How did Martin get on? At least he played the full game I guess. Would have asked how Charles and Balmforth did but either didn't get many minutes or it was just one way traffic at that point

WTF has that got to do with a North of England provincial sport that’s almost on it’s knees. Someone should belt you on the head with your effin barometer. We’re you there applauding Tag and his son. Getafuk NUMPTY

I think we need to calm down. It was a friendly against the best team in SL. When Smith arrived we where in a terrible place. He can't change that in one season. Our biggest problem was the pack. He definitely looks on the right track improving that aspect. Yes we need lots of other changes but it can't be done in one season. If it where that easy every team would do it.He said from day one it's a long term project. Let's cut the guy and the players some slack

“Belt me on the head ?”
Barometer thuggery

I have to laugh - I am on a thread about pre season and I’m discussing professionalism in other sports and developing a winning attitude

Maybe I got on the wrong thread ? Anyways you were going fine until you brought the barometer into it and overstepped the mark

I have no doubt that at round 9 you will see our finishing position gone or take a variance of 1 position , barring exceptional circumstances , such as Uncle Tony being replaced at 9 games.

Martin was okay. He didn't see much of the ball as we never really shifted it out wide to him. One time we did from a Scrum play on Wigans line and he got bundled into touch but that was also down to excellent Wigna sliding defence.
Came in looking for the ball a lot though. Not afraid to so some hard carries.

I know it was only a pre season game and Wigan are along way ahead of us, but it's hard to take too many positives from that and certainly knocked some optimism out of me.

A couple of things I thought might happen, but was hoping wouldn't happen.

We have a good starting pack, which needs to be broken up to improve bench impact

I'm not sure we have the pivots to exploit the platform laid by the pack.

A few injuries and we are in trouble, the likes of Lane, Mcintosh and Cator aren't good enough, but they are either in Smith's strongest 17 or right on the edge.

Probably just feeling negative after that 2nd half (and ill pick up in a day or two), but really not looking forward to the season.

It felt like we had 2 headless chicken at 6 and 7 once we got in Wigans 20. Brown was the better of the 2 but it was all individual stuff. Going off yesterday I'd be bringing Morgan Smith in gor Hoy.

Second row will still be a problem point for us too. I thought Ashworth put a shift in but Okunbor was pretty quiet, still got big question marks over him.

I thought Okunbor was good with what he did. Looked strong with his carries and took some putting down and tackled well. Can only recall him missing one.
He didn't see much of the ball though due to us favouring the left hand side.Think he could be a real weapon close to the line but i agree on 6 and 7. It's very concerning. Hopefully Trueman isn't far away and we can get Brown to hooker and have Morgan Smith alongside Trueman.

I agree about Okunbor. He looked okay when he did see the ball. Almost put Hoy in for a try with a lovely carry and offload. I do remember him making 1 daft error whem trying to take in a pass but after that he steadied up. I think Ock will go well for us once we get into the season.

Didn't go yesterday but the problem here is it shifts the doom ometer up already, we then play our big rivals in the opener and the clock could be set at a few 'minutes to midnight' before the season has got going.

We simply have to get off to a good start, or sadly the boos, early walkouts will start