: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:16 pm  

When buy a lottery ticket I hope that this is it, this is the day when I will finally win. I know deep down that I am not going to win, and when the balls drop I have not won I am no longer disappointed at losing. I just wait 'til next time and buy another ticket and hope that maybe, just maybe, this is the day. For me, playing Saints works pretty much the same way.

Positives (in no particular order):

Dominated Saints for the first half and start of the second.

For most of the game the defensive structure looked solid and effective.

Chris Riley looks like he is capable of making the FB spot his own (I hope so).

Our pack was immense.

Better kicking game than 2008.

Had Saints rattled to the point when Wellens was throwing tantrums and IMO Wilkin should have talked himself into a 10 minute rest.

Penny looked far more solid than at any point last season.

Negatives (again in no particular order)

Fitness? We have heard so much about how tough pre-season was and how fit we were yet, despite forcing Saints to work far harder than us it was us that appeared to run out of steam first.

Matt King carries on from where he left off last season.

Penny being made the scapegoat. PJ was left equally exposed by his centre after Penny came off. Luckily for him, Gardner cut inside instead of going for the corner. The left side problem isn't completely down to Penny (as Lowes will find out when Gleeson comes back and, I assume, Johnson finds himself outside King).

All in all I am not too disappointed. The positives outweigh the negatives and we will not play teams as devastating as Saints every week. There are signs there that we could be a force this season (though I will add that I still believe that we will be 4th-6th and do very little in the playoffs).

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:43 pm  

I am not gonna hide my dissapointment at the result and the final 30 mins or so as i was as gutted as everyone but there were many positives. And seeing Jimmy's interview after he was very honest in his thoughts of the game. As i and some have said on previous threads the time to make judgements is after 5-8 games or so and i for one am very positive about the season ahead.

Positives have been listed in other posts so i wont go on about Riley, Higham, Forwards and pressure put on saints in first 50 mins. Just another praise for the fans - great crowd there though i for one noticed that the Stains fans finally found their voices around 60min into the game.

Lets look forward to the Catalan game, get behind the team and sing our hearts out for the lads!!

Come on the Wire!!!

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:49 pm  

One positive for me was the timing of the pathetic 'shoes off if you love Wires' nonsense. If Gilmour had to waltz through our 'defence', I'm glad he did it whilst that cringeworthy pile of crap was going on to refinforce how stupid they all looked.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:28 pm  

I've not had chance to re watch the game yet, but I think I am going to for a change.

We were tremendous for the first 50 minutes, never took a backwards step and kept holding Saints back in their own half (despite the numerous times that Smith piggybacked them up the field).

However, at half time, I still had this feeling deep down that we won't have enough to do it, and bizarre as it may sound, I was further concerned when we went 14-0 up.

My bizarre thoughts seemed to turn to reality once Gilmour waltzed in after 51 minutes, and then that was that.

Bitterly disappointed with the remaining 29 minutes, but it's only the first game of the season, and I'm praying that there will be more to come from us during this season.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:35 pm  

Thought that we played well for 60 minutes, with the forwards looking good, looks like Higham and Carvell will be cracking signings, however we need tp look at left centre and wing as we seem very weak against a quality centre.

: Sat Feb 14, 2009 2:38 pm  

Gutted about that result because clearly we should have had enough to see that game through and win.

Not worried about their ability to compete and we will get into the play-offs. I also think we will play some pretty negative percentage play game-plans to get there as well which will be far from entertaining.

However is this going to be enough?

PS I was hoping not to pick on certain players but King and Monaghan must be on borrowed time. They are really a massive disappointment and I can't see them improving.