A very steady and accomplished opening to what many might have thought a bannana skin fixture to start off with.

With Ratu pulling a hamstring earlier in the week and Benny Galea forced to also sit out through injury it may have looked like the experience out wide was going to trouble us however quite the opposite.

With Matt Cook having a strong pre-season he seemed to be everywhere in the first half hour of the match, he must have been high up in the tackle count because I struggled to think of a tackle made out on the left that he didn't have something to do with.

The opening stanza which saw Salford have possesion only once (from the kick off) in the first 8 minutes showed us Rovers fans exactly what we have been saying since Foxy came to the club, he should be on the right hand side with a strong defender next to him.

Two well worked tries later and it was back to the Rovers of old, get a lead and dont capitalise. That very same ruthless streak Rovers have lacked for naigh 30yrs. A defeat like that of the Harlequins was on the cards if those first 10 minutes were to carry on for the full 80.

I'm sure bigger sides like Leeds, Wigan, Hull and Warrington will be far more dominant up front however on todays showing our whole pack is happy to mix it with guys a good 20kgs heavier and still dominate.

Obviously many on here know I am friends with Rhys and I have certainly stuck up for him in the past when people have doubted his ability but after todays showing I am sure many will have thrown away their roast chicken dinners and pulled out an old straw hat and chomped on that this evening!! His opening combination with Scott Wheeldon and Scott Murrell I thought really worked the Salford pack and got us on the front foot, I thought this in the Bradford trial game too but thought it best to wait for a competative game before getting excited about how this could grow into one of the better front rows over the next 5yrs.

However a little worrying is the smaller players breaking our line in the middle, we seem to be caught slightly flat footed and this could prove to be our downfall in games that boast an Eastmond, McGuire, Burrow, Robinson...etc. On the plus though our forwards do have good footwork going forwards that may well trouble the more sizable forwards in the opposition.

Given the lack of game time Jake Webster has had to perfect the half back role he's been asked to play and the little ball work training the club have been able to offer I thought Jake linked up with Paul Cooke and Michael Dobson seamlessly. I think we all have the same thoughts on Jake that he has that X-Factor to really shine but he needs to be kept fit and that seems to be his biggest problem.

On the subject of position changes Paul Cooke reverting back to his natural and childhood position of loose man certainly seemed to work and will be something Morgan will have to think seriously about when Galea does get fit. Can we afford not to have him on the pitch but can we afford to bench Matt Cook or even more so Paul Cooke?

Now our defence I thought was brilliant, quite surprised our very fast side let in a length of the field effort but Broughton is a speedy player and had Foxy took the winger leaving Broughton to Briscoe I dont think it would have been scored. Their first try however was good work by them, aiming at our weak link with Dobson and Welham defending together it was always going to be McRea's first option to aim his players down there.

All in all though defence was on top today and all that with one of the lightest packs in the league. Closing out the game 30-12 winners showed that we were never in any real trouble but offered more than any trial game we could have organised in terms of things we need to improve on through the season.

It will be interesting to watch the developments especially with the change in half back/hooker and loose man roles.

Whatever reporters/supporters of other clubs say I think we have cause to be pretty optomistic about the season ahead and although maybe not title contenders just yet we can deffinately trouble the top teams and with a little bit of luck retain our top 5 spot in the top flight.

I think we should see how we get on in the next 2 games against Wigan & Huddersfield.

That will give a far better guide to our prospects for the season.

I totally agree that was my view of how today went.

We've just come off the back of an over successful season and not really signed anyone of great note and lost Fitzhenry who had just come good. BUT when some are saying we'll finish as low as 9th and not make the finals. This to me is totally wide of the mark and it will be open to say we over achieved at the end of the year when I think 9th would be under achieving for the squad we have put together. Not saying we'll finish with every piece of silverware on offer not even saying we'll win one play off game I'm just saying we are not going to be a whiping boy of this league and we'll push some very good teams for the full 80mins.

how did clinton play?

Why do you care what people predict? Seriously? Apart from Leeds being the benchmark and Salford/Crusaders (and possibly Quins) being at the bottom end, no one can call it. You'd have to drop 5 places to miss the play-offs and with Morgan in charge that's not going to happen. Besides, Zod says you'll finish 3rd.

I suppose you have a point Mrs Barista and as you say the top 8 is so hard to call probably even the top 10 if you look at Wakey and Cas possibly surprising a few this year.

I just think we earnt more respect last season that we seem to be getting but maybe the underdog tag will suit us!

Totally agree with everything you say, think Cooke should've got MOM thought haha, only a minor thing though.

Who cares? We won at a canter without him.

You are Stevo and i claim my £5

Seriously though enjoyed reading that summation of the game. I listened on the radio and i got the impression you were on top and never looked like losing. Just killing the game off was were you fell down.
Always good to get those potential banana skins out of the way and we all know these so called lower teams can pull a great display out from time to time.

You will get a better idea of how you look after your next 2 fixtures, Wigan & Hudds will give you a sterner test.

Clinton !

Have Rovers actually ANNOUNCED him let alone printed his name on replica shirts, you muppet