I wonder the way things are going we will have a few u19s playing like the Chappelhow brothers.

Thought Hood was excellent, looked really quick and caused Widnes loads of problems.

Pack dominated and allowed Chase and Dobson to do their stuff.

I just hope we can build on this and at least compete in our next 3 games.

I’ve not got much more to add about yesterdays game, but I would like to give a massive pat on the back to Caton-Brown. He has quite rightly been lambasted for his defence recently, but yesterday he made some great defensive reads and one on one tackles. I also thought our back 3 were immense, but lets not get too carried away, yes lets enjoy it, but we’ve got 3 massive games coming up that will really show where we are at. If we can get a result at Huddersfield there is no reason why we shouldn’t get over 6k against Wigan.

Agree with most of the comments so far - my only gripe was when we just lost concentration after Widnes were down to 12 and their winger (Owen?) scored with our defence concentrated wholly in the centre.
We surely need to be capable of taking advantage of those opportunities not squandering them!

Anyone else massively disappointed with the first 40? I thought we were distinctly average and apart from the Saints game, thought it was our poorest 40 thus far. I don’t know how we went in at the break 16-8 up, because we had very little of the ball in the Widnes half. It was also littered with daft individual mistakes ie Mozza knocking on after we scored, Hauraki lost the ball, Griffin and Chase hitting the same gap and so on.

Second half was a different story though, we came out fired up and the forwards did their job in laying a great platform against a big Widnes pack. We just need to do be consistent now, if we can play for the full 80 with that level of intensity we wont be far too far away come the end of the season.

Usual suspects were brilliant, how good is Cory Pato though? Special mentions to Forster on his debut, D.Griffin cut out the penalties and looked dangerous, Tasi was a beast, Taylor superb and Mozza same old good stuff.

Liam Hood though. Where do we fit this kid in? It’s obvious when both he and Theo are fit it’s a choice between one or the other for the interchange hooking position. Should Tommy Lee be worried about his position? He hasn’t put a foot wrong all season and his defence is one of the strongest I have seen.

Great dilemma to have, but based on last night it’s Hood for me. Kid is a natural born hooker who ripped Widnes apart at the ruck last night.

I just hope we can carry that second half performance into the Huddersfield game! If we can beat them then we really are in the mix!

It's going to be a real advantage going into Easter having selection headaches, as we'll probably need to rotate a number of the squad to be competitive over this period. The likes of Hood and Forster have done a great deal to put them into prime contention for these games. As for the Widnes game, first forty we were pretty average and it was only Widnes playing a strange strategy of one-up RL that let us off the hook. They spread it wide once and scored, but then never bothered again. Second half was more complete from our perspective and we finished the second forty at full pace, and that reflected in the scoreline.

The big question is can we keep this intensity and enthusiasm for every game? It's easy to when you are cruising like last night, but it takes guts and effort when you're in a game that can go either way.

This is Harris’ and the players biggest challenge. They have shown they’re capable of playing with such intensity and enthusiasm, so there is no reason why they can’t do that for 80 minutes. We could be a very dangerous team if they can master this.

Also, our home record is looking rather decent at the moment isn’t it? Was that 8 wins from 10, with those defeats coming from Leeds and Saints? Fortress AJ Bell.

Exactly that John, sneak a couple of wins away from home and were getting there! Crowds will come also.

The performance was good but not great. Lots of positives and a much improved defensive effort. A very pleasing aspect to witness was the was the positive body language and team spirit amongst the players. Personally I believe there is still a lot more improvement to come from this group if they can maintain this new found attitude and enthusiasm.

I thought you could see the class Locke has last night, the way he catches the all rather than trapping like many full backs do, he put in a one on one try saver in the first half that shows he is not all just about the attack.

Hood looks like he is an astute buy, added some real zip from dummy half and didn't look like he would be less effective in defense than Lee.

The team ethic struck me, took me back to Harrison when we finished 5th, all seemed to be playing for each other and the obvious improvement in reading each others plays is pleasing also.

It struck me last night that there can't be a bigger wing/centre partnership that BJB and Griffin or a speedier combination that Johnson/MCB (who's improved defense was there for all to see).

You beat what's in front of you but last night was a cracking performance all round and would have done for a much better team than Widnes.

I forgot, at one point Dobson made at least 10 yards with a touch finder and DIDN'T go long left with a kick off.

Heady stuff indeed.

Lunchtime at work: so can relax on here.

Many co-workers have stopped me to say that they knew I'd walk in with a smile: they looked out the score. What astounded me was the number who fitted in some (or all) of the televised game.

Stockport: about 3 RLfans in 300+ workers: yet we're making an impact. Suprising what a victory can do (if built on).

Makes me laugh when people cry out that we should change how we kick off games! Really? It's just a restart of the game and depending and what footed the kicker is, is what direction game will be restarted from. What do people want? Lets try catch them out with a short kick then moan if we don't retreive the ball and lose field territory. Every team will restart in the same direction if same kicker is on the ball, don't know why people cry for anything different. Very shallow knowledge of rugby game if you ask me.

I wasn't in the south last night but how waa Dobson being treated? Shown his class with his kicking game for me, can see him only improving. Such a shame he was being booed against Wakefield and chanting for his replacement.

I thought it was just me! Where are the others?

PTB speed was immense last night best Ive seen from us in a long time. Thought the whole team played well, no special mentions needed they all did really well. I was a bit worried when I saw no Sau and Walne before the game but I thought we defended well. What should we be targeting from the next three games - I think we start with our strongest 17 against Huddersfield, change and freshen it up for Wigan and then go for it against Leeds again?

opposite the Town Hall
yes the old hospital

There was no booing or "Theo" chanting that I can remember. Whether that lasts after his ban has run out is another question. South stand was relatively quiet last night too, it appears to be getting more and more 'cliquey' (no idea if that's spelt correctly).

According to SL stats Junior has made 57 tackles and missed 21. J Walne has made 126 and missed 17 so these two things may be linked.......

there looked to be more than 3,476 at the game.

Oh FFS, here we go again.

You only say that because you're the head of the clique



I've not noticed anything like that, there are a few morons who stand together who people avoid, I'd called them a herd of pricks rather than a clique.

I miss the old Shed clique. It was a far higher quality of clique, who actually created an atmosphere - todays South Stand clique just wear replica shirts and boo our own players.

I'm sorry, but the suggestion of a 'clique' in the South Stand is absolute garbage.

I stand in the south on the left edge corner, mainly because its not as compact but I have ventured behind the post in previous seasons. In my honest opinion there is particular groups of people in the South Stand, possibly 3, maybe 4? I have been there when one group starts a chant but other groups won't join in, its embarrassing. I know people go rugby with their mates and to have good time but wouldn't it be better to congregate together rather than singing songs our own group started. As I say, I'm normally on the far left edge anyway and to be he honest it takes a while to filter down.