I thought we did give it a real go, but Catalans were slightly the better team and we can take pride in the manner of the defeat, rather than the scoreline, which suggests it was a routine win for them. It says a great deal about our cap management, when you recall the likes of Sneyd, Mini, Ellis and Ratu scattering them like 9 pins, in 2019, on our way to 50 points during a game that saw two of the best tries I have seen us score , since the days of the 80's superstar team.
I think Ashworth will get an unjust two games, for the head clash with big Chris and I was galled to here Barrie McDermott suggesting a red, when you recall his thuggery , particularly against the Aussies and Paul Sironen, he should keep his judgements private because they will no doubt prrejudice Ashworth's case at the RFL tribunal.
Think Hoy looks ready to step up at halfback and if Houghton is out , surely then gives Balmforth a try, if not then I fear we may need 2 9's at the seasons end, because we cannot rely on Cator to play regular long minutes as his injury woes rack up. Davey Litten for Walker weakens us a little , but I see no reason that we should not beat Leigh, without their big names and talisman, Lam. Should be a good game and both sides will be desperate, so it'll be a cagey affait , at least to begin with. On Saturday I thought the pack were excellent and only our centres looked particularly vulnerable , we coped with TJ very well, Nu Brown looks like a real leader, and dare I say it, great hooker,, while the conditions probably favoured us more than them, it was a great effort but not a good enough attack to claim the points.
