Well that was enjoyable



Thought Faz had a great game. Look so much better on the left.

I also thought Hardaker played well at FB.

What was most pleasing about the performance was the enthusiasm. Everyone was up for it. OK maybe it's easy to be when you are battering the other team but when players like Bulluck came on he really went for it.

The defence just before the end of the first half when Narette was in the sin bin was also epic. Included and absolute bell ringer of tackle off Tommy. Left their player staggering a bit.
Top.

Expected more from HKR to be honest but if they had injuries so do we with Flower, Greenwood and Clubb hobbling off early (two weeks in a row that has happened to us with a player going off early).

Great to see them play with freedom and confidence.

Williams played easily his best game with the ball as did Hardaker.

We don't have a big pack but they're very durable and hard-working. Bullock responded to his early mistake by getting angry (in a good way!) - some barnstorming runs.

I can't see us winning next week, particularly with the senior forwards that are missing. But we don't actually need to win for me - the most important thing is to be competitive and keep improving our performances. We don't want a heavy defeat to halt the momentum - the Wakefield game the week after is the more important one before the semi-final break.

Lam said that we would play rugby with more flair tonight they did it even without O'Loughlin really enjoyed the game tonight a pleasure to watch after the boring rugby from Wane.

I’d like to start with Farrell. If there’s been a player as underrated in my time watching rugby league then I’ve missed him. He’s a second row version of James Roby yet for whatever reason he’s never quite got the billing. He’s been back since HKR away and we’ve won the lot (he did miss one) and it’s no coincidence.

As for the rest, Hardaker continues to improve, I love seeing Marshall do well, Sarginson looked determined to show he deserves a spot, Williams was flying, Bullock looked fired up to prove a point, Partington and Smithies continue to excel and I think everyone chipped in.

A top night.

Attack obviously great but defence impressed me. Even in the last ten minutes enthusiast kick chases and line speed.

Partington and Smithies where would be without these two this year. Playing great.

I’ve got to tip my hat to Partington. In his first 7 or 8 first team games I just couldn’t see him cracking it as he didn’t look to have the ability to make ground with the ball but he’s gradually added that and his intensity is huge.

Looking forward to watching him bowl in to Saints next week.

I said to my mate tonight that, for me, Faz would be the first name on the team sheet every week.

Great, attacking, free flowing rugby with superb defence when needed. When we went through the 30 point mark, I said to the guys around me, who’s up for 50 points and when was the last time we stuck 50 on anyone? No one could remember. Man of the match could have gone to any number of players. Marshall, Hardaker, Farrell, Williams...

In one word, entertainment. I haven’t felt so good coming off the DW for ages.

^^this

Too many senior players out probably.

As to Bullock, those are the sort of runs Hamlin made on his debut which got the crowd fired up as they did tonight but after the match Wane was dismissive of what he did, rarely to be seen again by any forward under his tenure as coach.

Great win and it’s encouraging that we are getting a few % better every week. We also look really energised and fresh which is a little surprising if anything.

We need to keep up the momentum now. A loss next week wouldn’t be a disaster but if we at least run them close it’ll just sow a seed of doubt. We all know Saints love a collapse come the end of summer.

4th should be an absolute minimum target now but really we need to focus on 3rd. That away game at Hull on 3rd August is already shaping up to be a tasty one.

The big thing for me is that Powell is vastly improved going forward. He is posing a threat by sniping at the line before bringing players on. He looks like a new signing these last few games.

Yes, and aren't we all pleased that they've got rid of that Mickey Mouse system they had last year? Now every position on the ladder is worth fighting for.

I agree that all need next week is a competitive performance, and it looks like we can produce that now. We now have a genuine threat on both flanks, and a solidifying defence, I think we have enough to cause Saints real problems, and I didn't think that a few weeks ago.

Terrific game and terrific entertainment. The sort of rugby that first got me into the sport. Tigerish defence, even when down to 12 men and a genuine threat on both sides of the pitch. There's life in this season yet!

Got to give special mention to Joe Bullock. After his initial mistake he really showed what he is capable of. I think we sometimes forget that this is his first season at this level. If he can continue the form he showed tonight we have the makings of a top drawer front rower.

An all round great team performance with moments of absolute brilliance. More of the same please!

We finish 3rd and get 2 shots at the playoffs.

Go on....write us off.....

Another win and another superb performance. We’ve steadily progressed and improved over the last 6wks or so and we look like a complete new team. Powell, Bullock and TL who have come in for a lot of criticism, look like new players. Zak Hardaker is coming into his own, Marshall is playing out of his skin. I could wax lyrical about most of the squad at present which is remarkable from what I and some others were commenting a mere 6wks ago.

The real acid test for me though is Saints. The last few weeks indicate it’s going to be closer than the Good Friday debacle but Saints are also high on confidence. I can’t say I expect a win but you certainly can’t rule it out.

Maybe an unpopular opinion but we weren’t that far off Saints on Good Friday (at least not as far as the score suggested). I watched the game back and we had a really good dig, but just leaked too many soft tries.

6 tries to 2 and 4 of theirs we gifted them on a plate. If we play like we did last night we will definitely give them a good run for their money.

Feeling much better than 2 months ago! Wigan now outright third favourites for the GF - 7/1.

Greenwood may or may not be back this year but if he is, Farrell 100% keeps his place at left second row.

Fixtures looking good for us, Hull FC week after there semi. And Wire week before Wembley should they get there.

I think one key thing from the fans' perspective is that it was good to watch, and not just when we were 40-odd points ahead, the attack looked very sharp early in the game. Like others, we came off buzzing from the simple fact of being completely entertained for the first time in god knows when.

It looks like the attacking style we were promised in the off-season has finally arrived, and that's great because most of us had given up on it ever happening.

Also, kudos to the club for installing a big screen that you can actually see from the South Stand.

Great rugby in both scores and defence. The cheers were as almost as good when down to 12 they tackled out a set as when a try was scored. A massive effort not to concede when down to 12 and it was penalty, penalty, scrum all going against us.
Showed the effort and will to win.

Agree 100%.
Great after the game in the pub where we all said how much we enjoyed it.
We seemed full of energy and the players gave it all throughout the 80 minutes.
Special mentions for Bullock & Partington for me but every player played well.

I thought Sam Powell played well, I’ve been one of his biggest critics but he’s seems to have pulled his socks up. Navarette seems to be running hard too as do the rest of the forwards but we will get mullered by the Saints front row next week if Flower and Clubb are out. We desperately need another 2 props ASAP.

It was a good all round performance and we needed to give someone a good hiding to boost confidence.

We were good but KR were bad, they never looked up for it all game. Who did impress me for KR was Josh Drinkwater, if we could sign him to play alongside Hastings we would be very dangerous.

I doubt we will go for drinkwater as he was available last season but left catalans for HKR

who says we werent in for him? he says he chose KR because of Tim Sheens. However, if KR are still scrapping for survival and dont show that are a team with a decent future, he could be tempted to move.

I think his wage demands ruled him out of a move to us. He was after marquee money and held out for it.

When it didn’t come he was left with not many options other than KR if he wanted to play top flight rugby.

Don't rate Drinkwater at all - below average player who wouldn't have improved us.

Besides I think Leuluai has been one of our best this year. Plus I don't think he's missed a game (if he has it will only be the odd one or two).