Well there it was to see…
The first and last rule of RL.


“Packs win games”

Our pack wins the day and suddenly, and as if by magic

, every single one of these 2022 slated outside backs and halves find their mojo.

These slated backs never lost it, they simply was overwhelmed in exactly the way the 2022 GF runners up were against Wire tonight. When your middle is beat, the backs are hung out to wash.

Vaughan, stint was immense, shades of Morley and Waterhouse.
Harrison, stint has just got himself into the England set up.
Big Sam out-reaching heights Toby King couldn’t jump too.
Bullock, playing in his debut since signing from Wigan.

You guys played very well, no doubt and have laid down a marker, with that performance, last night. Leeds were abject, don't know if there is dressing room unrest, or if Smith's coaching isn't as good as we all thought, they looked unfit and lazy. Thought your halves were very good and that is a fearsome pack, with Maguire yet to appear. Too early to get carried away but you must all be in a whole lot better frame of mind than last year, even Powell was smiling! Not many teams will match that intensity if you are able to maintain those levels on a consistent basis.

And Dodson and Philbin.....

One point of caution though - with Nicholson out for a few weeks, we've got one experienced second row forward and 2 young bucks.
Obviously Harrison could play there but we are a little light.

I agree RD.

I know I’ve banged on about Currie throughout last year to offer mitigation, but you could see last night that there is an extremely good player still there. On the front foot he was getting his hands free on every carry. I think twice he had a chance of an offload to Ratchford who was in space but he had cut inside, just little timing and coordination things that I hope can iron out.

That luxury player can afford to be in the team again now with a good engine upfront. I really hope he finds his best again.

Tom Whitehead, then there were options with Harrison and Vaughan who have both played backrow.
However we are props down so Huddersfield is ripe for Tom Whitehead to step up.

I’d go with Holroyd ahead of Whitehead from what I’ve seen.

Either way, those options are there, and now is the ripe time to get them in.

Very much doubt the kids will get a game, Mata'utia to second row with Minikin at centre and Harrison back to 13 with the same prop rotation. Jobs done.

That was my immediate thought as Mata'utia is well suited to playing second row. However, I don't know how good the young second rows are. If they are good enough get 'em in & we still need another forward on the bench.
The Nicholson injury could take some time so let's hope for the best.

Let’s see if the time old saying works tomorrow

I’m very confident that Wire will turn Saints over, and convincingly.

We're certainly doing it tough in the pack but we'll have a good enough side to compete.

Not many sides beat Saints convincingly and I expect if we do lose out it will be close. I'm fairly confident even with 4 props out.

Expect we'll be:

Welsby
Makinson
Percival
Davies
Bennison

Lomax
Dodd

Lees
Roby
Knowles
Batchelor
Matautia
Bell

Mbye
Royle
Sironen
LMS

How has Mbye done so far?