Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:54 am  

christopher wrote:

Just regarding Bentley, we need to remember he hasn’t played for a long time, same with Mom, who I thought showed glimpses of what he’s going to bring to the side

Agree Chris everybody quick to bag Bentley however he came on and played a long spell off the back of virtually no pre season. He was at fault for the try straight after coming on but after that I thought he tighten our defence around the edges. What is clear is that if the balance is to be correct realistically only one of Bentley McDonnell and Donaldson should be starting at one time. If all fit on form Mcdonnell probably gets first go.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 11:57 am  

christopher wrote:

Could’ve at least wait until the first loss for the doom and gloom

I certainly don’t think it’s doom and gloom. Just people expressing views on the game. If we play well at rovers win or lose I will complement the team and the coach.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:04 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Once we get some key players back and find some form we’ll go okay.

Looking forward to seeing some of the younger players improve this year. I think we’ll look better on drier ground and faster tracks. Early rounds in Winter are often ropey.

not many key players to come back , in fact it is unlikely we will often put out stronger sides

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:05 pm  

Backwoodsman wrote:

I certainly don’t think it’s doom and gloom. Just people expressing views on the game. If we play well at rovers win or lose I will complement the team and the coach.

We are not strong enough in the forwards to win at H.K.R in my opinion

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:30 pm  

Lprhino wrote:

Find it best to sleep on things and re watch in the morning. Overall it was a difficult game, the ruck speed was a lot slower than Thursday and there were a lot of stoppages and it was a bit of a mess at times.
I felt our discipline was a bit better, we made errors but overall it felt like less errors than at times last year.
I can see the basis of the spine and how we want to play, still some concerns over our goal line defence. I know people are desperate for the rush up defence but I don’t ever see Smith playing that way (I also think if the game wants a quicker ruck that rush up defence stops most of the time).
I don’t think Donaldson should be in the 17, unless we have significant injuries and no other option. I also think Bentley shouldn’t in near the 17 if everybody is fit.
I actually like goudemond, lots of effort without being flashy. Everybody bags Sangare but from what I could see he needed 3-4 Salford players to tackle him every time he ran the ball and be sucked the juice out of them. He is a big boy and although he doesn’t ‘bend the line’ much he is difficult to stop and helps with winning the energy battle.
I thought Frawley was nervous to start but got into the game and helped move us around, exactly what he is asked to do. Croft didn’t do much but was a threat.
I think it will take some time to get that spine working cohesively, we do have a lot of players wanting the ball, will take some time.
In conclusion, we won the game without being great. Players got some minutes and the spine got to play together. Salford had a plan to disrupt and slow it down, but we managed go get past it and we move on. If we win games without being great then I won’t complain that much.

Good summary.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:32 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

not many key players to come back , in fact it is unlikely we will often put out stronger sides

Add Fus (if ever fit), Holroyd, McDonnell to that side and maybe Gannon bench then it’s a stronger side IMO.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:38 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

We are not strong enough in the forwards to win at H.K.R in my opinion

Agree, it’s a tough place to visit. I will be happy if they put up a decent performance. I suspect most teams will struggle at rovers this season.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 12:52 pm  

ploinerrhino wrote:

We are not strong enough in the forwards to win at H.K.R in my opinion

I'm reasonably optimistic we'll finish the stronger based on how each of us played. Though that could be down to rovers easing off once they'd seen off fc's lamentable effort.

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:14 pm  

KaeruJim wrote:

Add Fus (if ever fit), Holroyd, McDonnell to that side and maybe Gannon bench then it’s a stronger side IMO.

Yes it is but Fusita and Gannon hardly ever play and it is more than likely others will be out injured

Re: RD 1 | Salford Red Devils : Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:32 pm  

Lisone, Handley and Miller the pick of the team.
Personally I didn`t think Bentley was that bad and closes down the oppositions attack a lot.
Pack far too lightweight last night not helped by Donaldson playing prop which was a poor decision.
I`m still in the Mikey Lewis camp for a halfback but we went for Croft and Frawley which according to most people are far better choices which I`m sure they are just down to what I like to see from a halfback.
If Fusitua was playing with a bad knee last season why didn`t he have an op in the off season?
2 points just about deserved but thought Salford were more aggressive and their discipline let them down in the end.
Rohan a bit too arrogant with his interviews I felt.
Tomkins and McGuire excellent.