Friendlies dont mean much but I thought that today you really expected all your creativity to come from from Finn and that really wont work. Miller needs to get more involved and there needs to be more passing amongst the forwards.
The problem is that there is not a lot of time to sort it out, because if you get in to a losing habit, heads will go down and the bottom four will again be your fate.

The same excuse with Johnstones defence was used last year, and we had different centres. I think it is an easy cop out, he is good in attack, but woeful defensively.

I do agree though, I thought Finn was shocking, and to me it has highlighted the fact that he has spent most of his career in the championship. I think we need an extra half back, to add to the competition and fast.

I also think we need to change, the wingers, I do agree that Johnstone isnt yet ready to play week in week out, just like Jowitt

Howard surprised me today, he was one of a few who played well. I disagree that our pack matched theirs we struggled to gain 10 meters where as they were achieving that easily. I think we missed Anderson and Simon (who is yet to feature), their forwards seemed much quicker and bigger than ours and literally bullied us for most part of the game Grant Millington and Andy Lynch were outstanding and laid a platform for the rest of the team. Ashurst was solid and A Tupou showed glimpses of what we are to be expecting from him.
Regarding Johnstone, yes he is one of our own however if he is selected when we next face Castleford him and Gibson need to communicate more and prevent passes down their left edge, they need to be in Solamonas face because lets face it Cas have two wingers that are very quick, good under the highball and can finish in some ridiculous fashion as well as being strong. I dont think B Tupou is a in a million years, IMO Joe Arundal should be picked when we play them in 3 week as he is solid in defense and also capable of helping out our forwards coming out of our half with his carries.
My 17 in 3 week if all fit would be:

BJB
Johnstone
Walton (Solid and strong in defence)
Arundal
Lyne/B Tupou
Miller
Finn
Scruton
Howarth
England
Ashurst
Kirmond
Arona

Moore (Moores strength is his aggresiveness in defence)
Sio (covering 9, and all backrow positions)
Anderson
Simon (Cover to front and backrow at a push)

A few players in at 18 are versatile and IMO would be better defensively and match Castleford better.

I dont recall the incident where he dropped a ball under no pressure, in fact just the opposite . Cas put up high kicks to him and challenged in the air, attempting to catch the ball high above their heads. Its very difficult to defend against as all the pressure is on the defender as it does not matter if the attacker fumbles it.
Its a very good tactic and created the first two tries for Cas, first one against Johnstone and the second BJB. Ironic really as these two players are both very good at doing the same thing, yet we dont seem to contest attacking kicks prefering instead to just make the tackle.

The dropped ball comment was in reference to the Featherstone game.
He was at fault at least 3 tines though sometimes in the tackle they were still not expected.

I'd still progress with him but Cas will pick him out now so has to improve to keep his place.
Walton is pushing hard and deserves a shot which will put pressure on 2-5

How did Ben Crooks get on?

If the pre-season friendlies are a guide, the following teams need to be worried about the coming season:
Leeds
Wigan
Saints
Wakefield
Hull KR
Widnes
Catalan Dragons

What really counts is the regular season. For instance, the first two games are the best guide. Like last year, where we were 100% and flying.

Or perhaps what really matters is how we progress and where we are in July.

Johnstone can tackle as good as anybody at the club, his problem is coming in to help out instead of stopping in his position which is on the wing, his task is to stop the opposition winger getting round him not be worrying about their centre, the sooner he realises that and concentrate on his specific task the sooner people will stop blaming him for his team mates defensive faults.

Don't think that you will win any prediction competitions with that prophecy.
We are all expecting bottom 4 but, not tailed off last (with just 6 points in the regular season)

If we are competitive and making progress, most fans will be happy(ish)

I don't think anyone really thinks we will be in the top 8.

Il say it as I saw it yesterday from the kick off we got totally dominated and bullied, cas line speed was fast with agression in the tackle every time. Every set of six we struggled to get out of our half and nearly every time we kicked they started the next set on half way and we ended up on our own line. We're playing in a mud bath a grind and we decide to send our light men in Johnstone Lynn and bjb who got creamed. Finn ended up running the ball in as a forward once cause no one was there. We look like wel concede every time on our line. Johnstone can tackle but can't defend he's no idea where to stand he got done bout 6 times down that side. The lads got promise and pace but he could end up demolised if it's not sorted. What worries me is we have no penetration no one to make breaks no pace. It looks like wel concede at least 20 a game so it's means we run in 30 to win any a tough ask

I don't think it's just Johnstone that can't defend, the whole team seem unable at the moment to stick to the defensive system. The inside defenders either don't know their job or they're lazy. There's far too many of them switching off and failing to pressure from the inside or at least close the gap created in the middle by the next defender sliding.

Johnstones positioning isn't good but I wonder if that's his over reaction to being left isolated on numerous occasions since he made his debut. He and the other outside backs have to learn to be patient and trust their inside defenders to do his/their jobs.

If we get the markers and the inside defenders doing what they're supposed to do then we can see if our centres and wingers can defend with some discipline and composure.
Then we'll see what Johnstones defence is really like and we'll see the weaknesses that need attention.

I seem to remember us discussing this exact thing regarding Ben Cockayne, I always think the winger is made to look a tool if his centre doesn't do his job correctly. There can't be anything worse for a winger than his centre misses a tackle and he looks a tit for coming inside to help out, usually leaving his opposite number alone.

In a nutshell.

Cas were quicker at everything they did. Line speed was massively higher than ours. When they attacked, they attacked with purpose. They had quick hands and they ran onto the ball. When we tried do anything our passing was e; either above someone's head, behind them or at their ankles [even recce lyne's try]. We never run onto the ball! How hard can it possibly to get people running onto the ball. The players don't stand deep enough in the attacking line and it usually results on them having to stop or be flat on their feet to receive the ball. Worries me that they have had all pre-season to sort this out. This isn't about being good individual players but a decent structure is something any super league team should be able to achieve.

Finally: offloads. How many times did Cas offload the ball? How many times did we offload the ball? It was boring rugby yesterday and it's been like that for all 3 games, I understand the conditions are bad but it didn't stop Cas throwing the ball about and scoring some brilliant tries.

Not going to single individuals out this early into the season but it will be interesting to see how we perform when it matters in 2 weeks time. Not sure I buy into the excuse of yesterday being a friendly. Surely on your last friendly of pre-season you want to be pretty much at full intensity and I saw zero. Cas certainly looked full of it.

I'm not for a minute saying he can't tackle hes getting himself in awkward positions all you've to do is trust your inside man to do his job hes reading it poor or the communication is poor with centre half back row. For me it's bad reads hes standing too far in and solamona stood on his chalk and skinned him. Just do your job and take the winger. It needs sorting now cause this has been a problem with him since he came into the team not a massive issue but it's turning into one

Did Rocky Hampshire play yesterday?