How many teams have 4/5 first class props.

Props isn't an issue for us, I think it's far to early to say what weaknesses we have.

Greame horne was named but didn't play so we call him the half lol

Went off with a bad knock last week so no surprise.

Regarding Cunningham today. Didn't really do anything wrong but his passing is worse than Houghtons. His passing to his left he seemed to need to 'spin it' every time and it was painfully slow.
As for props I think we're fine but do lack a little bit of power to put players on their s barring Paea. I know he's only a kid and hasn't really played at all. But I just don't see it with BTW. *awaits the slatings for not liking a youth player.

No slating here, but what is it you don't see? He's obviously nowhere near the finished article.

Not sure that should drive us to pay inflated salaries to NRL fringe players. If genuine quality becomes available fair enough, but that's becoming more rare every year.

Really enjoyed the game and thought there were positives for both sides.

Hulls physicality before Ellis left the pitch was outstanding. Ellis and Minichello are going to be one of the best second row pairings in the league. Sneyd kicked well too I thought.

From a Robins perspective, I was expecting a hiding today due to your better preparation and thought we were going to get it until we got upto the pace of the game. If our pack can get parity then I don't think there will be many sides who will contain our backs.

Time will tell I guess but think both sides will be pushing for a top 8 spot. Looking at the volume of players Rovers had missing today, and you had a couple missing too, I don't think strength in depth will be an issue for either of us.

I just think he's going to lack size and power for a prop but considering his age that could all change within a few of years hopefully.

Or we could both just be equally as poor??

Size wise he's bigger than Watts, Feka and Ellis and taller than Paea. Power wise it's difficult until we see him week in week out against other SL forwards but having seen him a lot power has always been his strength (if that makes sense!). He also has a very good pair of hands.

He's not lacking in height, only Green is taller, so he's got that in his favour.

Barring Sio I just don't see it with your backs. There far from the worst in the league but their nowhere near the best either imo. Dixon has freakish speed and a great step but is poor in defence and can't take a high kick. A better version of Eden. Gouldin and Welham aren't anything special. But mantalleto *spelling? Is abit of an unknown. Could be really. One thing is for sure kelly needs to be kicking to his corner as much as possible due to his height.

Sorry, didn't mean height I meant more overall build. He will certainly need to fill out imo.

He's 15st so can't be far off.

By bigger I meant in weight too. Only Paea & Bowden are heavier.

Btw is 6'4 and just over 17 stone so size and wouldn't be an issue

Ive never been a big fan of BTW and always thought that he would be found out when he left age group rugby. However, the biggest criticism I have heard levelled against him from those who watch him week in week out is his poor engine. It is to his credit that ive seen him down at Wests on his days off with his old man flogging him. He obviously knows his weakness and is putting in the extra effort to rectify it.
Good luck to him.

He should be given a chance to see what he can do
It seems to me he's the only forward in the first team squad that hasn't had a go

Ellis would move to prop n hadley/turgut etc will push for back row places

He played last week against York. Did well too - showed some aggression that I think is missing at times with some of our replacement props.

Aggression is something Bobby doesn't lack!

he gave away 3

Thought Pryce looked OK IMO . in the first we totally bossed the match and looked very good. 2 half we never had much of the ball and we just seemed to drop of. Mixed bag really but its only a friendly and still hopefully for a good season. Think wuvvers look a decent team to and could ruffle a few feathers

No worries about our starting line-up, although I ‘d like to see Rankin and Michaels have a run out. As others have said we totally dominated the game for 40mins. However I’m a little concerned about the backup players especially the forwards who didn’t take advantage of the platform the 1st teamers had created for them. They were a little soft imo, didn’t run or tackle hard enough for me. Some need to step up this season or they could be out of the door at the end of it.

First half I thought we were excellent. Great defence meant that Rovers could hardly get out of their own half and we looked good with ball in hand. We hardly made any mistakes either, the most obvious being an awful pass from Shaul (I think it was Shaul but could have been Yeaman) to Talanoa which went way over the latter's head into touch when, at least from the south stand, it looked like Shaul should have gone himself.

In the second half the penalties killed us; it seemed like we hardly had any possession. The turning point for me was failing to bring down Kelly in the build up to their second try.

The third and fourth tries from kicks to the corner on the last tackle were very disappointing and we must work on defending these.

Lineham was hideously out of position for their last try.

Once we went behind I didn't think we would score again.

A lot has been said about game management; sadly there was not much of it in evidence at 22-6 up.

Overall there were a lot of positives from the game but there are a lot of lessons to be learned too. Hoping for better against Wakey.