I dont think it would have been as easy but we wouldnt have struggled. I think at the beginning when crusaders had alot of ball in our half,a year ago they would have probably gone in for a first try but we stuck out and our defence was superb. Thats gonna be the big difference this year.

Quick question for you guys, why didn't O Carroll play and can you see him getting much first team action this season??

Harrison Hansen! Tackled anything and everything IMO tonight, J.Tomkins outstanding, where will Bailey fit in when fit?

I guess the coach simply felt Prescott was the better option. If you had asked me would O'Carroll get much game time this time last season (yes, just one game in) I'd have said that the 17 that played today was nailed on for all the rounds unless injured or suspended. Under Maguire I don't expect that to be the case so I think he will get his chance and like all the rest of them he will have to make a case for continued selection.



Dave

Offensively no. Defensively though we wouldn't have kept them quiet so much. Would have been more 38-20 ish I reckon.

I thought he didn't play because he was simply the 5th best prop on the field for us in the friendly against Wire. He's had a very good game at Wakefield before that in pre season but didn't have his best game against Wire.



He'll get games though. We're bound to get injuries and players are bound to lose form. The current coach will use his squad as and when he see's fit imo to get the best from it. Guys like O'Carroll, Goulding, Pryce and McILorum will all see games at some point.

I doubt it... The atmosphere was terrible.

Good start and as others have said next week will give a better impression of how much we have improved with new regime and training methods. Much leaner and meaner and more enthusiasm somehow although Feka still likes a little stroll back doesn't he

The atmosphere pre match was very good I thought. You could sense a buzz around the ground and an excitment. The fact that Crusaders were terrible didn't help during the game because the fans didn't really have a contest to watch or a part to play.



The game and the atmosphere will be much better next week and should tune us in nicely for Wire!



Can't wait for that one.

It was kind of spooky somehow wasn't it. Can't quite put my finger on why.

Probably because no away supporters to help create the atmosphere.

The atmosphere was at its best on the rare occasions the Crusaders got close to our line. It gave the crowd something to shout about. So no fans and being stuck in their own half for 90% of the game wasn't exactly a recipe for lots of noise.



Dave