Wire were in cruise control at 16-0 up after tries from Josh Charnley, Gareth Widdop and Tom Lineham. Charnley went in after a great break from Daryl Clark allowed Blake Austin and then Ben Murdoch-Masila to find the winger in space in the corner. Widdop’s first try in primrose and blue came after great work from Lineham out wide, though his pass back to the new man looked a little forward. Nice work out wide sent Lineham free and he raced half the length to score, beating the challenge of Tony Gigot before crossing. The game was not done at 16-0 though and after threatening to score twice, Toronto finally got on the board via an offload into Jon Wilkin’s hands. A short ball from Widdop sent the electrifying Matty Ashton through a gap in the defence from 40 metres to score his first Wire try. 22-6 was a decent half-time score but right on the hooter, a crazy play-the-ball, which was clearly interfered with, ended up with Toby King scooping the ball into the arms of the grateful Andy Ackers to score and close the deficit to ten points. Former Wire winger Matty Russell touched down in the corner early in the second half before another ex-Wolves player - Gareth O’Brien - touched down after some shambolic defending, which levelled the scores at 22-22. Wire were facing the prospect of an embarrassing result and took the two from a pair of penalties, Stefan Ratchford converting both for a 26-22 lead, before Ben Murdoch-Masila crashed over the line late on to settle the tie. Here are my six major talking points...1) A dissatisfying win?
Some may accuse me of arrogance and over-high expectations here, but despite getting the win, I find it hard to feel anything other than disappointed in that performance. From 16-0 to the good, Wire threw away a handsome lead with some terrible defending and then struggled to restore it with a return to the fruitless attack we’ve seen in recent months, despite a bright and exciting start to the game. For parts of that game Toronto controlled the ball better than Wire did and as useful as the two points are to the league table, a narrow win at home over one of the worst sides to grace Super League in recent years having held a commanding lead early on is nothing to be giddy about. Worrying.
2) Matty Ashton
More positively, it looks like Wire have unearthed a real gem here. He’s played three times and has arguably been the best player on the pitch all three times. His performance tonight makes Price’s decision to leave him out at Wakefield even more unfathomable. Toronto couldn’t handle Ashton’s pace all night and every time he got the ball, people were excited. Scored his first try for the club after a brilliant break through a gap and looked to do something similar in the second half before pulling his hamstring midway through it, which hopefully won’t keep him out too long as he’s becoming one of the main attacking outlets in the team. Very solid at the back too.
3) Austin powers no more?
I don’t know if other fans agree, but I feel like Blake Austin really isn’t himself this year. He’s not scored in the first four games and though he’s got two assists, we’re yet to see him replicate anything like the form that saw him become a Man of Steel favourite at the start of 2019. He tried a few dummies tonight which was good to see as they’ve been scarce lately, but he doesn’t look as threatening with the ball in hand and continued his pattern of playing a number of hospital passes to his team-mate. A word on his kicking too - awful. Three times Austin gifted Toronto seven-tackle sets with overhit kicks. Not pulling up any trees defensively either. Is he not fancying it this year or has he not shaken off the injury at the back end of last season yet?
Mike Cooper and Ben Murdoch-Masila completed 80 minutes on Friday night, so kudos to them two, both of whom were terrific. However, the fact that they had to do so highlights a huge area of weakness: the bench. Sitaleki Akauola didn’t make it for this one, meaning that Luis Johnson was the only prop forward on the interchanges. The young lad didn’t spend much time on the pitch and it was also one of Matt Davis’ less effective games, while Luther Burrell was only brought on as part of the reshuffle when Ashton went off. Danny Walker is clearly being used to rotate Daryl Clark each week and that’s fine, but overall the quality from the bench is very low and is forcing first-choice forwards to play huge stints, which could lead to injuries for them.
5) Extremes
My biggest criticism of this team recently has been a lack of attacking structure and an inability to break an opposition rearguard down. Price has focused instead on defending our way to victory by keeping the opposition out and making sure our goal-line defence is excellent, which it usually has been. There was emphasis on this game for the attack to be more potent and threatening due to people’s frustrations, and there were some signs of improvement, with five tries scored and some nice plays, including for Charnley’s try. However, other tries came about through individual brilliance rather than attacking structure. Ironically, while the attack improved incrementally, this was a night where the defence was all over the place. Wire’s goal-line defence was breached four times and Toronto could and perhaps should’ve had four other tries. The defence was porous and soft, lacking organisation and this is concerning as it is what Price builds his foundations on. Are we only able to get one side of the game right at any one time?
6) Centre of excellence
It’s becoming clearer and clearer that centre is our weakest position in the starting 13. Stefan Ratchford did a solid job there, though is likely to move back to full-back due to Ashton’s injury for the foreseeable. Toby King has struggled for form this season. He is doing little in attack and perpetually moves sideways, and while I have always rated him as a good defensive centre, he made some terrible errors in this game and but for a refereeing decision would’ve gifted Toronto two tries. With Anthony Gelling not available right now and Ratchford moving back to 1, who will play at centre against Leeds? Luther Burrell filled in there at the end of this game but didn’t do anything notable, while Jake Mamo was disappointing at centre at Wakefield last week. Time for Keanan Brand to be given a chance?
Player Ratings
Make no mistake, this is a player. He’s exciting to watch and terrifying to play against. A superb try after crashing through the Toronto line and could’ve had another too. Very safe under the high ball again. Gutting that he’s picked up an injury.
Tom Lineham - 7/10
One of his better performances. Lineham was rock-solid in defence and for once saw plenty of the ball going forward. A fantastic individual try and a good (albeit slightly forward) pass to assist Widdop’s try.
Toby King - 4/10
Nothing King did seemed to go right. Conceded the most ridiculous try you’ll ever see after scooping the ball into Ackers’ hands and would’ve been at fault for another after losing the ball had the decision not gone his way. Nice work for both Lineham and Widdop’s try, though I am losing patience with his perpetual sideways motion.
Stefan Ratchford - 6/10
Another solid performance from Ratchford, who started at centre and ended up at full-back after Ashton went off. Did everything he needed to do.
Josh Charnley - 8/10
Arguably saved the game for Wire in two occasions. A pair of fantastic try-saving tackles in opposite corners of the pitch proved to be crucial at the end of the game. Got a neat try of his own and would be getting a 9 or 10 but for a knock-on from a high kick and leaving the corner exposed for Russell’s try.
Blake Austin - 4/10
As mentioned earlier, I feel like Austin’s really out of form at the minute. He doesn’t look the same player as last season and it’s worrying as so much of this year was pinned on the Austin-Widdop partnership.
Gareth Widdop - 7/10
A fairly decent first hit-out at home for Widdop, who got a try after collecting the ball from Lineham and sliding in at the corner. Widdop was at the centre of everything good Wire did and was involved in Lineham and Ashton’s tries too. I loved his reverse kicks but no-one was on his wavelength. A few average kicks but overall he did well.
Joe Philbin - 6/10
He was sound as ever, Philbin. Once again, the problem was a lack of reinforcements from the bench. Not sure how we’ll set up next week with Hill back available.
Daryl Clark - 7/10
Started the game like a house on fire with a splendid break that facilitated Charnley’s try. Settled down a bit from there but was dependable with the ball and moved it well.
Mike Cooper - 8/10
A full 80-minute stint for a prop forward is very rare, but that’s exactly what Mike Cooper did. A superb performance from the big man who was easily Wire’s best of the pack. He can’t be exposed to that long-term though as it’ll lead to injuries. That’s why we need better from the bench.
Ben Currie - 7/10
I’m pleased to see that Currie is playing much better this season. He dealt with the threat of Sonny Bill Williams pretty well and showed good hands for the Lineham and Widdop tries. At times looks a little lacklustre in the tackle but usually gets the job done eventually.
Ben Murdoch-Masila - 8/10
Cracking performance from Big Ben, that. He was putting in huge hits everywhere he went and was so forceful. Deserved his try at the end, crashing over from 10 metres. An assist for Charnley’s try too. So, so impressive. 80 minutes too.
Jason Clark - 8/10
He was given man of the match inside the stadium for an energetic performance full of tackling and industry. His defence was outstanding in the first half and he’s becoming more and more important to this Wire side.
Matt Davis - 5/10
I’m usually a big fan of Davis but this wasn’t his night and he couldn’t get anything to stick.
Luis Johnson - 5/10
Delighted to see Johnson get a chance as I think he’s got star potential. Didn’t get long on the field.
Luther Burrell - 4/10
A game at centre for Burrell, which was his position in Union, though I don’t recall him seeing the ball much, if at all.
Danny Walker - 5/10
Looks like a permanent fixture on the bench this year. Nothing memorable about his stint.
What were your thoughts on the game? Do you agree with my points?
Daniel (@aloosewire)
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