Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 9:44 am  

Can we keep this thread on the match and not turn it into a mud slinging contest.

So here we go, the season finally kicks off. Toughest of opening fixtures (again!)

Be interesting how Wakefield respond. Them losing will probably be bad news for us as I imagine it's brought them back down to earth and a kick up the backside.

Looked a tough game yesterday and it will have taken something out of Wakefield. But the fact they're full time and our lot will have worked on Friday before the game probably cancels out that advantage.

Wakey will finish top and I'd be surprised if they don't win both the 1895 Cup and Grand final due to being full time and I expect their owner to recruit as the season goes on. But I don't think they're as good as some in the media are portraying (certainly no where near the Leigh side a couple of years a go) they do look an old team. So if we can get into them, who knows.

But we've been average at best so far and with Scurr, Doro, Baldwinson & Davies missing, we look lightweight. Expecting a Wakey backlash in front of their fans and im going 32-10.

[Bullseye]

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:23 am  

I can see us getting a bit of a backlash from this defeat. We're seriously understrength and haven't been playing particularly well lately. Having said that I remember that back in 2015 when we first played in the championship it was quite a bit tougher than anticipated even with a fulltime squad and we all remember how that season played out. Wakey should be assured of promotion almost regardless of how they go on the field but I can see them getting beaten a few times this season.

We're a bit short in the backrow and at prop to say the least. Only Smith, Lawrence and Okoro available as bona fide props. Backrow we only have Butler, Appo and Hallas. Not sure if Peposhi is fit again or if we still have Brand on loan so that could mean Arundal in the backrow. We're missing Blackmore's go forward too.

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:30 am  

I read somewhere that Leeds have a meeting with the match review people. I hope that isn’t Ackers as I saw him get penalised as we certainly don’t want Johnson recalling

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 10:46 am  

I'd like to think our lads would look at the Fev result and think we could sneak this one, but the realist in me says Wakey backlash. Especially us being light upfront and them being fulltime. But you never know....

[Bullseye]

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:05 pm  

I reckon the conditions were a leveler at Post Office Rd. Belle Vue has a better surface so should be decent under foot. Could be interesting. We played some great rugby in the dry weather in the back end of last season but seem to have reverted to Kear-ball lately (albeit Gaskell's absence hasn't helped). Think our lack of forward depth will cost us.

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:17 pm  

Unless anyone comes in we'll likely line-up something like below.

McGowan
Brand/Oakes
Myers
Gill
Taufua
Gaskell
Lilley
D. Smith
Souter
Lawrence
Arundel
Butler
Hallas

Johnson
Okoro
Appo
Jowitt

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:25 pm  

Now officially sold out. Well done to both clubs

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 12:43 pm  

Looking forward to the game but expecting a defeat given the players we are missing. As long as I see effort from the team I'll be happy.

Its going to be a funny season as we all know that we can't do a London by picking up players towards end of season for a final push at the playoffs. We also know that its likely to be the off field stuff that will decide if we get promoted to SL so I'll be fascinated to see if interest in the on-field stuff actually matters as much.

I really hope so as ultimately that's what we all turn up for, but I have some doubts.

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 1:39 pm  

Sadly I can only see this going one way and that’s a heavy Wakey win. Fantastic news it’s sold out and should make for a brilliant atmosphere but I don’t see where we have an edge on them. The loss to Fev will only reset the mindset for them and I’d expect a backlash.

Thankfully nothing is won in March and our season won’t be decided on our results v Wakey. Wakey are going up for London based on IMG rule but we need to be the best of the rest in case they decide to demote another or expand SL.

I’ll be there hoping I’m wrong. We need to treat this as the acid test and perform for the full 80 to see where we can be compared to the rest of the league

Re: Round 1: Wakefield (A) : Mon Mar 11, 2024 3:33 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Now officially sold out. Well done to both clubs

Well said,I'm looking forward to this, albeit with a little trepidation. Should be a fantastic atmosphere with two sets of passionate fans cheering their teams on.