Couple of basic, errors at key times that were punished by Widnes cost us.

Arona worked his nads off.
Miller looked alright, given a bit more time with Finn they'll both improve.
BJB other than the basic error looked fairly handy.
Johnstone - not sure on the lad. Yet to be convinced.
England - jury our although no doubt he will be a crowd favourite.

Widnes had several bodies in motion and with the settled Mellor and Brown pulling the strings will pick up their share of wins so no reason to be too down hearted, although with a bit more nouse in attack and discipline we could have taken them as they had their share of issues defending.

Agree, silly nervous errors and mistakes cost us big time. On the whole the defense was good, fitness has also improved since last year and on the whole a decent 2nd half but just not enough. Ateotd we could have won it, if a pass would have stuck and one of the errors cut out, so I don't buy for one second that Widnes didn't get out of 3rd gear or whatever Betts said, they weren't that good.

We looked like a side at times that's still figuring each other out, which hopefully will improve as they get more game time together.

Without picking anyone out there's a couple of places in the backs especially that I'd change for next game and tbh I bet B.Smith is still not 100% sure on his best 17 yet.

I think if Moore had been playing today he'd have been very useful, he'd have made some real ground from acting half back. Hopefully Simon's fit soon because we need that guys aggression out there. Agree about Miller, although he did alright today, his main strength is running at the defenses, try to look for some space & cause some doubt and overlaps

Someone mentioned in another thread about how quiet and nervous the crowd was. I agree and I bet the players picked up on it out there. It's strange because last year was a real one off turd of a year and it's almost as if people are holding their breath expecting the worst again.

why are people criticising johnstone some moan week in week out boring 5 drives and kick rugby it was right in front of me the pass it put bjb straight through a gap a mile wide but he dropped it yet no one blames him for the mistake there where a lot worse players than johnstone finn offered nothing all afternoon except predictable passes poor kicks and the ability to make his way out to the centre in defence so he didnt do any

It was on but it was a risky play and ultimately he gambled and we lost.

I don't get the 'not ready' comment on the back if it though. There were plenty of senior pros and former Australian internationals who forced a pass or dropped the ball. Are they not ready either?!

Correct desmond,the gap was there for BJB,I just think Tom run him out and could have let it go a bit earlier.I think there may be a little slip involved.Simple errors cost us yesterday.

Watch the replay of Johnstones pass, it's on but he loses his left leg right at the point that he's passing the ball and that causes the pass to be poor.
Just a bit of bad luck and a bit of technique combined but it can happen to anyone.

I don't think it was on Avenger. Their number 10 was rushing up to cream BJB.
He needed to pass a few steps earlier or not at all.

I also noticed it was England at fault for their try under the post. He rushed out of the line but went for the ball instead of Brown. That gave them a 2-1 which you took well.

Small things but they are the difference.

We can agree to differ on whether its on or not, my main point was the reason the pass was poor.

Johnstones job when kick returning is to get infield to the edge of the oppositions immediate kick chasers and tie in with his full back or wing from the other side, he did that and the play was to hit BJB with a catchable pass.

On another note, why don't players wear proper studded boots anymore? So many players were slipping and falling over yesterday and from what I could see the majority were wearing moulded boots or those useless blades. In dry weather fine but when it's like a peat bog a bit more grip would be helpful.

It was indecision that caused Johnston to throw the pass that arguably took the game away from us. You could see that he couldn't decide whether to pass or not, telegraphing it as he did so, and by the time he did pass it, the play was no longer on.

I can understand the temptation to try and put BJB in a gap, and he'll soon learn that if in doubt, don't. He knew he'd messed up straight away. These things happen.

I agree with you on this, IMO it's laziness!

When I played it was regular to see players check the playing surface and weather on arrival at the ground and then take a stud spanner and swap the studs in their boots to something more appropriate. Some carried two pairs of boots in their bag and even had the extra pair at pitch side.

As a coach I'd be tearing players a new one if they constantly slipped over and didn't do something about their footwear in order to fix the issue.

I do agree the slip made it a bad pass. Which was unfortunate. But that is what will hold him back from achieving his full potential if he can't eradicate those errors in his game. Small but important.

Must mention how well Lynne did to score his try.

And how well he defended. He had a good game.

Johnstone got his timing wrong and BJB's hands were not good enough to salvage the situation. Not sure about BJB at fullback yet but he needs to be given time there, as does young Tom on the wing, the lad is still learning his trade. My worry is though that despite apparently working hard to eradicate them in the off season he keeps making basic errors, either handling or positionally and ultimatley this will severely knock his confidence if it carries on. He will need managing very carefully by Smith.