For me it's a little worrying that the defence just seems so porous. Yes we are lacking half a dozen first team players but for my money, the defensive structure is surely something that the whole squad buys into in pre season, is it possible that it's not entirely the players fault and that they are being coached incorrectly?! I'm not saying this is definitely true, it's just a thought.

Also, Mika's accidental foul on Amor is a prime example of why i'm baffled about Withers being first man up at tackle constantly.

The reason we lost on Saturday was not our back row, it was our front row getting absolutely annihilated by Wakefield's.
If the props don't pull their weight it is very difficult for anyone else to flourish.

Because he doesn't head butt people when tackling them?

So it should have been our head and feed, Ganson you t

What i'm trying to say is that it's not the first time Withers has been bumped off easily by an opposing Prop. Take him out of that situation 10 seconds in and Mika & Paea probably stop Poore, wrap him up and we go again rather than being down to 16 men.

Before the season I was optimistic about our chances of having a good year. This has been dented slightly from what I have seen so far, mainly defensively because in all honesty it looks just as bad in terms of intensity, winning the ruck and discipline. Injuries do not really affect this which is why its so disappointing. However in attack we will be fine, especially when Burns gets on the pitch. I still think we can and will get the win against Widnes lets not panic yet, the team will be a bit low on confidence we dont need it seeping through to the fans on the terraces.

For me, Withers is actually one of our better tacklers, he`s put some monster hits in since he joined us. His over enthusiasm for them first few seconds was his only undoing.

Agree with you he more often puts his body on the line

He's our 3rd highest tackler in the two games so far, just one behind Griffin.

Our front-rowers are the problem - not the second-rowers IMO.

Withers gets there first because he quicker, he's also a really good one on one tackler.

IF we can sort our discipline out then i think we should have Widnes, if Eden is fit then at least Hall will stand in at 6, so there is a bit more of a partnership with Dobbo. The second row needs to sort itself out, in the last game they didnt pull their weight and they need to step up and show what they can do. I see in the papers this morning same old drivel from Rovers, 'we need to do this or that' Stop talking and start sorting it out.

I'm not denying he is one of our best tacklers, it was just an observation that's all.

If you think he's one of our best tacklers why would you suggest he shouldn't be the first man into contact from a kick return?
Saturday was a freak accident due to the momentum knocking him back from the tackle and then 2 team mates converging on him at the same time, knocking him over.
To use this as evidence for a slower defensive chase is daft.

Got the makings of a cracker this one ... think Widnes are a completely different proposition now they've had a little time to adjust and as we all know from years gone by Widnes are a big club and it would be no surprise to their fan base to turn Rovers over ... I think home advantage is key in this one and think Rovers will have enough .

Withers sitting this one out, Welham, Eden & Lovegrove in www.superleague.co.uk/preview/8780

Withers sitting this one out, Welham, Eden & Lovegrove in www.superleague.co.uk/preview/8780