Best side lost today, Fax had a game plan, stuck to it and nearly delivered.

That's one Get Out Of Jail Free card played.

Our pack was completely out muscled, the amount of times we allowed them to get their heads through the line with free arms to offload was ridiculous. That's all about being out enthused at contact and is unacceptable for a full time team against part timers.

Who is calling the set plays? No one reacted to the vast majority of them. As for getting caught driving the ball in on the last tackle it's frustrating when a forward does it but both of your half backs? Really?

We basically had a few individuals with more quality.

Blair looked to have got his mojo back a bit but that's the only positive I can think of.

To put a bit of perspective on it all, one of The Skein said to me, "We're top of the league, unbeaten and we're​ all stood here moaning".

Our lack of forward power is well documented & much more apparent without Clark. We're also lacking a big Ken Sio type ball carrier on exit sets. No one's getting us on the front foot.

Back home in Frack Central.

We left after the Jamie Ellis touchline conversion of the Moss try not particularly happy with the win but angry with the ugly and half hearted performance and with Jamie Ellis for missing a sitter of a penalty, which would have given him the world record. Next time, tell Neil Rudd to shut the f**k up.

It's all been said by others in this thread. Below is my summary:

The best team lost.
Our overall performance went into reverse.
Forwards were out enthused.
We never looked like scoring from open play in the second half until the Will Sharp gift from the high bomb.
Composure? There was none.
We ignored countless overlaps through sheer greed and an unwillingness to pass out wide. This is a feature of this team.
Missed tackles and crap first contact were too numerous to mention.
Set completion less than 50% in the 1st half.
Where we're the structured set plays?
Support play was non existent.
Shaun Lunt was a class apart.
We missed Quinlans attacking support play, especially on the inside shoulder.
Half way through the 1st half I thought I was unlucky enough to be watching a game of Rugby Yawnion (the ultimate insult), there was so much stop/start.
Most SL teams will give us a dry bumming on the evidence of today.
Hicks gave nothing like an elite level refereeing performance.

More questions left unanswered after today's game.

I'd rather nail my ball sack to the table

Go on then.

Not sure about should pick off, Widnes in particular have been poor but still drew in France and nearly beat Wigan, do you think the current Rovers team could, Widnes will be your target, but like you will strengthen using the Brown money. Widnes also have 6/7 injuries to key players at the moment. Against us they looked really good for 20 minutes.

I still think you need 3/4 players, you have the cap space and quota spots, but there has to be the quality players available and a few clubs will be after these players.

I suppose the Leigh cup game might give us all a better indication of where you are.

Thought Shaun Lunt was the difference between the 2 teams Today. Well done Rovers from gutted fax fan

The SL teams, even Widnes, will enter the 8s as favourites to stay up. They look the most like us last year though, IMO. In terms of squad quality and apparent inability to do much about it. Rule's list of missing players to return wasn't that impressive and they'll likely lose other important players as those return. We'll have injuries to deal with too, of course. Where their morale is will be important - chances are it won't be great.

I know it is early season, but the cherries you've picked for Widnes aren't all that. We had narrow defeats, and spells of looking good in games (20 minutes, you say?!) last year.

It's still 15 or so rounds away, so for now I'm just happy to enjoy the Championship in of itself.

Completely agree, If we lost him then we'd be screwed. Fax were the better team and it was only fitness that got us over the line.

Widnes have no quota spaces left which should be a major stumbling block

You wouldn't be if you went to games, it's shizzle.

Absolutely spot on.

There aren't enough quality English players lurking about to be picked up for the 8s.