Wakey didn't look bad in defeat today. Two long range tries for Johnstone. I think we're in for a loss to be honest.

Won't be the end of the world but we could certainly do with drawing a championship club in the cup for the following week

Yeah I'm not backing us against any SL club other than Leigh until we get backs back.

On that showing I would not be confident against any team in this league. I do not think that any single player played particularly badly but we did not have any player who would get us the go forward that we need to trouble opponents. If simple runs from dummy half can tear us apart we will always be on the back foot.
For the life of me I cannot see why so many are slating Hanley who had a solid game with a few mistakes. He was generally good under the bomb and carried safely. We should be looking at why Leigh were constantly able to walk out of their own half and kick from just outside our danger zone.
In attack we look devoid of ideas. Are our forwards so much smaller than everyone else's or are we not using them effectively? We seem to have the attitude that we will play to find the floor, but to do that the follow up also has to be quick, otherwise we need to be able to mix it up. It is almost as though we do not have the skills and vision to think on our feet.

Dont forget there's a chance Tommy Leuluai may face a ban.

If you bring Gildart, Hankinson and Hastings back we quickly look a lot better.

Not looking forward to our pack coming up against Fifita, Arona and Co. There's no doubt our front row is the worst in SL for post contact metres - I personally thought Brad Singleton's performance was the most worrying.

Singleton was statistically very similar at the back end of last season. He is going to need to keep his aggression high in defence and keep his work rate up or else he’ll be questioned, no two ways about it. Joe Bullock needs a rocket on the back of Friday for me. He was going down so easy in collision. The guy needs to realise he can be what he wants to be. At that size and with the pace he’s got he should be smashing holes in teams. He had a good season last season but he’s got so much more to give IMO.

I think teams tend to target Joe and get stuck into him - not convinced he has that element of grit or toughness to respond and give a bit back.

He does seem a bit too nice and in terms of props it’s been something I’ve put at a lot of the ones we’ve brought through and brought in. I just wish we could find a player with the natural attributes of Bullock but the attitude of Partington. I hope we get to see Kilner pretty soon because he looks to have a bit of mongrel about him, whilst being physically quite imposing.

Interesting to see Hankinson was named in London's squad earlier in the week but he's not made the match day squad.

Has he suffered an injury, or have we called him back?

It's mainly just me being critical of Hanley to be fair. Bit of a reaction to people saying a player who made 5 errors (2 unforced whilst playing the ball in our own 20m) had a solid game. We all want him to do well but saying he was solid or carried safely just isn't accurate when he kept giving up possession and gifting Leigh try-scoring opportunities. A better team scores 4 tries off his errors IMO (2 sets on our line for the knock on at the ptb and the ptb into the man, 1 for when they beat him in the air and threw a forward pass for what would have been a try, 1 for when he threw the loose ball backwards and the Leigh player ran clear for it but knocked on the pick up). Tom Johnstone, Reece Lynne & Co won't fluff all those chances.

I think it's a little harsh to drop Hanley on his second game especially his first out of position on the wing, in a team without any first choice starters in their positions in our back line. That also effects massively the go forward gains. Off the first three hit ups, after any kick, it's normally a combination of full back, wings and centres taking us towards the 40. We was lucky to get over the 20 before any forward took the ball up. We miss Marshal from play the ball scooting early in the set he often gains ground, gets a quick play or earns a penalty, Hastings helps in that department lack of yards from half is one of Powell less impressive stats, though I find it very hard to criticise him 60 tackles. Gildart and Zak also make us plenty yards and the threat of French also creates space for others. Hanley coming into a full strength team would be a much kinder passage into SL to be judged on than the less than ideal games he's faced upto now. Having watched him from juniors I imagine he's the best option under the high ball we have out wide at the moment to drop him would do more harm than good at this stage.

Hanley was also incredibly lucky not to have conceded a penalty try for the grab on Tierney. But I think he deserves a go again.
Given the way things have started, I think I'd get short odds on at least 1 more player going down injured this week....

The lad is being asked to do a job to which he is unaccustomed. He did some things well and made some mistakes which he will learn from as he is a clever rugby player. The reality is that we should not be relying on the likes of Hanley and Field to play on the wing.

It is amazing how we all see games differently; I thought Bullock was great and although he could do with a bit of mongrel, he was excellent in the go forward. It is frightening for us watching to think of the pace and talent you can recall at some point, my team started okay (Hull), we always do but I think , given your injuries, to get past a spirited and very well coached Leigh side, was a better result than you give credit for. Also think Hardaker was exceptional at full back and you have an embarrassment of riches there; he would be my pick though as I don't think there is a better numver 1 in SL. Serious question- What has happened to Hankinson? I liked him on the few occasions I saw him, nowhere near the finished article but sizeable and great potential.

He only made 40 odd metres mate. That’s really unusual for Bullock and he did play at a time when Leigh were going at 200mph. I always bang on about us getting more from Bullock but that’s not done from a POV of not rating him, It’s the complete opposite, I think he’s brilliant but probably doesn’t have the belief in himself that he can kick on and be one of the best in the comp. He should be aiming for an England place IMO but he needs to push himself to his limits.

Field out for 5 months press conference https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... y-20278868 BF for thursday ??

Field out for 5 months press conference https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk ... y-20278868 BF for thursday ??

Devastating. It looked a bad one.

Absolutely gutting and a huge blow in more ways than one.

Not only was this Field's year to bed into life at the club, it was also a period where the club got to review the lad and make some big decisions for 2022 i.e could/should he be replacing French, or Hastings.

That's Marshall and Field, both out with long term injuries. Gildart and Dom are a few weeks off too. It's madness that Lam will only make a call on Hankinson, over the next week or two.

Gutted for him

Gutted for Field. Can't get my head round not recalling Hankinson, especially if Gildart isn't back and French isn't an option.

Sport is cruel, if he picks the ball up cleanly he goes 80metres and has a dream debut. Gutted for him.

On Friday it sounds like same again + Hastings minus Field.

Hardaker
Bibby
Isa
Farrell
Hanley
Hastings
Tommy
Havard
Powell
Singleton
Smithies
Bateman
Partington

Shorrocks
Bryne
Bullock
Smith

Is how I would go, think we could do with Havard starting games.

These bad bounces of the ball are getting tiresome.

I honestly thought Bateman had done his ACL in that game as well.

Couldn't believe Bateman played on. His leg looked really twisted and when a hard player like him stays down you fear the worst.

Couldn't believe Bazza and co didn't want the Leigh players hung drawn and quartered for their tackle technique

Just unfortunate IMO. You do see a lot of those. I wonder whether they will start to rule that the defender at the bottom needs to allow the legs to rotate when he has the attacker stood still? Probably too high a standard to expect from defenders given that the attacker might break free if the defender loosens his grip round the legs.

I've just seen the Leuluai one back too, nothing wrong with it, first contact is well above the knee and he never takes the legs outside their normal range of motion. It reminded me of the Hansen one that injured Ratchford in the 13 Grand Final that Wire fans wanted him binned/sent off/banned/beheaded for.