I must admit I fear the worst but when up against it it often brings out the best in the lads.

Two wins, one draw and two losses in our five pre-season friendlies isn't exactly red hot form but this is the big business and let's hope the boys alay my fears with a win. I've never seen us beat Widnes yet, last team to tick off my victory list.

Sheffield Eagles v Widnes Vikings 3pm
Ref R Laughton TJ J Roberts TJ M Beadle RR C Dean MC M Charlton

The committee note that the player has a good record and has never appeared before the panel before. The allegation has been made at a Grade C however the committee feel that due to uncertainty to the point of contact on either the shoulder or head than the charge is reduced to a Grade B. While the potential for injury is apparent in this incident, the committee place emphasis on the player’s good record and feel that a 1 match suspension and £50 fine is appropriate.looks like menzie is out of the widnes game then could have been worse .

Even more sure we'll lose now. Prove me wrong lads!

It says J Leahy on the website.

Must have changed, it was Ronnie originally

Thought the scoreline flattered Widnes TBH,They definalty deserved to win but a 12 to 14 point deficit would have been a fairer reflection,Our fears about our backs not being good enogh certainly happened today,Our forwards are one of the best in the league,There laying the platform but the halfbacks and backs are not good enough to expose and penetrate the opposition,starting with cottle ,no better than Johnny Woodcock and rarely makes a break,an average Championship player,Misi would make a massive difference,Danny Mills not good enough im afraid,Corey Hanson an exciting prospect but probably not reay yet to be playing every week but certainly the best back today,Joe hirst in the centres,He's a forward and it showed,Dane also,Tim Bergin did alright,QT looks a class act already and looking forward to seeing him play whether it be centre or stand off,Against York with hopfully the Bradford lads available and Menzie we should beat york,The problem is the backs and its there for all to see,hopfully it will get resloved and we wont be far off a play-off spot again.Was right in line with the try in the 1st half that was disalowed,Never offside,The 1st conversation by widnes never went through the posts,Held up over the line a couple of times,We would have won against other sides today.

We're not making errors but, equally, we're not breaking their line.

Their play-the-ball and line speed was so fast we struggled to live with. But our overall performance was so much better than the northern rail dross we were served. Cottle, Hanson and Brown stood out for me. What in intro by Q to storm through the line. Get this man at half back and move McDonald to LF. I'm still not impressed by him at 6. Q to six and Menzie to Centre and were rolling.

Cottle is good at catching the high ball and quite safe in possesion but never looks like breaking the line,Hes okay for the time-being,Brown has a good kicking game but never takes the defence on,thats okay when you have a player at the side who is more expansive ie Brendon,hopfully with QT at the side a good partnership will blossom.

TBF Cottle & Brown did support and take on the line a couple of times.

My wife thought we were terrible today. I didn't think we were that bad. The main difference was our Goal-line defence in the 2nd Half was non-existant and Widnes were very solid.

Ball-handling by both sides were good. Eagles had to do a lot of defending early on & that probably paid the price later on with fatigue setting in.

We definately missed Menzie & Misi today! Let's hope the lads can pick themselves up & get stuck into York on Thursday.

I had a few people say to me that they thought today was terrible. However, nome of them went to the NRC games. Trust me, today was much much improved!

I thought today was okay, much better than the NRC games. We did well at the start defending for (i think) 3 sets of 6 on the bounce but I think this showed 2nd half as we looked tired in spells. We looked clueless sometimes on their line though and a set move or more clinical passing could of got us a try, we was just throwing it anywhere at one stage!

QLT seemed good with ball in hand and hopefully once he is settled will be great player and will be a playmaker for us which we certainly need. Brown is a good kicker but we need someone to inject a bit of life into our plays!

Forwards played well again and we are up their with one of the best packs in the league.

Special mention to Cottle who was confident under the high balls, Henderson who was the only one who really showed at bit of flair at dummy half and Szostak who was stable consistent as ever!