Its been a great start to the season, in my opinion we would be unbeaten if we hadn`t of lost both our main playmakers at such a key time in the game against Wigan, we had a decent lead at that point and we looked in control but we fell apart once Briers and Monaghan left the pitch.

Good teams always look to improve and i believe were a good team, we like to play attractive rugby league which looks good on the eye.

In an ideal world i would like to see us have more pace in the back row, i think both Louis Anderson and Ben Westwood are very alike as they are both 80 min bump and grind type 2nd rowers with Ben Westwood being the better of the 2, both Leeds and Saints have had decent pace in the 2nd row in years gone by with the likes of Gareth Ellis and Lee Gilmore, that gives you a lot of options. Oh for a young version of Mark Roberts to break onto the scene



Overall i think we can do better at full back, i don`t see Richie Mathers as a safe, solid and reliable full back, he does a lot of things very well. His organisation and enthusiasm is great, his support play is great but its the blonde moments which crop up on a fairly regular basis that could cost us dear at some point.

Maybe loose forward needs to be looked at, Ben Harrison is a top prospect but i don`t see him as a long term 13, he could end up as a prop at some point, i would like to see Simon Grix have an extended run at 13 as he has a touch of class about him, he just needs better luck with injuries. Maybe we could have a look at Jon Clarke at 13 when he`s fit again, to be honest i`d prefer Grix out of the 2.

Our pack is top drawer, our main pivots of 6, 7 and 9 are as good as any in SL if not better. Michael Monaghan is the most dangerous hooker in SL in my opinion and Micky Higham keeps up the quick tempo from acting half when he comes on, Lee Briers is showing everything he promised to be under Tony Smith, Richie Myler has pace, great support play and the arrogance that you like to see in a quality scrum half, he also pulls off some great cover tackles.

I don`t think we know what our best 3 quarters line up is yet, we have quite a few options, Chris Bridge looks to be first choice right centre, its trying to get Hicks and Riley into the same starting line up which is a nice problem to have, Ryan Atkins i`m hoping comes into his own once he settles and the weather gets consistently better which i guess maeans an in form Matt King on the left wing.

Its a very good squad with some nice headaches for Tony Smith to have, we have some good utility players that can slot in if need be when their all fit again.

We need an extra prop.

I can see the postmortem of our season....started brightly but an injury to Morley/Carvell left us short in the front row just at the wrong time.

Agreed.

Learn how to play Silverwood. Never win when he's in charge

Having another prop doesn`t concern me as much as having a lack of pace and some nimble footwork in the 2nd row, you need some biff and grind in any 2nd row but both our 2nd rowers at present are too much alike and it limits your options and your attacking threat especially in the bigger games.

As for the props, if we lost either Carvell or Morley to injury then an in form Paul Wood is a very good replacement at the moment. We also have Mike Cooper who did really well last year from his limited game time, we also have both Solomona and Harrison who could quite easily do a stint at prop if need be.

So 5 games in and we are already picking holes in the team. It has to be a new record.

I thought we were lucky with Carvell last year. Before he joined us he had (iirc) a 50% playing record. Woody as well as he is playing has quite an injury record. Even though Solomona has the physique of a prop i much prefer him running wide. I agree that i think Harrison's future is is the front row but i'd be much happier if we had one more established, solid prop. You can 'make do' in lots of positions but if you are struggling up front the rest of your game will struggle.

It's all about continual improvement. Champions are always looking to improve.

Apart from one dropped ball we'd be unbeaten. Show me some real problems.

Ive often wondered if you actually read posts in their entirety or you just post stuff that suits your agenda which is to try and twist threads to make it look like posters are actually moaning and criticising the team, if you actually read what the thread says it says were playing great rugby league which is good on the eye and we would probably be unbeaten now if it wasn`t for the loss of Monaghan and Briers at a crucial stage against Wigan.

This is for constructive comments as to where people think we could improve and not for you to wind your neck out and try your best to turn it into a "look people are moaning" thread.

All teams look to improve as thats how you get better and closer to perfection, we have improvement in us like all teams do, we are very strong in certain positions but we could be a lot stronger in others.

Why don`t you offer a decent opinion for a change instead of your usual which is to hide round the corner waiting for the first oppertunity to come along where you can try and derail a thread into one that suits your own agenda ?

I certainly didn't read all that. I got bored after you suggested we needed a new back row and a full back.

It just proves your not capable of reading a post, i never suggested we need a new back row.

What i did say is that some pace would be ideal in the back row to compliment what we already have.

So replacing two out of the three isn't more or less changing the entire back row. OK.

Centre: King
Wing: Atkins

Was think that myself didn't Atkins play wing at Wakey?

Fullback is a grey area for me. I don't know what it is about Richie but I am un-comfortable with him at the back.

I think he brings some really good attributes both offensively, tactically, and team spirit wise he is fantastic. But, I think inconsistency/unpredictability is the main issue with him. He seems fine up the other end of the field but has brain farts where it counts as a fullback at the back. I dread any grubber kick going his way as he takes an age to pick it up and once he does, it's like watching him handle a bar of soap.

We could do better but there's not many good UK based players to pick at in that position. Briscoe is the only one I can think of. All the other teams have non UK FBs or duds - =#0000FFWellens, =#004000Greenshields, =#004000Phelps, =#0000FFTansey, =#0000FFBriscoe, =#004000Hodgson, =#0000FFPlatt, =#004000Dorn, =#0000FFFitzpatrick, =#000000Webb, =#0000FFBlaymire, =#004000McGoldrick, =#004000Youngquest.

Its not picking holes in the team, mate, its just looking to see where you could improve an already impressive all round squad. Obviously, the salary cap has its limitations on these posibilities, and its for this reason that i doubt anyone will ever have the "perfect" side. Personally i'm finding it hard to pick a problem out. Mathers has his moments, but the energy and passion that he offers, far outway his negative "momentary" cock ups. He'll lift you in more ways than drag you down. LAnderson looked shakey at the start for me, but seems to have calmed down abit, although shooting out of the line looking for the smash, could cost us at some point. Failing that, we have adequate cover to directly replace or shuffle players around in all departments, and its a nice feeling to know that Tony has all this to consider for the season ahead. Its only by creating this strength in depth, that you get the best out of players, and it'll be interesting to see once an injury happens, who will be the man to raise his hand and want to keep his place in the 17. Decisions decisions....

I would look to upgrade our current fullback. I would also like an impact prop in the guise of a Feka type. All in, not too much to really change or alter at this stage of the season.

although bridge did a good job, I'd go for a real top goal kicker like cameroon smith, botica, el masri type. a 90% or high 80's success rate

Not sure why everyones being so harsh on Mathers, hes the best fullback we've had since Dave Lyon, barring Brent Grose's one good season.

Offers far more than Lee Penny did, or Hunte/Felton/Watts/Cardiss/Reardon

Botica or El Masri would struggle to get in our team - both be a bit short of match fitness...

Lee Penny once scored 4 tries at Headingley in a game & we still lost. Never could pass a ball though.

i did state TYPE of player

You are lacking at fullback, centre, and a bench prop.

And you could do better with the cheerleaders. And if we are talking ideal world you could have free food at the game.

We aren't lacking at centre.

King, Bridge, Atkins & Grix. All four are quality SL performers at centre.

I don't think we lack anything. The fact that Cooper can't get in at present speaks volumes for me, and that Mathers will struggle to get back in.