A good performance with many positives, the question could our forwards step up from the championship to super league was answered in style. Truman and Lino looked slick and took the ball to the Cas line committing defenders, allowing Scott to create havoc each time he had the ball. The only wake up call was two soft turnovers that cost us tries, Rodwells late challenge on Arzi and a knock on coming off our line. Both invited an ordinary Cas team onto our line and score. But I'm pleased with what I saw and I'm really looking forward to the season ahead.

Three players I didn't mention. Croft. He's always been a big lad but he's worked hard in the gym. He was noticeably bigger in upper body and used it well at SR. That could be a really good switch for him. Shaw, who ironically was the other player we let go in that silly contract situation, looked decent when he came on. He won't be our star prop yet but I won't be offended if we get an injury in front row and he's next in line Walmesley, I really can't decide on him. Had some nice moments but I still worry about his confidence and size. Hope he does well but there are some monster wingers in Super League and he's a long way from Jerry

It was a good team performance, happy overall. Can't say much of the Cas squad but hard to tell in a friendly. Anyone hear the attendance? The tannoy system in the East Stand is still pretty pants.

Just over 3000 I believe.

Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp2zkky3q9w

Highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp2zkky3q9w

[quote="Pat Bateman":3h3yy5gf]Just over 3000 I believe.[/quote:3h3yy5gf] Cheers.

[quote="Wildthing":2noqw08a]It was a good team performance, happy overall. Can't say much of the Cas squad but hard to tell in a friendly. Anyone hear the attendance? The tannoy system in the East Stand is still pretty pants.[/quote:2noqw08a] 3079, good all round performance, really like Scott, forwards bossed the middle, when we threw it wide we looked dangerous, only 1 game, not getting carried away but really happy with that performance, as for Cas, a lot to work on there.

[quote="Big lads mate":33t0dj2g]3079, good all round performance, really like Scott, forwards bossed the middle, when we threw it wide we looked dangerous, only 1 game, not getting carried away but really happy with that performance, as for Cas, a lot to work on there.[/quote:33t0dj2g] Thanks, yes Cam Scott was very impressive very close to MoM for me. It was an enjoyable evening all round and glad a decent amount turned up for Luke Gale.

Hard to assess Cas. They have some holes but we've effectively just pointed them out so they have chance to plug them. They can't start with Westerman at 6. Thought the kid that came on was decent and I think Hoy could switch in there. Cini who is a big signing for them had a stinker. Scott was just bullying him. But an aussie coming over to that weather is tough going. I'm sure he'll be better in the summer. They had some big hitters in defense but they were really unorganised. They hit Rodwell hard early on but he just kept going and they ran out of steam. They'll find it hard in SL but we all know they could come and turn us over if we underestimate them. We'll aee

[quote="PopTart":fubcjudw]Hard to assess Cas. They have some holes but we've effectively just pointed them out so they have chance to plug them. They can't start with Westerman at 6. Thought the kid that came on was decent and I think Hoy could switch in there. Cini who is a big signing for them had a stinker. Scott was just bullying him. But an aussie coming over to that weather is tough going. I'm sure he'll be better in the summer. They had some big hitters in defense but they were really unorganised. They hit Rodwell hard early on but he just kept going and they ran out of steam. They'll find it hard in SL but we all know they could come and turn us over if we underestimate them. We'll aee[/quote:fubcjudw] Seeing McMeeken do a solid 65 mins on his first game was impressive. With him Rodwell and Uele, who for me made the best impact on collision, we have a very mobile pack base. Add Atoni to the mix and it’s pretty good. When I saw Watts doing 10/15 minutes and absolutely blowing, and then brining on the mini Hercules forwards, I knew we’d get a strangle hold on the game.

It's never a good idea to get too far in front of yourself especially at pre season stage and I think most Trinity fans definitely fall in to the feet on the ground bracket . Cas definitely looked let's say a work in progress to say the least so that has to be factored in but at the same time it's very difficult not to be impressed by what we saw last night even with everything on the table . Some of our offensive play was a joy to watch and way more expansive than what I expected to see this early in the season with the amount of new players we've brought in . The work done on the training field these last two months was clear to see , it's almost impossible to put some of the combinations we saw last night without some serious work getting done on that training pitch . Competition for places is another aspect of the Trinity we have today rather than years gone by , just look who we were missing last night to come back in for instance . Daryl looked a very contented man in his post match interview , he's seen it all in this game but I reckon behind the scenes and away from the media he'll be telling this group of players that they could do something special this season and be the surprise package . I can't ever remember a time when I was this positive about Trinity and long may it continue .

[quote="PopTart":3skri9ce]Hard to assess Cas. They have some holes but we've effectively just pointed them out so they have chance to plug them. They can't start with Westerman at 6. Thought the kid that came on was decent and I think Hoy could switch in there. Cini who is a big signing for them had a stinker. Scott was just bullying him. But an aussie coming over to that weather is tough going. I'm sure he'll be better in the summer. They had some big hitters in defense but they were really unorganised. They hit Rodwell hard early on but he just kept going and they ran out of steam. They'll find it hard in SL but we all know they could come and turn us over if we underestimate them. We'll aee[/quote:3skri9ce] Hoy is a player that if it’s not going well he goes missing, Westerman as good as he has been is never a HB, the south sea islanders that they have will run through a brick wall but nothing between the lug oils, like you say never underestimate them but I’m sure we will be in a much better position this time around than before when we have met

On a side note, I'm not sure there is a more deluded fan base than Cas's at the minute. Last night, regardless of being a friendly and regardless of result that performance would be concerning to me, I actually came away thinking I'm not sure how to judge how good we were on the basis of how bad Cas were in there performance. Main take away for a lot of them is they still stick with we are 6 easy points during the season, I think they are in for a wake up call, they need to drag themselves out of the highs of 2017.

[quote="Big lads mate":v0dxlcrp]Hoy is a player that if it’s not going well he goes missing, Westerman as good as he has been is never a HB, the south sea islanders that they have will run through a brick wall but nothing between the lug oils, like you say never underestimate them but I’m sure we will be in a much better position this time around than before when we have met [/quote:v0dxlcrp] I agree. Westerman going back to the pack will help them but the other good players in the pack are simply muscle. Good muscle but no real skills I'm sure they'll improve but we should be looking to leave them behind now. They are not our competition. Leeds, Salford, Giants are the target for me.

I think it you look at their main forwards Watts, Westerman and Griffin they have a combined age of over 100! So they will not be something you can build on, injuries and bans will leave them with little in the engine room.

[quote="PopTart":2rdssd44]I agree. Westerman going back to the pack will help them but the other good players in the pack are simply muscle. Good muscle but no real skills I'm sure they'll improve but we should be looking to leave them behind now. They are not our competition. Leeds, Salford, Giants are the target for me.[/quote:2rdssd44] Exactly, agree totally

Are they deluded? Or do they know the predicament they’re in? Until they signed Judah Rimbu I was absolutely convinced they’d finish bottom. Now with him I think they have a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon, but that’s about as good as it gets. Zac Cini has potential to be the worst player to play in Super League, Asi is mercurial at best. I don’t know how Salford are going to end up, but I’d be astonished if we finish below Cas, Huddersfield and Hull.

[quote="Butcher":2tz433gw]Are they deluded? Or do they know the predicament they’re in? Until they signed Judah Rimbu I was absolutely convinced they’d finish bottom. Now with him I think they have a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon, but that’s about as good as it gets. Zac Cini has potential to be the worst player to play in Super League, Asi is mercurial at best. I don’t know how Salford are going to end up, but I’d be astonished if we finish below Cas, Huddersfield and Hull.[/quote:2tz433gw] I'm under no illusions how difficult we'll find things. I have a similar view as you regarding the signings Rimbu could be electric but is playing behind the worst pack in the league. Everything about Cini screams he'll be in the reserves by Easter. At best a maverick, at worst a potential liability. Asi will take time and is under immense pressure early doors without Milnes, we have no goalkicker whilst Milnes is out. Simbiken replaces Ellie El Zakem, who was on the main one of our better players last year but bizarrely we've done absolutely nothing to improve our dreadful pack. Bookies have us to finish last. Think a few people perhaps got carried away with a few pics of the squad running up hills at Roundhay park. Sam Wood made a good point in an interview saying there'll be weeks we'll just lose to a better team. That will be most weeks. Naturally I'm sure we will pinch some games at home.

[quote="Towns88":35a09uxc]I'm under no illusions how difficult we'll find things. I have a similar view as you regarding the signings Rimbu could be electric but is playing behind the worst pack in the league. Everything about Cini screams he'll be in the reserves by Easter. At best a maverick, at worst a potential liability. Asi will take time and is under immense pressure early doors without Milnes, we have no goalkicker whilst Milnes is out. Simbiken replaces Ellie El Zakem, who was on the main one of our better players last year but bizarrely we've done absolutely nothing to improve our dreadful pack. Bookies have us to finish last. Think a few people perhaps got carried away with a few pics of the squad running up hills at Roundhay park. Sam Wood made a good point in an interview saying there'll be weeks we'll just lose to a better team. That will be most weeks. Naturally I'm sure we will pinch some games at home.[/quote:35a09uxc] Simbiken looked an absolute liability last night.

[quote="Towns88":29my3svg]I'm under no illusions how difficult we'll find things. I have a similar view as you regarding the signings Rimbu could be electric but is playing behind the worst pack in the league. Everything about Cini screams he'll be in the reserves by Easter. At best a maverick, at worst a potential liability. Asi will take time and is under immense pressure early doors without Milnes, we have no goalkicker whilst Milnes is out. Simbiken replaces Ellie El Zakem, who was on the main one of our better players last year but bizarrely we've done absolutely nothing to improve our dreadful pack. Bookies have us to finish last. Think a few people perhaps got carried away with a few pics of the squad running up hills at Roundhay park. Sam Wood made a good point in an interview saying there'll be weeks we'll just lose to a better team. That will be most weeks. Naturally I'm sure we will pinch some games at home.[/quote:29my3svg] Looking at some of the kids that came McGuire might need to be brave and play a couple. Especially the halfback.

[quote="Towns88":di7ahzko]I'm under no illusions how difficult we'll find things. I have a similar view as you regarding the signings Rimbu could be electric but is playing behind the worst pack in the league. Everything about Cini screams he'll be in the reserves by Easter. At best a maverick, at worst a potential liability. Asi will take time and is under immense pressure early doors without Milnes, we have no goalkicker whilst Milnes is out. Simbiken replaces Ellie El Zakem, who was on the main one of our better players last year but bizarrely we've done absolutely nothing to improve our dreadful pack. Bookies have us to finish last. Think a few people perhaps got carried away with a few pics of the squad running up hills at Roundhay park. Sam Wood made a good point in an interview saying there'll be weeks we'll just lose to a better team. That will be most weeks. Naturally I'm sure we will pinch some games at home.[/quote:di7ahzko] Very gracious reply, fair play.

It would be interesting to hear what some of our more level headed Castleford posters thought of the changes and improvements to Belle Vue

[quote="Towns88":2a524il1]I'm under no illusions how difficult we'll find things. I have a similar view as you regarding the signings Rimbu could be electric but is playing behind the worst pack in the league. Everything about Cini screams he'll be in the reserves by Easter. At best a maverick, at worst a potential liability. Asi will take time and is under immense pressure early doors without Milnes, we have no goalkicker whilst Milnes is out. Simbiken replaces Ellie El Zakem, who was on the main one of our better players last year but bizarrely we've done absolutely nothing to improve our dreadful pack. Bookies have us to finish last. Think a few people perhaps got carried away with a few pics of the squad running up hills at Roundhay park. Sam Wood made a good point in an interview saying there'll be weeks we'll just lose to a better team. That will be most weeks. Naturally I'm sure we will pinch some games at home.[/quote:2a524il1] Well I've always wanted Trinity and Cas to push one another along at the top end of Super League in a way that Wigan and Saints do and the way the Rhinos and The Bulls did . I obviously want ourselves to come out on top every single time but that would be my wish for both our club's . There's no reason why that can't happen with the new owners we both have in my opinion .

[quote="BarnsleyTrinity":255rjqel]Well I've always wanted Trinity and Cas to push one another along at the top end of Super League in a way that Wigan and Saints do and the way the Rhinos and The Bulls did . I obviously want ourselves to come out on top every single time but that would be my wish for both our club's . There's no reason why that can't happen with the new owners we both have in my opinion .[/quote:255rjqel] I’m of the same stance really. I would like nothing more than trinity and Cas to be fighting it out at the top but would want us to be top dog. I don’t dislike them as a club unlike Leeds. There’s just a sense of entitlement about Leeds fans and preferential media treatment that belies their actual position.

[quote="BarnsleyTrinity":1ji49vv6]Well I've always wanted Trinity and Cas to push one another along at the top end of Super League in a way that Wigan and Saints do and the way the Rhinos and The Bulls did . I obviously want ourselves to come out on top every single time but that would be my wish for both our club's . There's no reason why that can't happen with the new owners we both have in my opinion .[/quote:1ji49vv6] The obvious difference being that our new owner can afford to splash his hard-earned squillions on our club whereas Cas' new owner is currently passing round the begging bowl asking for donations from wherever he can get them from