Great start, great impact early on - Stapleton & Cashmere look as good a front row combo as I've ever seen. Combined with Malc we really looked like a team who could do damage to the more established teams in the league.

But then...

Alker must play more than 40 minutes in a game. He doesn't need the rest - drop him into the second row for 10 perhaps, even bench him for 10, but for the good of the team he needs to be on. He provides drive & leadership. Once Nash/Big Phil & Robbie came on we looked a shadow of the team we were early doors. And to prove this wasn't just a case of a good start, when Stapleton/Cashmere & Alker came back on the last 20, again we took control again.

I hope the Coach is not too proud to show Alker his team needs him. Likewise I hope he can get more out of Nash, Big Phil & Robbie. I have suspicions 2 of these players are out of their depth at this level these days, but I don't want to be negative - a win, a decent crowd (considering the time, Valentine and the oppo) and some of the best footie I've seen Salford play in a long time in the first 20. Come on Salford!

Have to agree about the forwards, I suspected before the season started that with the right units on the pitch we'd be hard to beat up the middle and that was more than proved last night.
Stapleton and Cashmere looked immense (despite being stood next to a tool who was screaming that Cashmere was unfit and should be taken off) and made hard yards every time they touched the ball, Alker looked like he had rediscovered his fire, Parker looked solid but I was expecting to see more of him but for me the best pack performance was Swain as I thought he looked creative and almost like a 2nd hooker at times.
But as said above when we brought on Nash and Paul I thought we lost shape and more importantly holes appeared down the middle that worried me, Nash I am sorry good young player as he undoubtedly is he isnt SL material and Paul looks now to have lost his once youthfull edge and I think he'll be found out for me week in week out. LouLou appeared to be dangerous made some good yards but he is always likely to be a player who misses the odd easy tackle whilest nailing the next one in a huge way. Sibbet looked fit (thats it I think i've just heard his break his neck buttering toast) and he took his try brilliantly, Adamson was his useual brilliant self and makes me more and more think he is destined for great things.

Unfortunately didnt see enough of the backs to give the same annalysis apart from Smith showing that Ratchford has got a job on his hands getting a starting birth (for me it was shocking that he wasnt on the bench ahead of Paul). based on that performance I dont think we'll struggle like the last time we were in SL but likewise dont think either that we have the ammunition for anything but mid table status - but given it's the first year back i'm pretty happy to hope thats the case.

I agree the initial good start wasn't maintained. My feelings were that first 13 was the most impressive I've seen Salford look in a long time. It might take a while for some of the other players to step up, lets just hope that's all it was. Big Phil's second spell on the pitch was far more productive than his first and think Nash showed some strength, but it was hard to tell as I was down the opposite end of the ground at the time.

My other concern is over Littler, great servant to the club and his defence has come has improved considerably over the years, but didn't see a great deal of attacking flair from him. Although I may have missed it.

Sibbit took his chance well and reminded what a good attacking he player he is, also looked like he's put on some extra size. IMO a player we'll need to keep him fit if we are going to be competitive this season.

Michigan red! excellant assessment of last night game & players.

Pretty much agree with Michigan Red's post too.

However, whilst I agree we looked weaker with Leuluai, Nash and Paul instead of Cashmere, Stapleton and Alker, I thought Leuluais had a good game.

Also, whilst I agree that the backs weren't the stand-outs players in general, I thought Henry looked really good - went looking for work, sound in defence, took his try well.

Alker was different class though - if that'what losing the captaincy does, we should've taken the armband off him years ago!

Talking of Nash I felt that he didn't do as bad as some make out. he made himself avaiable for taking the ball up and actually made a bit of good yardage. He also got well stuck in defensively from what I remember. To compare him against Stapleton and cashmere is just ludicrus. He's filled out pre season especially upper body. lets see how he developes over the season. If he can be injury freeish and get some game time I think we'll see a much more accomplished forward. He is after all very young and inexperienced at present.

happy with early signs don't think we'll be the whipping boys yet. concerned that our game plan when under the cosh was to revert to one man rugby instead of attempting something more creative to turn the game around. it worked and if that was the game plan against celts then ok. i just feel we would get stuck against a better team with that ploy.
but we won and thought the game was entertaining. it's good to be back.

You are Mr's Nash and I claim my £5

Dont know how you can say Nash is out of his depth at this level


How much time has he played in the last few months,he needed a wrist reconstruction ,so all he has played at this level is 40 mins last night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!