be realistic Catalan are not the team they were last season and we lost that despite their team being worse than the current squad.
We have no stand off what we have is two scrum halves but I am not disappointed we have improved. We have only played two home games and we all know that we were going to finish in the bottom 4. To do so will not mean automatic relegation anymore.
I cannot believe some members if we list those who are considered excess to requirements, after the Widnes game some were calling for Johnson to be shipped out on loan but not now. Scruton, Anderson, Arundal, Kirmond, Lynne, Hall, Sio,BJB, Miller and our coach plus conditioner have all been suggested. I think some need a reality check our squad is not great it is OK but no match for a team like Catalan, so I would suggest you get use to it and accept the improved performances or you are in line for a very long depressed season.

Yes back in the real world that was the worst first 25 minutes of rugby I've seen for a while...0:26 after 25 mins I think.

The pack were easily dominated. Their centre Inu was bigger and stronger than 3 of our props.

As said Anthony England (great signing!) will be burnt out if he keeps having to do the long minutes. He tried a big hit on Coal Train in the second half and hurt his shoulder (must have been like running into a large Oak Tree) hopefully he's ok.

Scruton and Anderson are just not up to it whether it's due to carrying injuries I don't know. With a team the size of Catalan Trinity needed to try to play with one hooker and an extra prop on the bench like Anthony Walker. With hindisght instead of Sio we needed a top quality half back.

Worried about the team which although has been strengthened appears too light weight in the pack and short of quality at half back.

Anthony Tupou needs to start by the time he came on they were 26 points in front. He is quality and knows how to run onto a ball with the try he scored.

After the first 25mins thought we played alright, last season we'd have lost by 80. We will get better and reckon Catalans will be one of the top teams this season they looked class. Smith said at start of season it will be 4-5 games before he know what we've got. It's looking middle 8s but I still think we've got makings of a decent team so you never know, but we need to start matches from the first minute.

I left the ground frustrated today...
The first 20 mins was a combination of poor tackling, poor handling, and our ability to cane ourselves on the penality count...
This changed when Tupou came on, and we changed as a team... Maybe there is a role for him as captain and maybe get him on from the start as we need a leader on he pitch.(although brian smith knows better than I)..
I'd also like to see Scott Moore back in at hooker, give us a bit more steel in defence
I think in private Mr smith will be handing out some bollackings on the tackling front first thing Monday morning.
The frustration comes from the fact that we clawed our way back into that game and maybe could of won it had we not been pulled back for the forward pass that Johnstone took..but the damage was already done in the first half.. I hope we are learning from all this... As soon as we stop at least the penalties we keep conceding we might start giving ourselves a chance to win some games..at the moment we seem to be making life hard for ourselves

When Anthony Tupou came on we looked a completely different team to the one that started the game. Unfortunately we were already 26 points behind. He looks a genuine class player and I'm sure he will improve even more when the drier weather comes.

Tom Johnstone had a cracking game. A well taken try, good defence and almost scored two tries of the season with his solo attempts from the kick off and penalty kick return. Today will have boosted his confidence no end.

The gulf in half backs showed today. I don't think Myler or Carney got their shirts dirty but still managed to run the show.

David Taylor was just freakish today!

I note one or two are calling for Smith's head! If he was coaching them to give away soft penalties, drop the ball in critical positions, miss tackles etc then I would back the call but he isn't is he?
Face it, two thirds of players we regard as our first team would not get into any other SL team and that to me is the problem.

But smith has brought in most of this squad, mostly his Ozzie journey men and players he never saw play prior to their arrival. Sorry but the buck stops with him

I've no doubt the buck will stop with him.
As for the players brought in do you not think money played a little part in the type of player we could sign? (A. Tupou apart who must wander where the hell he has come!)

Smith didn't sign Scott Anderson or Nick Scruton...he did sign Tupou, Arona and England who played well today...

I felt Hall was weak in defence and attack today. He did some flashy stuff but he's a loose canon and I don't like him in the centre. I think I'd play him on the wing now.
They targeted Finn a little bit and he let a few go through too. Can't blame him alone as they were tough to stop for anyone.

Clearly Johnstone was pure gold today.
Tupou made a difference to us when he came on.
I like Sio but I think Howarth is proving the more valuable player. If Moore has any form on return Sio will make way.
I'd like to see the whole game video as the tries were score left right and middle so it's hard to blame any one part of the defence.

Attack I liked. Defence has to improve drastically.

I believe only one Catalan score came down the Hall Johnson wing, and it was that side where we looked the most dangerous. I would ask why you believe Hall was weak on defence and attack. I look forward to the stats on the game to access if you are correct or just prejudiced.

From what I saw it was Arundel and Reece that was the weak side not moving up sometimes and giving Catalan momentum. When we started to ship the ball wide even if hall didn't make a clean break he made 40 meters on several occasions. Throwing the ball wide was the only tactic that would work against such a big pack. We did this for 20 mins and Catalan couldn't handle it. We went back to down the middle and struggled. Smith should have said want no more than 2 straight drives out of a six second half.