Sat 24th-Sun 25th Jan: Pre-Season Match Thread

[League Express]

Discuss this weekend's pre-season games here.

PRE-SEASON GAMES

SATURDAY 24th JANUARY
Leeds Rhinos v Bradford Bulls KO 13:00 (Cameron Smith testimonial)
St Helens v Castleford Tigers KO 15:00 (Matty Lees testimonial)

SUNDAY 25th JANUARY
Hull FC v Huddersfield Giants KO 14:00 (at Brantingham Park, Elloughton) (Brad Fash testimonial)
Hull KR v Wakefield Trinity KO 15:00

[Chrispmartha]

Scrappy game at Headingley 16-12 at HT Bradford look OK their fans treating it like a play off game

Edited January 24 by Chrispmartha

[Chrispmartha]

I know it’s only a friendly but Bulls were terrible they will need to up their game in SL proper

[Spotty Herbert]

Bulls were competitive for an hour, but need to be able to go the full 80. The only other difference was the occasional touch of class from Connor and Croft. Rhinos have paid some price for the win, though, with the injuries to McDonnell, Handley and Simpson.

[Josef K]

A mate went to the Saints/Cas game, he said “it was freezing with a biting wind”. He said the gate was announced 5,400. I am glad i stayed at home and watched the Sheffield/Whitehaven game. 

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Nice to see Lewis Murphy back out on the pitch and scoring a try during Saints drubbing of Castleford's probable SL  starting 13.

[BroncoFan]

I watched Leeds v Bradford as a neutral and I thought Bradford were quite impressive in the first half.

Coach Haggerty said they had 9 first team players out including Ryan Sutton and Andy Ackers so I think they will be stronger than I expected.

Leeds picked up some injuries which didn’t look good for Max Simpson.

[Bulls2487]

20 hours ago, Chrispmartha said:

I know it’s only a friendly but Bulls were terrible they will need to up their game in SL proper

I think your post is disrespectful to the Bulls.

We were losing 22-16 after 55 minutes.

We had Ackers,Sutton,Milnes,Scurr,Mellor,Fulton,Chamberlain all missing from the starting 17.

Its a good effort for our first hit out against an experienced SL team

 

 

[Chrispmartha]

2 hours ago, Bulls2487 said:

I think your post is disrespectful to the Bulls.

We were losing 22-16 after 55 minutes.

We had Ackers,Sutton,Milnes,Scurr,Mellor,Fulton,Chamberlain all missing from the starting 17.

Its a good effort for our first hit out against an experienced SL team

 

 

Im just calling it as I saw it, Leeds also were playing a lot of young kids when they out points on Bradford.

 

Leeds were also way off the pace in n the first half.

 

fwiw i think Bradford have made the best recruitment of the 3 teams coming up and i see them finishing 12th or 11th comfortably 

 

also not half as disrespectful as the bulls fans cheering injured players!

Edited January 25 by Chrispmartha

[Trojan Horse]

Wakefield look superbly well drilled vs KR and look extremely fit too. 
 

Adding in Johnstone, Mckmeeken, Lino, Rodwell, Tevaga into that line up will only enhance it. 
 

I know KR had a mix of first, squad and reserve players but they’re nowhere close today. 
 

If Tyson Smoothy isn’t the best 9 in SL this season I’ll be shocked. He’s clearly high quality though coming from NRL best team you’d expect that. 
 

I expect Trinity will throw all the kids and reserves on now but that first 40 was very accomplished. 
 

A lot of squad players this second half so be good to see them and get a look if they need to be called upon. 

Edited January 25 by Trojan Horse

[Worzel]

22 minutes ago, Trojan Horse said:

 

I know KR had a mix of first, squad and reserve players but they’re nowhere close today. 
 

I’m not sure I’d call one member of our starting 17, the bench hooker making his debut but playing in the second row today, as constituting a “mix” of first team players

But yes Wakefield look well drilled. Sure they’ll do well this season.

[Trojan Horse]

I thought Broadbent, Lawton, Dezaria and Leylan man we’ll be but it matters not. 
 

Can never read much into pre season games but it was a good training run and looked cohesive so that’s good signs. 
 

Both teams will change a fair bit for round 1. Liked the look of Smoothy and Lolesio though and think they’ll be useful additions.

Round 1 can’t come quick enough. 

[Chrispmartha]

1 hour ago, Trojan Horse said:

Wakefield look superbly well drilled vs KR and look extremely fit too. 
 

Adding in Johnstone, Mckmeeken, Lino, Rodwell, Tevaga into that line up will only enhance it. 
 

I know KR had a mix of first, squad and reserve players but they’re nowhere close today. 
 

If Tyson Smoothy isn’t the best 9 in SL this season I’ll be shocked. He’s clearly high quality though coming from NRL best team you’d expect that. 
 

I expect Trinity will throw all the kids and reserves on now but that first 40 was very accomplished. 
 

A lot of squad players this second half so be good to see them and get a look if they need to be called upon. 

Smoothy will be the best import signing in this years SL.

[Worzel]

1 hour ago, Trojan Horse said:

I thought Broadbent, Lawton, Dezaria and Leylan man we’ll be but it matters not. 
 

Can never read much into pre season games but it was a good training run and looked cohesive so that’s good signs. 
 

Both teams will change a fair bit for round 1. Liked the look of Smoothy and Lolesio though and think they’ll be useful additions.

Round 1 can’t come quick enough. 

Nah, Lawton will be 14 as an interchange hooker who can also do one or two edge forward spells. Broadbent’s a great player but now needs injuries to get a game with the squad this season. 

Smoothy looks really good value. I like what Wakey are doing and have them in the Top 6 this season. 

[phiggins]

Reckon the Sky pundits will all predict Wakey to drop out of the top 6 when they make their predictions on the opening night. And I reckon they'll be wrong again. 

[Bull Mania]

31 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Reckon the Sky pundits will all predict Wakey to drop out of the top 6 when they make their predictions on the opening night. And I reckon they'll be wrong again. 

I honestly can't call who gets in the 6. Someone has to miss out of KR, Wigan, Leeds, Leigh, Saints, Wakey & Hull FC. That's assuming there isn't a bolter like a Catalans, Warrington or Cas.

Then you've got the battle at the bottom half of the table. This season is going to be a really intriguing one IMO

Thank the lord we didn't ruin all that with an 8 team play-off.

Edited January 26 by Bull Mania

[phiggins]

41 minutes ago, Bull Mania said:

I honestly can't call who gets in the 6. Someone has to miss out of KR, Wigan, Leeds, Leigh, Saints, Wakey & Hull FC. That's assuming there isn't a bolter like a Catalans, Warrington or Cas.

Then you've got the battle at the bottom half of the table. This season is going to be a really intriguing one IMO

Thank the lord we didn't ruin all that with an 8 team play-off.

Agreed. Can't really call it. I leaning towards that being the top 7, with Warrington having a bit of a transitional year, and Cas maybe needing to strengthen the pack. Catalans have strengthened the halves, but not sure how well the coach will do, and they have two new signings that have already secured their departures. 

I think FC definitely get in the 6 if Asiata plays 20+ games. Weirdly, I'm not sure how well Leigh will react to have a fairly settled side. Seem to have the best years after a complete rebuild and the off field stuff will not help either. Saints will be better for having a new coach and Wakey have strengthened. KR and Wigan are a shoe in for the top 6 and the only way Leeds don't make it is if Connor can't follow up last season.