Enjoyed that. Widdop was genuinely top drawer - looked really quick and inventive and linked really well with Currie & King down the left. Of the youngsters I though Wrench did really well and Doro looks a real handful. Nice to see some live rugby again.

Widdop was like a different player.

That's a disgraceful comment.

Widdop has been separated from his family, won’t realistically see them again until the end of the season (and then faces two weeks locked in a hotel room) and didn’t get the break he needed with a NRL club.



He has every excuse to fizzle out and drop his game while earning the big bucks and waiting for retirement. So the fact he hasn’t, is all smiles in training photos, and has just lit up what is normally a dour pre-season slogathon game, gives me great optimism. He’s really showed up and in these bizarre circumstances we’ve got to give him some credit for that. It’s not like he turned up last season and sulked because he didn’t like the weather (a la most established NRL stars).



I’m more optimistic about this season than I was a week ago. It seems we’re hungry, in shape, and tuned up attacking-wise.

Guess, some 'COCK' from little Leigh will try it in the league game in a couple of weeks, eh ?

having trouble taking the cotton wool off him

You know what, fair point, that was a throwaway comment that actually reads a lot worse than I intended when I wrote it.



My bad.

No worries mate.

I thought that was a pretty good workout for the squad although Coops, Hughes and Inglis didn't get a run. As has been mentioned, Widdop really stood out and looked a real handful. I thought Walker also looked a lot more dominant than last year and looks to have come on a bit. Robson got through a lot of work but made a mess of one tackle that led to a try. Hill looked in fine form and seems in excellent condition, I couldn't believe the size of his quads when he came onto the pitch. We didn't see any real set moves so I suppose they were (hopefully) keeping that up their jumpers for the first round of SL.



Thinking about the likely side for Cas next week it looks as though the side will pick itself and be very similar to last year. But for me I think Mulhern did enough to make the bench. I think Doro needs to go out on short term loan, he looks promising but has quite a bit to learn. Thewliss looks an easy pick for when we have injuries as he is so professional but with Ashton and Ratch ahead of him perhaps he too needs somewhere to play as well.

I thought last night's game was a good run out for both sides & i was pleased with Doro's performance ,just like my Doro phone ,did the basics right. The backs, as Winslade said, were very entertaining & i thought Ratchford too had a great game. Did Butler Play ?

Yeah he did the middle 40, so to speak with doro.



Number 21

The team looked in great condition at the start of last season, especially the 12 man effort against Wigan. Looks the same again and suggests that Ade and his team are doing a good job.