Some good signs out there today with Edge, Fleming, Walker and Roberts standing out for me. Jack didn’t have his best game and grew increasingly frustrated. Most impressed that we made so many interchanges and still kept good shape.
With no Gilmore, Craven and Wilde on show today it’s good to see we have good depth in the squad and I think we might see a lot of rotation this season. All looked in good physical shape and we reckon Adam Lawton got a spray tan! 😂
A good run-out for the team in front of a decent crowd too. Rochdale were poor but didn't give up and deserved a late try.
Walker must have been to weight watchers and had a reasonable game. IMHO Edge, Davies and Grady played well but I wasn't impressed at all with Owens or Amor.
And let me be the first this season to complain about the referee! It seems it's okay when the ball goes forward in a forward pass but NOT when it goes backwards from a fumbled pass.
Fair assessment and Walker has definitely been on weight watchers and fair play to him. Fleming has to play fullback for me and Edge in the centres. Thought Fozzard and Johnson did well too and looking good for the season if get Gilmore and Craven in the half backs.
On ok performance against a league 1 team for our first hit out, but If we put that team out in the championship with those half backs we'll get a pasting.
The 6 and 7 are key in every team but even with our first choice half backs I'm worrying, our first game and neither are playing. As most on here realised we should have strengthen in that area.
Keighley are looking likely to be this years Barrow already, hammered Newcastle without Gale putting a Jersey on.
I pray that I'm wrong but it looks like its going to be a long season ahead folk's.
@wrlfcefc1989 A bit premature but I do agree about the halves.I fear Gale and Chisolm of Keighley might give ours a lesson in the first home game.
@vikingfox71 Defo Fleming had a good game and for me deserves the full back spot. Jack is coming to the end of his career and should be passing the shirt on now.
Too old? He's 28!
Hard to gauge where we really are from friendlies. A number of what we would expect as 'starters' missing through Craven, Gilmour, Wilde, Dixon, so will be good to see if we get to field a first choice team before the start of the season. Although personally not a fan of friendlies as we always seem to pick up an injury or two. I did think Walker had a good game yesterday, was my MOM. He has had a lot of stick on this forum for his weight/size, he does look to have trimmed down a bit. But i thought he was excellent in returning the ball from the kick off, ran with aggression and mixed it up a bit with a good offload to Fleming i think to set up a really good try. As long as he puts that effort in each week he'll do for me!
Some players blossom at 28,others are done.I'm afraid Jack seems to be in the latter category.I hope Kear picks on form and not sentiment.Too old? He's 28!
I wouldn’t say Keighley hammered Newcastle, efc, with them scoring a late try to win 24-12, and it’s not like Newcastle were a top Championship side last season.
Bar injuries Walker will be in the 17 every week. He had a good game yesterday and his pass from the kick off to Fleming for the Edge try was a great spot.
Fleming is better at full back, good option for us to have.
Bizarre argument about our strength in depth at half back, Lyons and Owens worked fine and is a good option with both starting 6 & 7 missing.
Millar looked lively in the second half and came in a lot to look for work, the new outside backs Roberts and Evans showed some good touches.
Big plus for me this year is the ability to add JJ to the mix after 30 mins of Fozard. Will make a significant difference to us when a team tires. Some good signs, first hit out and plenty of positives to build on.
@vikingfox71 Defo Fleming had a good game and for me deserves the full back spot. Jack is coming to the end of his career and should be passing the shirt on now.
Too old? He's 28!
Antti Niemi?
I wouldn’t say Keighley hammered Newcastle, efc, with them scoring a late try to win 24-12, and it’s not like Newcastle were a top Championship side last season.
beat me to it since when was 24-12 a hammering 🤦🏻♂️🤣
plus Newcastle have had a turnover of players with going from FT to PT whereas keighley have kept a good core of their team adding bits to improve.
looking at keighley squad I’m really not impressed minus the 2/3 or so ‘high profile players’
@scouseviking55 - I’d be inclined to agree nothing flash about a 12 point win over a Newcastle side I would expect to finish in the bottom four.
Yeah hammered is a bit strong but I was going off what I was told by a journalist mate, 3 fair keighley tries disallowed in the first half.
I'm sure you catch my drift in relation to our halves.
Yeah hammered is a bit strong but I was going off what I was told by a journalist mate, 3 fair keighley tries disallowed in the first half.
I'm sure you catch my drift in relation to our halves.
To be honest I would not listen to the journalist too much. We still have a few experienced players to come back and I do not fear Keighley. I be banging my baguettes this year and a playoff spot for sure.
Good start, early days - Oldham next which will probably see many changes in the line up and pose more questions than answers
saints after that - do we play our strongest team and risk injuries for the first league game after that, my opinion is yes, let the team gel
and I think we will win at York and then i will enjoy watching the Keighley game as my first of the season