Genuinely never understood the dislike of Russell, Fast, strong and always gives it 100%. Even when we were playing badly he was one of our better players yet still got stick from everyone. I was buzzing to see him play again for us and he hasn't disappointed.

It depends who we are playing for me. If it is a wet night, youre down a few forwards and you are going to be pinned on your own line all night, Russell. Most other contexts, Thewlis because he is more of a threat and needs the gametime to keep developing.

It certainly is, though not so bafflingly with everything so much more settled compared to last season. Hopefully we'll have a full or close to full squad to pick from for that tough run of 3: Cats, Pies, Stains.

I think Stains are still the ones to watch out for as they have strength across the park, especially at 2nd row and centre where they've probably got the advantage.

It all goes back to when he got hammered taking a high ball and it clearly knocked his confidence, when he came back he got peppered and struggled so the fans got on his back.

I don’t dislike Russell, sounds like he’s been through a lot over the last few years . I just don’t think he’s that good and certainly not as a starting winger for a team with aspirations of winning things. Ok as a squad filler when we have injuries and by all accounts he did well tonight so well done to him.

Won't be stains mate they'll be nowhere near..only cos the rfl have got it in for em and they'll have every ref against em

Clark to go for a scan on a knee injury but Powell does not think it is serious and Drinkwater back next week.

I (and i think many) saw what Russell admitted to years later, a player that was unfit, dropped in confidence and had distractions. Turns out he had gambling and booze problems and needed help.

There's a very very slim chance anyone with those issues could perform at the top of their game and Russell didn't, hence the stick......we just now know why. I don't get the love for Russell after all that, it was a clear dip and a clear bad patch on the pitch. If you think he was one of our top players from day 1 to his last day I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

If he's put all that behind him and even uses it as a drive to achieve, then all credit to the lad.

I wasn't impressed with his signing because of what he was when he left the club (performance, not addiction issues) but I'm also very happy to be proven wrong.

Playing some great stuff this year! With Wigan being average and Saints I feel slightly regressing I think it might be……I won’t say it.

Sounds like your monster pack is dominate making it easy for your outside backs (who don’t look amazing on paper) are finishing well.

Enjoy the ride guys

As Zebedee use to say time for bed, hope don’t wake up tomorrow and the season as not started and find out it’s all a dream.

this team just managed to escape bottom of the league last year.

steady on.

Even if our props have scored more tries than Wakefield.

Impressive display.
Once the 2nd try had been scored there was only going to be one winner.
Cas were dominated in both attack and defence.

Special mention for Matty Russell - took the tries well, but more impressive was his running out from defence. We all know what he can do. He's a handful. He's a confidence player, and it'll be sky high after that performance. On that basis - even though Josh has done nothing wrong - he keeps his spot for me next week.
Danny Walker - big minutes and a big performance. Good job he's playing well given Clarks injury.
Matt Dufty - his try saving chase back was phenomenal and set the tone for the rest of the match.

Concerns?
Clarks knee injury
Sam's hamstring
I thought we were lucky not to get a player binned for the number of penalties we gave away - especially in the 2nd half. Our early errors invited Cas to our line. We won't get away with that against better sides.

Most pleasing points?
We played the full 80 minutes and kept them to nil.