I just got back from the trial.
Positives
There were a lot of positives to take away from the game.
The team looks very fit across the park (although Dylan Edwards knee and leg was still heavily strapped, and McKendry's knee was also heavily strapped), possibly with the exception of Peachey, who looks like he has gained some size, but was regularly slower getting back into the line in defence than the rest of the team and missed the tackle that lead to the Rooster's first try (although was still his usual X factor in attack and supported Clearly well for a try).
In the first half we played mostly first graders with reserves, and in the second we played mostly reserve graders.
I think we made only one error the whole game - dropping the ball coming out of our own end early in the first half. Otherwise our handling was superb.
Our team is huge across the park - between the first graders and reserves I think it was the biggest team on average I have ever seen Penrith put on a field. Our forward depth in the reserves looks incredible.
Based on the limited minutes played by both of Maloney and Cleary together, it was difficult to tell how well they have combined, but equally I didn't notice anything of concern. Cleary did almost all (perhaps all) of the kicking in general play when he was on the field, and did the goal kicking when on the field, so I expect he will remain the first choice kicker in general play.
Jerome Laui looked excellent with the ball - he played the end of the first half and all of the second half and lead the team around the park. He also set up some excellent scoring plays.
Wade Egan played hooker for all of the first half, when we had more of our first graders on the field. He looked very good. Katoa did almost all of the hooking in the second half, and also looked very good.
Our defence in the middle was excellent. We were also consistently good at shutting down the play and driving the opposition back in defence.
Areas for improvement
We were still quite flat in attack. Query how much you can read into this game, however.
Tries were scored against us when the Roosters went out wide. Again, I don't read too much into that because we didn't have our best centre / winger combinations out there, but our sliding out wide and 1 on 1 defence out wide was questionable.
Sivo looked good with the ball but didn't inspire confidence in defence.
I am therefore a little bit concerned how we will go in the centre / winger area early in the season until our first choice (DWZ, Blake, Peachy / Whare / Mansour) combination is all fit and available. .
