It was very good to watch for the most part and some very nice tries scored but even though we made our own luck (i.e. it wasn't down to HKR being a poor side) we did end up dominating the game so it's hard to draw meaningful conclusions.



Playing Sam T at full back is someting we can afford in games like that. He had little to do in defence, but I don't think it works against top teams and I still think we'd be even better attach-wise with him at 6.



As to the game itself this is one of those games we might have lost a couple of seasons ago so it has to be good to put them away scoring 40. We have the luxury of commenting on Joel in the centres and Sam at FB so there is not a lot wrong is there!

I quite agree we will need two centres. At the moment I think Joel is our best option there given his solid defence. I presume Hoffman will be departing in the off-season, thus opening a spot for Tomkins to fill in the 2nd row.



Two centres to recruit is an interesting proposition.

I think you underestimate the influence of Deacon and Finch in the halves tonight. In particular, when Wigan play with Deacon we look a much more dangerous team.

I'd play Charnley there and bring Amos Roberts back but that's just me. Daryll Goulding and Ryan King are additional 3/4 options.



Joel will play there for the whole of this season though.

I think Joel's combination of size and speed terrifies his opposing #. He's getting better at centre each and every game.



I'd look to recruit one centre and keep J. Tomkins at the other next year.



We always complain about how much bigger the Aussie centres are. Well here's our chance to match them.

Had a trip around the boards tonight.



Loving the fact that the usual suspects are spewing about two of our tries.

Mentioning no names but one particular board has a 10 page thread on our game tonight, which is bigger than anything they had on their own victory this weekend.

Size isn't anything (not that it's a problem for me you understand)





I actually think Joel is wasted in the centre and anyway he'd generally play one inside from where he is at the moment. I just don't think he has a long term future their given my doubt about his decision making - back-up yes but if we pin our hope on him long term we'll be a very left sided focused team in terms of scoring. Is it just me or have our tries dried up on lot recently on the right?

Perhaps so, but I think the lack of tries on the right of late is down to Richards' return and Gleeson's absence personally.



Joel's doing a decent job, but Gleeson was a different gravy as a Centre.

The link up between Sam and Joel for Carmonts try was world class.



Simple inside ball maybe, but it was timed to perfection. Effective.



On another note, Finchy found a few cracking passes tonight, another improvement for him

Agree with all of that, which is why I think we need a "natural" centre. One of the main reasons I think we won last season was the fact our centres at last got some decent ball and had the ability to create for the wingers. While Joel is doing a decent job in difficult circumstances I actually think it could ultimately cost us this season.

Of course, Joel is very raw as a centre, he needs polish. Gleeson was/is a quality experienced centre. Of course there's going to be a drop off in production.