A lot of things went wrong for us yesterday, obviously the injuries were a blow which limited our rotation, it also meant we had to switch players around into different positions. It was basically a game to forget, anyway congrats to Huddersfield as they were the better side even before we started to pick up injuries.

Before the Matt King injury i thought we looked lethargic, we didn`t have the same speed or intensity as Huddersfield and the writing was on the wall at an early stage.

Anyway to the point about Richie Myler, at some point he needs to take control in the middle along with taking on the line a lot more. He was basically anonymous on saturday, at some point during the season we are likely to lose Lee Briers for a few games as thats happened for the last few seasons so we need someone away from Michael Monaghan that can take control in the middle. For the good of the team along with our style of play we can`t move Michael Monaghan into the halves if Lee Briers does pick up an injury, we`ve tried that in the past and it just doesn`t work as Michael Monaghan isn`t the same player at 7.

Richie Myler is no longer a rookie with potential, he`s got plenty of experience under his belt including international and SL experience.

Lee Briers isn`t noted for making breaks down the middle, he`s more of an organiser with a very good kicking and passing game which is 2nd to none in SL on his day. Myler needs to get involved more, we can`t afford for him to sit back and wait for us to make breaks down the middle where his support play would come into play.

Yes its the first game of the new season but these observations arn`t just based on yesterday, i made similar comments last season and made a similar point when we signed him that he didn`t look a natural scrum half thats going take control of games and make regular breaks with ball in hand, his breaks in the main come from his support play.

The reason we lost yesterday wasn`t down to Richie Myler as that would be an idiotic thing to say, it doesn`t help though when your basically playing with one half back and only one half back thats going to create anything.

I had a similar conversation this morning. I lost count of the times after Briers went off the acting half-back looked for Myler and Myler either looked away or pointed at another receiver. Not what you need when you are looking for organisation in adversity.

Simply not good enough.

Like you Mark, i expected him to step up to the plate once Lee Briers went off but it didn`t happen. We still had plenty of time left at that point to try and grab an unlikely win but we had no direction or creativity in the halves.

With Andrew Johns apparently working with him in the off season i was kind of expecting to see a different Richie Myler this season that looks to take on the line more and take control of games in the middle, i really hope he kicks on but i`m not convinced to be honest especially considering what he cost.

Have often stuck up for Ritchie but on a few occasions yesterday I was thinking 'this is your chance to shine' back against the wall is when in the past your Longs and even Eastmond & Tomkins pull something out of the bag or at least take control. Myler as you say was anonymous and unless just shipping it out wide what did he do?

Needs to step up if wants to be a top class SL half back!

Didnt impress me prior to signing and has shown nothing that impresses me since. I honestly wasnt very impressed when we signed him, for such a pivotal position on the field i would have been far happier to have seen a more established S/H come in to our side, to help take some of the pressure off Briers in his twighlight years. If anything, the signing of Myler added to the responsibilities on Lee`s shoulders, IMO this will start to tell as the season progresses.

We all (ALL bar Westwood) looked unfit, what have they done in pre-seaon gone on a bender and ate pies ?

I thought we were poor all over the pitch, we seem to approch it as a friendly and it looked horrifyingly like Clarkes testimonial game ! we were under cooked looked unfit uninterested and nowhere near ready for a top grade SL game
cant think of anyone who stood out although the stretcher bearers did a good job !
The team as a whole should be ashamed of themselves after that JOKE of a performance including the backroom staff whom seem to have under prepared us for SL not enough top class warm up games IMO we are miles behind and I know its only the 1st game but unless we improve massively and with our injuries I doubt it it doesn't bode well for the season and after watching all the other games we were the worst team there FACT !
Biscuit is out for a month with his hamstring Move Joel to centre and we must have someone in the academy to play wing
King looks like his Wire career is over Bring in Riley
Harrison and Grix dead legs I would hope at least one to be ready for Sunday Clarke to Loose fwd
Briers got the all clear with his neck so I would expect him back if not give Harvey a go IMO
Not looking good boys is it

Im not sure what the game plan is regarding Myler, but he is wandering around and doesnt look the least bit interested.

IMO Richie Myler cannot fulfil his potential under Tony Smith's coaching.

The reason is Smith has Myler playing on the left side only and Briers on the right, the play more often than not goes to Briers.
I think a scrumhalf needs to have a free reign and be all over the pitch.
So Myler is restricted to only playing on a half of the pitch, it's not his fault, that is how Tony has structured the attack.

Channel system!!!

Pretty damning assessment based on 80 minutes. I think I'll wait before I see some of the remaining 2,080 of the season before I start worrying too much.

I agree, we played poorly but that does sometimes happen in sport. We made a lot of mistakes and conceded a lot of penalties in the first hour which didn't help with energy levels. As for friendlies and preparation - what didn't we do this year that we did last - anyone know?

As for Myler, he didn't play well on Saturday but he was not alone. He was playing behind a (well) beaten pack so that can't have helped.

Stop talking sense!

Myler is a support player/running type halfback he is not an organiser like Briers. Its like when we had Bridge at halfback, he couldn't do it. These guys are good players but they are what they are, they are not a Briers type player, when Briers goes we will need to recruit quality to replace him.

No matter who's at 6 and 7, they've no chance of making an impact on the game playing behind a pack as ineffective as ours on Saturday. Hudds dominated the middle of the pitch and our halves were continually looking to push the ball wide in an attempt to put some pressure on a very narrow Giants defensive line. Injuries aside we were poor across the park but I don't think any of it was down to a lack of commitment or conditioning. Hudds hurt us down the middle continually making good metres and denide us any room or time when we had possesion. It was their day and they deserved it. I'm sure TS will have us ready on Sunday. Enjoyed Cardiff although some of the games weren't great, not convinced that it should be kept as the season opening weekend though.