Good win.  We're starting to look like (in Superleague terms) an elite team. Wire really tried to stay with us, but despite some decent field position in an excellent 1st half, they were always getting the worst of it. Introduction of Smith, Holroyd and Lisone really tipped the balance late in the 1st half. Connor was once again outstanding, but Croft playing down the much more difficult right channel was really, really good. His contact in defence is top class. Thought Gannon was great, what a player we are losing. All in all a very satisfactory 80 mins. If we can beat Saints at their place next week is another championship an outlandish possibility?

exactly. the coach is so important and for the first time in years we have a top quality one.
and doesn't it show

Yeah,gutted to be losing Gannon. One of the few potential stars we have managed to transition into the first team.


Hopefully he becomes a success in the NRL like other British forwards abd that bodes well for England at least

How much better do the big forwards look when hitting the line at speed with support around them ?.

To be fair to Lumb, I don't think he's athletic enough to dive for the corner like a lot of wingers do now. He's quick when he gets going, but his speed off the mark isn't great, so I don't think he has that natural explosiveness that you need to perform those types of finishes.

My view after half a season, is that he's getting a great opportunity to play and develop in the 1st team in a position that he's not destined to play in the long term. If Sivo can make a proper recovery he's going to play left wing next year, and if he'd of played this year he'd be on 15 tries or upwards. That's not Lumb's fault though; he's got a great temperament and a lot of talent. I'd guess he's the standout long term candidate to succeed Miller at fullback, although he'll have to fight that out with young Edgell in the reserves. Meantime, he has the shirt and Arthur wouldn't be picking him if he didn't think he was the best option. Like most I'd like to get a proper look at ECW but maybe the view is that he's a centre and not a winger. But of all of a sudden difficult selection options are popping up like the  Dandelions in my garden. Does bode well if, as others have said, we can maintain continuity in the coaching department.