JUSTIN Holbrook reflected on rugby matters in conversation with the Star’s Mike Critchley.

MC: It must have been pleasing to see how the team kept their foot on the gas having had the game won.

JH: We played the full 80 minutes and the boys enjoyed it – and so they should.

I thought our execution, decision-making and skill was all fantastic.

To get a scoreline like that we needed everything to go well and we did that.

We work really hard on our skill level, and did do pre-season, so as a coach it is very pleasing to watch them execute those plays.

They make them look easy. They are not, but they do them well.

I was really happy with that.

MC: Huddersfield had a lot missing – but you can only play what is in front of you.

JH: It is irrelevant who you are playing - you set your own standards.

It is hard to do for 80 minutes when you are in control, and keep everyone disciplined and keep doing what is working and not try other things.

If you lead 34-0 at half time you can end up winning 38-10 instead. We stuck to what we were doing well and that is all I can ask.

MC: Jon Wilkin’s first half gave you plenty of direction.

JH: He is playing fantastic. Now we have got him in that loose forward role and only playing 50-55 minutes a game I think he has as big a part in the way we play as any other player in our team.

He is doing a great job and has delivered every week for us.

MC: He doesn’t look like a player ready to finish – are you in talks yet for next year?

JH: He is one of our best trainers and I think when you set your standards in training you get rewards in the game. He has got his balance right. He is enjoying playing and that shows in his attitude, effort and skill level.

We are starting to chat to him now. He is keen to play on, which is great and we will look at that soon.

MC: You must have been happy with Matty Costello’s debut.

JH: He is a great young player, who has been stand-out in pre-season and is a natural the way he does things.

He does thinks without knowing he is doing them and is a little bit like Percy in that regard. He can do hard things and make them look easy.

He is a player our staff and the other players were aware of and blown away with the things he can do. I was really happy for him to make his debut and do it in such good fashion.

MC: We have had talented young players before who have frozen on debut, or not got into the game and suffered as a result. What is the key to getting them to step up comfortably from 19s and reserves?

JH: It is hard to know the answer because all players are different.

But generally, you have to give players confidence that they have been picked for a reason. And that they should go on do what they have been doing at the other grades in the first team. The other is not to give them too many things to think or worry about.

The fact that Matty has trained with us all pre-season and knows what we are after and what the expectations are make it a lot easier.

The occasion itself will bring nerves and a play will be a touch unsure, but as a coach and teammates all we can do is make the messages as clear and as simple as we can and let him go out and enjoy the day.

MC: You are strengthening the squad with every game the younger players play, but the downside is you then have nowhere to play them every week when the others return?

JH: They have both played – and both want to play next week, but Zeb Taia and Mark Percival come back in. That is hard, but it is what it is. They are going to be keen and work hard to get another shot.

We do have no alternative though. We are lucky that we have the link with Sheffield where they can go back and play games.

MC: Without opening a can of worms, the reserves would be better, wouldn’t it?

JH: I can give you a half hour answer or I can say one word – yes.

MC: James Bentley made the 19 for the first team last week, has he just got to patiently bide his time?

JH: He is only 20. He was in the limelight in pre-season because he was our only new signing so probably got talked about a lot. He is working hard for an opportunity, playing at Sheffield.

It has also been good to see Jack Ashworth putting some games together there too. He was not far off playing last week. If Theo had not come through, Jack would have come on to the bench.

MC: Plenty of people walked away, excited, talking about the tries from Benny and Regan Grace.

JH: Yes, but which try? Most liked the one from half way but I actually preferred the other one where Theo got a quick ball to Jonny and then back to Benny.

MC: Fans are enjoying the long-range ones because for a very long time we did not score any tries from outside the 20m area. This is a feast after the famine.

JH: With Benny’s first try even the ref did not know where to run with Benny chasing him to the corner.

It is like with Regan’s try, I said to them afterwards ‘I like the support play, Regan beat six of their blokes and four of ours'.