Reviewing last night again, think it was highly significant that each of the experienced players brought into the club since last September (Rapana, Hardaker, Cust, Sezer, Asiata) all made telling contributions to the win.

That is a very experienced spine, from 1 to 13, and if we are to have even a reasonably half-decent year then I think a great deal of it will revolve around those five.



Not only are they the type of players who have a winning mentality inbred into them but, possibly more importantly, they are the kind of players who can make others around them look better.

This should take a large amount of pressure and responsibility away from the younger lads, thought both Martin and Barron last night were able to play their natural game without feeling everything was on their shoulders. There were times last year when it looked as if these young kids were being hung out to dry, without having anyone to lean on for support and experience.



Obviously, it's only one game, and there is still a long year ahead with all the usual bumps, twists and turns to come, and I'm sure we will most likely still have the odd bad night when it doesn't quite come off for us, but it was difficult not to come away from last night without feeling that, at the very least, we will be in most games this year, being competitive and earning respect from other teams as a credible professional outfit. After last year, when I suspect the club had become a standing joke within the game, that will be no mean achievement.



As the saying goes, one swallow doesn't make a (RL) summer, but I would be amazed if there was any black & white who wasn't walking around this morning with that little extra spring in their step. It won't be all wine and roses over the coming months, so let's enjoy the bright new dawn for at least the next few days!

Really hoping for a cracking atmosphere now on Friday night. Wigan at home always feels like a bit of an event in the calendar, let's hope we can rock the place under the lights.

Hate agreeing with you but pretty much my sentiments.



I even made the mistake of softening to him a little bit when I realised he was cr@p and we were fighting a losing battle, yet

again.









Agreed again.

Agreeing with me? get a grip

Got to build bridges now my favourite female poster infrequently visits this board.



That said, you definitely aren't as attractive as her.

My coffee is better though