Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 7:17 pm  

Today was just what we needed, a low intensity confidence boost.

It was like a challenge cup game against a lower league opponent between 15 mins until we took Field off (60 mins) it look as though we could score on every set.

I thought Ellis was absolutely superb and worthy of MOM. Wasn’t too impressed with him at the start of the year but seemed to want to make up for lost time.

Nice game from Smith and Halsall.

Havard Ellis and Mago coming off the bench was some impact.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 7:31 pm  

I thought Liam Byrne was outstanding today and has been our most consistent prop this season.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 7:43 pm  

Whilst Wakefield went into the lead they were scored off the back of 5 or six repeat sets due to penalties or drop outs. Following this it was all one way until we took French and Field off with about fifteen minutes to go.

Enjoyable stuff to see this afternoon with some great tries scored.

Harry Smith 100% conversion rate all but two kicks under the sticks, one touchline and one 10m in from touch.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 8:21 pm  

ChrisA wrote:

It's safe to say we are probably the third best at team in the league at present. To push into the top two, we need discipline to improve massively and our forwards to be relentless when up against the Saints/Catalan pack. I can't see us doing that this year, I think we need another prop and sizeable back rower to do that.

Yeah, i think we are around 3rd-5th best in the comp as I expected at the start of the season, after Salford next Sunday we play Warrington, Saints, Huddersfield and Hull all away from the DW in a row, after those games I think we will know better where we stand.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 8:53 pm  

CobraCraig wrote:

Yeah, i think we are around 3rd-5th best in the comp as I expected at the start of the season, after Salford next Sunday we play Warrington, Saints, Huddersfield and Hull all away from the DW in a row, after those games I think we will know better where we stand.

Yeah fair point, too early for me to make that statement I guess.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 9:39 pm  

MattyB wrote:

Whilst Wakefield went into the lead they were scored off the back of 5 or six repeat sets due to penalties or drop outs. Following this it was all one way until we took French and Field off with about fifteen minutes to go.

Enjoyable stuff to see this afternoon with some great tries scored.

Harry Smith 100% conversion rate all but two kicks under the sticks, one touchline and one 10m in from touch.

French went off at half time, Field after about 60 mins.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:05 pm  

I think Mago may have played nearly 40 minutes today which was good to see.

I personally would stick with Miski - yes he's not the quickest but he has that physical presence that could help get us on the front foot (hopefully alongside Thornley).

Good to see Harry Smith play well.

Our front row has improved massively from last year.

French and Field together is box office. I still would go with a French-Field-Cust combo moving forward - not only because it will maximise our attacking threat but also it might give us a chance of retaining Bevan if he plays in his favoured position (Field I think has played most of his rugby at 6 anyway).

Finally a good crowd albeit supplemented by some freebies - hopefully the fans turn out on Sunday for the Channel 4 game.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 10:28 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I think Mago may have played nearly 40 minutes today which was good to see.

I personally would stick with Miski - yes he's not the quickest but he has that physical presence that could help get us on the front foot (hopefully alongside Thornley).

Good to see Harry Smith play well.

Our front row has improved massively from last year.

French and Field together is box office. I still would go with a French-Field-Cust combo moving forward - not only because it will maximise our attacking threat but also it might give us a chance of retaining Bevan if he plays in his favoured position (Field I think has played most of his rugby at 6 anyway).

Finally a good crowd albeit supplemented by some freebies - hopefully the fans turn out on Sunday for the Channel 4 game.

Mago did 46 mins and was absolutely superb for most of them. 13 end of first half, 25 after half time and the final 8. He made 3 of the 5 tackles in Wakefield's last full attacking set too. I seem to be in a minority here but I really don't see this idea that he can only play short minutes. When you consider this was his 2nd game in 3 days too and one that several backs struggled to complete.

On the game I thought we were excellent, even if it was against a poor Wakefield side. You can only beat what's in front of you and we did that just about as well as it's possible to, especially given the short turnaround and numbers missing. Up until the massive changes towards the end we were clinical in both attack and defence apart from their one try which came off the back of numerous penalties/dropouts/set restarts. Very entertaining rugby too. Bevan turning their fullback inside out was worth the admission money on its own!

Standouts for me were Singleton, Byrne, Ellis, Cust and Mago and it was a joy to see just how unplayable a French/Field partnership could be if we can get it firing on a consistent basis. MOM was Smith though. Excellent in every aspect of his game, controlled the match in the absence of Tommy and kicked 9 from 9. Couldn't have asked for more today. Here's hoping it turns into a run of similar performances.

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Mon Apr 18, 2022 11:08 pm  

I think most expected an Easter monday slog of a game so to get a nice run out was a pleasant surprise all played well but good to see Ellis back and Mago conti ue to do what he does,for ponger today too

Happy with result

Re: Squadv Wakey (h) : Tue Apr 19, 2022 6:16 am  

ChrisA wrote:

Yeah fair point, too early for me to make that statement I guess.

Yeah, don’t think there is a lot between us, Hull and Huddersfield at the moment and I still think Warrington and even Leeds have the squads to move up the table. What we have is consistency though, Catalans and maybe Toulouse aside I think we have put in decent enough performances almost every week.