Early season it's always easier to defend than get our timing on attack right. Tough for both teams to post points, in the end goalkicking could have won it for us. Warrington scrambled well and our attack was disjointed, not helped at all by losing McGuire so early. Not an easy opening fixture but given our often woeful early form prior to a WCC I'd rather we lost to a potential title contender (which Warrington may be this year) than what would be generally a banker 2 points later in the season. 2 points off Widnes would be nice though.
Time for Lilley and Sutcliffe to take their chance. I reckon by mid season we'll be looking at those two and thinking all is well with the halves for the next 10 years.
Leeds had 60 more plays than Wire, we made a 1/4 more meters than Wire, Wire conceded double the penalties.
With that position and possesion I thought we were unlucky to not get the win. We made some nice brakes but just didn't get the job done, looking a bit rusty.
Wires obstruction try was pretty fortunate. It didn't even go up stairs. Wires defensive line wasn't great but the scramble was outstanding which got you out of jail a few times.
Credit to Wire for holding it together. Great determination, great toughness to hold on. Great individual brilliance for the try.
A brave win.
9 times out of 10 stats like that would see a reversed result.
That's why I thought Leeds were unlucky.
Feel free to rebuff every sentence. It is your year!
Defence is just as important in a game as attack. Despite our mistakes, we defended well and scored when we had the opportunity, which gave us the win. If Leeds had scraped a win I could argue that, considering they struggled to score, they were lucky Warrington coughed up so much ball which they wouldn't do 9 times out of 10. Call it luck if you want but I don't buy it.
Early season it's always easier to defend than get our timing on attack right. Tough for both teams to post points, in the end goalkicking could have won it for us. Warrington scrambled well and our attack was disjointed, not helped at all by losing McGuire so early. Not an easy opening fixture but given our often woeful early form prior to a WCC I'd rather we lost to a potential title contender (which Warrington may be this year) than what would be generally a banker 2 points later in the season. 2 points off Widnes would be nice though.
Time for Lilley and Sutcliffe to take their chance. I reckon by mid season we'll be looking at those two and thinking all is well with the halves for the next 10 years.
Agree with that. I've been hugely impressed every time I've seen Lilley. Was it Catalans away when we got hammered that he made his debut? And in a well beaten team, playing out of position at hooker, I was massively impressed, just as i was with him in the NZ game. As you say I think we'll soon be thinking all is well at half back, maybe not by mid-season, maybe not even next season. But if we have patience I'm pretty sure these 2 will come good. The big question for me is what to do with Golding?
Agree with that. I've been hugely impressed every time I've seen Lilley. Was it Catalans away when we got hammered that he made his debut? And in a well beaten team, playing out of position at hooker, I was massively impressed, just as i was with him in the NZ game. As you say I think we'll soon be thinking all is well at half back, maybe not by mid-season, maybe not even next season. But if we have patience I'm pretty sure these 2 will come good. The big question for me is what to do with Golding?
.....and Handley!!
You're assuming the present squad will remain intact by the time Golding's patience has run out. Maybe things will not work out and we will lose some talent the next year or so, but anything could/might happen between then and now. Contracts, who is valued the most and (god forbid) injuries could yet play a part.
Maybe Golding could become the new 'Burrow game changer' off the bench ....albeit not at dummy half, but at half back (Lilley moving into the DH position or Sutcliffe moving to LF)
...and as for Handley.....I don't know how long Moon will want to stay here (hopefully he does), but maybe Handley will take his place in the threequarters
Currie had the angle on burrow and IMHO Burrow did the right thing - kept possession near their line against a broken defence. We were not good enough on next play to stretch wire to the other side and score.
What surprised me is that he didn't even try to change direction or use footwork to try and get past Currie - either with a big left foot step back inside him or by taking a couple of paces straight to hold him then going off the right foot towards the corner again. He just seemed to accept that he was going to get caught and cover up to take the tackle.
Which game was it last season where he blew an open run to the line by just stopping and taking the tackle (Hudds away?).
What surprised me is that he didn't even try to change direction or use footwork to try and get past Currie - either with a big left foot step back inside him or by taking a couple of paces straight to hold him then going off the right foot towards the corner again. He just seemed to accept that he was going to get caught and cover up to take the tackle.
Which game was it last season where he blew an open run to the line by just stopping and taking the tackle (Hudds away?).
Yeah that's right....forgot about that. Again Burrow can be forgiven much for all he has contributed over the years and he IS generally a fearless, plucky individual, but again I thought this just pulling up was hard to forgive when so critical for the win (he 'chickened out' although there are a few on here that would still desperately attempt excuses for it). Even if he had not made the line (and I think he would have) he could not have been criticised for going for it......and on the next play out wide a try probably would have been scored (Hall)
Maybe he is worried about some sort of injury/potential injury that has not previously bothered him.?
You're assuming the present squad will remain intact by the time Golding's patience has run out. Maybe things will not work out and we will lose some talent the next year or so, but anything could/might happen between then and now. Contracts, who is valued the most and (god forbid) injuries could yet play a part.
Maybe Golding could become the new 'Burrow game changer' off the bench ....albeit not at dummy half, but at half back (Lilley moving into the DH position or Sutcliffe moving to LF)
...and as for Handley.....I don't know how long Moon will want to stay here (hopefully he does), but maybe Handley will take his place in the threequarters
Holy Moley I forgot about Handley. Again another who looks too good to lose. Unfortunately for him Hall, Briscoe, Watkins and Moon are nowhere near past their sell by date. And Moon proved again on Thursday how good a player he is. Hmmm not at all sure what to do with Handley.
As for Golding, you'd think the half backs will be Sutcliffe and Lilley. Unless Hardaker leaves I can't really see a role for Golding other than like you say as a half off the bench with Lilley moving to hooker.
Defence is just as important in a game as attack. Despite our mistakes, we defended well and scored when we had the opportunity, which gave us the win. If Leeds had scraped a win I could argue that, considering they struggled to score, they were lucky Warrington coughed up so much ball which they wouldn't do 9 times out of 10. Call it luck if you want but I don't buy it.
I reckon it could be your year this year No really it could
What surprised me is that he didn't even try to change direction or use footwork to try and get past Currie - either with a big left foot step back inside him or by taking a couple of paces straight to hold him then going off the right foot towards the corner again. He just seemed to accept that he was going to get caught and cover up to take the tackle.
Which game was it last season where he blew an open run to the line by just stopping and taking the tackle (Hudds away?).
from memory he slipped and fell over last year at hudds. He has probably lost half a yard over the years as well. Think he was hoping to come back inside currie. As GH would say enjoy whilst still here,. We will miss him when he goes.