Let me attempt to straighten this out. Gwylulm Lloyd hasn't got a clue what he is talking about, we all know that. Our pack overall did well. Costigan, Weyman and Poore are not fit enough yet and were quiet. Weyman I thought was the best of the three. Langley and Larroyer were solid and played big minutes without being spectacular. Green had a good game with some good off-loads and both Walkers were good if a little rusty. I don't think Hodgson playing nearly 80 paid off. But Sandercock is correct in saying our pack matched theirs. The problem was and is that you need to offer a bit more than a strong pack. Usual errors from Eden (error gave them first try and dropped the ball later that led to another try). Welham still jumping out of line and missing (cost a further 2 tries). Keating was anonymous and created nothing which is a concern but way too early to judge - just an observation from today. Burns was playing his first match so was way off the pace but will improve. Leeds have great backs and better half backs than us any day of the week and that was the major difference. However, not panicking after that. It is going to take weeks for the team to settle and fans are going to have to be patient. In hindsight Hall should have maybe played 6 but then how does Burns get match fitness? We'll be much better 3/4 games in.

Two patchy friendlies? And i meant they were making their debuts at home.There not gonna gel instantly are they?

I must admit I was disappointed at the amount of heads dropping fairly early in the second half, I'd have hoped for an improvement in this area, taking into account the experienced players we've signed.
Having said that I won't criticise too much just yet. Lets at least give the coach and players chance to put things right. I'll be more concerned if one or two backsides aren't kicked, maybe even places lost, in the wake of this showing.

At best we matched a decent Leeds side for the best part of nearly 50 mins. Hopefully in the weeks to come, Keating/Burns partnership we'll grow and we'll control games more and build from there.

At worst we conceded 6 unanswered trys in 30 mins, in an otherwise tight game for 50 mins. The latter part of Sunday could've been any of the previous Rovers sides under CS, with similar deficiencies on show once the opposition shift the ball.

If we're being proper negative (and selective!), we've lost 9 out of the last 10 games we've played, obviously this is juking the stats, but a losing run is a losing run etc.

Like Dudley says, let's see how we go from here. One poor result - yes, but we're only one good result from being ace again.

Yeah, similar to last season off the back of a very poor run at the end of 2012. 2012 and 2013 were both rescued by decent runs roughly mid-season. Winning 5 on the bounce off the back of Gansongate II last year, immediately prior to the bad run you mention.

Or maybe they were ruined by tailing off late in the year, depending on which perspective you prefer.

Perhaps the theory is that if we go in slightly under cooked this time, we won't be spent at the business end of the year? Though players often refer to preseason as creating a well of fitness to draw on all year.

With 3 more of the 'Big 5' to come in the next 4 weeks (and not taking Cas for granted by any stretch), the danger is it'll get worse before it gets better. Hopefully there's enough in the well of optimism, to get us through it.

Like I said, juking the stats. Included in the 'run' is two pointless friendlies and a game with loads of juniors making debuts etc (albeit against a v poor London side). Ironically the win in the sequence was an against all odds win at Leeds.

I wouldn't buy into the theory that if we're short at the start of the year, we'll be alright by the end. Obviously you don't want to be peaking in February but competitive sporting logic would dictate you wouldn't purposefully start off the pace.

I do think we all may be a tad guilty of being a bit OTT, on the back of just one game ... but, IMO in comparison to the top sides, in the fitness department we always seem off the pace. We can go toe to toe with them for short periods, but after a while - you sense we're at our very limit and cave. Maybe I'm guilty of bigging us up and it's as simple as, we're just not up there with these top sides. Superior skill and application also allow the top sides to perform at the top level for longer.