My mistake, I don't know where I got 24 from. In which case he does have time on his side then. I still think he's a long way off even at Championship level, but no one better to learn from than Luke Gale.

My view from today with the players coming in Lino and Olly Russell with Lawford as back up isn't good enough. Lawford needs 18 months development so maybe a loan this season. So in my view we deffo need another half. We needs some good cover for Max at full back. Maybe Matty Russell is that person.

I hear we have a quota spot so go all out for Hastings but maybe even Drinkwater could do a job

Highlights are up on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRJVjQpYEk I couldn't see it at the time, don't think I was watching, but on that first try Walmsley made a hash of that kick, he just needed to get something on it and knock it dead and let them have another set at us from the dropout. As Powell said it takes teams 24 tackles to score on average when they get into our 20-meter area, so it's always the best bet to just get the ball out and reset. Then on the next try, Walmsley was not in the correct position, sweeping behind our back line and following the ball to cover tackles, so he was in position to make the tackle when they broke through our line when Lawford missed that initial tackle on his man. Something I'm pretty sure Jowitt would have nailed in both cases. I know Walmsley isn't a fullback and I'd have probably gone with Booth in hindsight but it just reinforced it again today. I think Powell just didn't want to make too many changes, especially with us already missing most of our spine and Bain and Boothroyd coming in. We were without a fair bit of leadership and key players today with no Ashurst, Griffin, Lino & Gale and it showed I thought but obviously needs must and it won't do the team any hard to learn to dig themselves out of holes, which tbf they've been good at so far. Most teams we've played have had a good crack at sticking it on us in those first 40 minutes and as the games have gone by we've gradually just learned to not panic, soak it up and use our strength, which is our middle players, to wear them out and come through the other side.

Highlights are up on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JRJVjQpYEk I couldn't see it at the time, don't think I was watching, but on that first try Walmsley made a hash of that kick, he just needed to get something on it and knock it dead and let them have another set at us from the dropout. As Powell said it takes teams 24 tackles to score on average when they get into our 20-meter area, so it's always the best bet to just get the ball out and reset. Then on the next try, Walmsley was not in the correct position, sweeping behind our back line and following the ball to cover tackles, so he was in position to make the tackle when they broke through our line when Lawford missed that initial tackle on his man. Something I'm pretty sure Jowitt would have nailed in both cases. I know Walmsley isn't a fullback and I'd have probably gone with Booth in hindsight but it just reinforced it again today. I think Powell just didn't want to make too many changes, especially with us already missing most of our spine and Bain and Boothroyd coming in. We were without a fair bit of leadership and key players today with no Ashurst, Griffin, Lino & Gale and it showed I thought but obviously needs must and it won't do the team any hard to learn to dig themselves out of holes, which tbf they've been good at so far. Most teams we've played have had a good crack at sticking it on us in those first 40 minutes and as the games have gone by we've gradually just learned to not panic, soak it up and use our strength, which is our middle players, to wear them out and come through the other side.

Lawford needs time and guidance anyone who has played the game at any level knows a seven needs a good pack which today was good but not regular. A solid reliable half back partner again today a new partnership with max trying probably too hard. A good loose forward and a competent full back.
Today was probably too many changes in key positions with all of them trying too hard to please and keep up to what we expect as fans . I see a good player in him with the right teacher

I thought once again we looked miles off SL standard. We just seem to be winning on fitness and size in the second half. The score flattered us today.
I'd keep Walmsley away from FB, he seemed reluctant to take a high ball and kept letting it bounce.
Swinton had a good kicking game, apart from the one that didn't go ten. We could learn a lot from that.

As soon as I saw the team I knew it would be an awkward afternoon.

Playing best full back at 6.

Playing high scoring winger at 1 (who doesn’t join the line).

Were the most bizzare choices. Powell seems to still be experimenting somewhat to test the depth in certain positions.

I’m a little old fashioned and I’m very much a play your players in their best and natural positions unless absolutely necessary.

I don’t blame either of the two because they’re very good in their respective positions. I hope the experiment is over.

As for Lawford, he’s got a season this year to iron out his game. That said just getting dropped in every few weeks and today playing with an inexperienced half who was also not very effective didn’t help. I feel he would have gone better with Gale or Lino at side of him.

If there is a quota spot though and there is a top quality half then for next season we would be silly not to look.

I don't understand why you say this because It's not a surprise, as we had so many changes from our normal 17, especially our spine and 2 backrowers, one debuting and the others being out a fair bit. Plus players are out of position because of knocks etc. Anyway, what's miles off SL, playing like Hull, Cas or London, because watching them I'd say our defence is far better than those teams and so is our pack even accounting for comp, so IMO we'd beat those teams with our full team out and give a couple of others a good game, but hey opinions.

If we were getting a team ready to play in SL team some guys aren't going to be playing and are getting replaced, as we know from what our recruitment manager says, so why do we have to be SL quality in the Championship? Surely we aim to gradually build this season, see who we want to keep for next season and bring in about 9 players, that the club have said they have lined up.

If/when we get put back in SL don't you think our team's going to look quite a bit different?

As for today's game, you seem quick to talk us down, sure we weren't as clinical in defence as we usually are but don't acknowledge that we had a guy at FB who wouldn't be there if we thought we'd struggle, and had a half-back pairing of a 20-year-old prospect and a full back, have they ever played together? and we're only winning because we have a good pack who are fit, I don't agree. Generally, the backs have put in some big games this season, supporting the forwards in back play, keeping teams out and scoring when given a chance. I'm not sure what you expect at this level, for us to nil every team and score 50+.

I don't want to take anything away from Swinton they played far better than expected, but we let them in for some easy points, especially when we only average 10 a game.

We play down the middle because that's where our strength is atm and all our Props are top quality, which makes it hard for the Championship sides to keep being hammered all match without us gradually getting on top. Just like some SL teams do with good big packs, some play more off the cuff because they haven't got the pack to march teams down the field. It's no surprise probably the best team in SL have a monstrous pack and do similar and then their backs play off the back of them in Wigan. That's what we have to contend with hopefully next season.

Never going to be a complete performance with so many changes to our squad ,but will have given Powell a good insight into how our squad can perform when changes are required through injuries , and positional changes are required . Every team wants our scalp and will up their game against us that’s a given ,and at times we made it easy for Swinton through poor defensive reads and a clunky attack which was far too easy to shut down, especially our one man rugby, especially in the first half . Forward power got us home with individual barge over tries , but I’m still waiting for those flowing attacking structures that Powell in his Cas days was famous for , even though today we have to give some leeway due to squad changes especially in the half’s

A bit harsh on Bain and Boothroyd. Its their first games back after bad injuries, and will probably ly be a bit rusty and may take a coupëe of games for them to hit their straps

The scoreline flattered us a bit in the end but nice to get through a tough game with a win and no visible
injuries. I thought the Northstand were outstanding, got behind the team for the full 80 mins and made a fair racket.