I saw this on the highlights of the try, wasn’t sure if it was a bit of banter about beating him or reference to the Maguire thing, whatever it was it got under Charnley’s skin

The encouraging thing is that we actually look a good all-round side.

I think many observers expected us, with our new big forward signings, to be a one-trick pony of just bulldozing our way to the try-line. But it's becoming obvious there is a bit of talent in the backs too, with Dufty, Ashton & Williams all showing they are a genuine individual threat, which opposition can't dismiss easily.

As Duckie has often preached on here, the forwards are setting a solid base for our backs to play a very watchable brand of RL.

It's still early days and there is plenty of time for mishaps or bumps on the road, but if you were doing a early season report and prospects for the rest of the year, then we would be one of those teams who you'd expect to be there or thereabouts come season's end.

Excellent start to the campaign. A good win against a Leigh side that had their tails up after beating Saints, and a number of former players of ours in their ranks, that they were well and truly up for it. There are bound to bumps in the road, as a consequence of having injuries that we cannot accommodate and dropping energy levels. Feels like were in the fun zone after the train wreck of 2022, with some more difficult tests and runs of fixtures to come, with the playoffs now firmly on the agenda. Very good crowd last night, too. Big pat on the back to the coaching staff and players, for making us look like a team once more.

I hope I haven't just invoked the dreaded "commentator's curse"!

Goes back a couple of years to an alteration they had at the HJ when Drinkwater was playing for Catalan.

Wasn’t the two sets players coming together in the second half over in-front of Southstand, a Charnley / Drinkwater spat too?

Yes it was RLIMR and I don't see it changing anytime soon.

That's all very Hilda Bakeresque, and good to note that you've put a little hand on your watch for the tipping comp - thanks for the revisions UR.

Not about the game, but ticketing....

Never had to be in a 150m queue 30 mins before kick off at the HJ just to pick up my pre paid tickets, and then queue again for another 5 mins to get through the turnstyles.
Got there early thankfully, got to our seats 10 mins before ko.

Usually I pick them up during the week.

Just to make sure I got my Cas ticket today.

Was well worth the queuing though!

How Did Philbin get on, wasn't mentioned much whilst in play, i listened on the Radio.
Yeah Russell will be good for us next week, looking forward to seeing him play for us again.
Kasiano may be out next week, but i think Dudson will play and Harrison may be back as he will have had 3 weeks rest and rehab by next week so you never know.
Happy with the win and hope it continues

I didn’t know if I’d be able to make it, so turned up at the last minute with no cash. Tesco cash machine was out of order, so had to do a 3k dash across town looking for a machine that hadn’t run out of cash, arriving with seconds to spare (literally caught Drinkwater finishing Dufty’s break). Foolishly wore jeans that were far too tight for a run, and now suffering from some severe chafing.

Was worth it though. Possibly the only game I’ll get to see live this year.

PS Cats didn’t beat Rovers by 24 points, so we are still top tonight. Hopefully Cas won’t be our banana skin next week.

Was watching that score, got a bit twitchy at 26-6

Harrison had a leg brace on last night, hopefully just as a precaution but we need him to get his knee right for the long term so I don’t expect to see him play next week. Regarding Russell, I hope you’re right……it’s a bit of a risk for me but I suppose other players have improved so will reserve judgement but he’ll have to have significantly improved in every aspect of his game.

I am a little hesitant about Russell but seeing how other players have responded to Powell and Marshall, I’m quite keen to give him a chance (now Thewlis is not available anyway). Powell certainly has a record of getting the best out of seemingly average players.

Russell is good as cover, im looking forward to seeing how he goes for us now, i felt he looked a lot better with toulouse than ive seen him for any team before. Generally though, I'm really happy with thewlis and ashton as our first choice wingers.

2 more games to miss for maguire, i think harrison and maybe bullock could be missing for a few months, dudson should be back soon, kasiano could be missing for a few now as well, we could be a little bit short in numbers over the next couple of games.

I was too far away to see Kasiano incident. How bad it seem, given was a yellow on the night?
Speaking of which there did seem to be a lot of “grabbing” rather than tackling in the first half by some of our players (yes Peter M I am looking at you!).

So what about Dufty? Sure we missed a few tackles & fell away at the end but his threat is constant.
Great signing for me.

Expected him to start all guns blazing this year after coming in early, he hasn’t done much wrong but hasn’t looked too threatening aside from some good backing up.

He was much better vs Leigh, though - by far his best game of the year.

Agreed - been a slow burn start to the year for him but was excellent on Friday - wonder if he's just working out his place in attacking lines etc with a new halfback partnership. Think he'll be superb this year for us.

The thing that’s impressed me about Dufty is that he hasn’t shown any of the apparent weaknesses that fans of other clubs banged on about when we signed him.

He hasn’t put a foot wrong yet. And interestingly, I thought he’d be a bit of a show pony, but he doesn’t overdo it with the try celebrations. Great signing and hopefully can pass on some experience to Thewlis over this year and next.

Just watched the highlights of the game and looking at the Kasiano yellow card I’m not convinced he will get a ban. Does anyone know what his disciplinary record is like, given the way they grade them now even if he got a grade B it’s not necessarily a ban.

Loved the way Dufty ghosted through the line for the 1st try! We certainly have more attacking threats in the team than for a long time.

I have watched it a few times now & I'd be surprised if he got a ban. But who knows.

Looking back at the highlights, Dufty looks like a capture. His timing for coming into the line is superb.

To those of a certain age, Brian Johnsonesque

It was ridiculous how far back he came from for that drinkwater break.

And still had gears to go up that last 10.

I'd like him to put a bit more pressure on the defence, just keep some hesitation and doubt in defenders minds.

It made my eyes water at the time!
Straight arm wild swinging tackle.
Didnt contact (i think) but....

Sam wasn't malicious and it looked worse than it was.

No idea what view the disciplinary committee will take.

Looking forward though, if Sam does get banned then I hope Dudson will be ready.
It'll be another week of one in and one out.

Bullock and Harrison are out for a month or so (purely my guess based on what Ive read). Back maybe round 9 although I expect Jimmy to be on the sidelines longer.
Maguire back for round 8 (Cats), and hopefully Sam too. I see that match as a real crunch one. (Not taking Cas and Hull lightly though - especially because of the Powell/Cas connection and Smith/Wire one).

We're leaning heavily on Vaughan and Makaele at the moment, and after that it's Wigan and .... Saints. Thick and fast. If they get through that lot they'll have done amazingly well.
I thought we'd signed one too many props, but looks like we need them all.

At some point we will lose, and for me how we react is going to be the true test of the team.