[Mild Rover]

2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:46 pm  

Mine...

Well a jammy run of cup draws wouldn't go amiss. But mainly that we're a bit smarter and switched on.

Fear is that while they've clearly done a lot of fitness work to remedy some of last year's failings, it has maybe come at the expense of strength. The players mostly look 'lean' to the point that I wonder if there's a risk we might just get outmuscled by some teams.

A few gambles have been taken with recruitment, out of necessity in fairness - for Rovers to finish in the top half, an unlikely proportion of them would have to come good, IMO. Last year I hoped (optimistically as it turned out) that we'd win more than we lost. With London and Bradford gone, I reckon 10 wins from 23 would be a fair to middling return, and might just see us sneak into the top 8.

Another hope to round it off - that we remember that this is the first year of a new cycle. Something to build on and a realistic tilt at a top 6 spot in 2016, would be cause for a

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Wed Jan 28, 2015 8:59 pm  

My hopes are that I don't blow the engine on my car again or crash it.

My concern is that this is probably unlikely.

My prediction is that as well as blowing up my car, it will also catch fire.

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Wed Jan 28, 2015 9:27 pm  

Well my hopes are - Gaining a top 8 play-off spot
Winning more games at home
Defending better as a team (no blow out scores like Warrington last weekend!!)
A decent Challenge cup run (our luck in the draws have been awful these last 4/5 years)
Fewer injuries (no players ruled out for the rest of the season by June like the last few years, or before the season even starts)
Ref's not becoming the focus and main talking point after a game
And Chester to be coach of the year.

My concerns are: We take too long to gel as a team
The hooking role (Keal is not the answer)
Our coach (tho I hope he has a great year)
An even worse injury crisis than last year
Ref's being the main focal point of discussion
Starting our matches too slow
Not making the top 8.

My predictions are: Think we will end up 7/8th
Semi-final of Challenge cup.
Sio to be top try scorer in the league
Mantellato to be the highest average % kicker
Gary Schofield to ram his predictions up his a###

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 8:14 am  

For Rovers:

Hopes:
Making Craven Park a fortress
Obviously to make the Super8
Draw Fc in the cup - and beat them, of course
Retain bragging rights
Lay the foundations for the future
Throw away the selling club signs
Put a on Hudge's face

Concerns:
It might be too much pressure for a rookie coach
Be plagued by lack of consistency
Huge doubts over Carlile's lack of game-breaking quality
Holding onto 'key' players

Predictions:
A toss up between 8th & 9th
We won't get to Wembley (reverse psychology in motion)

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:30 am  

hope:- That our new side gels & has a bit of luck with injurie this time round.
That both Hull clubs come good & put a few noses out of joint especialy Schofield.
A repeat of the Derby final would be nice.
If we cant win the competition the a new name (Catalans?) will do me.
We can have a season without controversy just an exciting set of games.
Concerned:- That we apear to have gone for speed & fittness I am not sure we have a plan B.
A big gamble on key players with injury doubts.
Predict:- Finish 7th, cup semi or better (thats a wish more than a prediction) Warrington to finaly get the title.

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 11:23 am  

I personally hope we can make Craven Park a fortress, Be much luckier on the injury front. And finally have a good challenge cup run, for the last 4/5 years we must be the must unluckiest team in the hat. I think back to the other year, we drew and knocked out Saints to then draw Wigan in the next round. Lol

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:41 pm  

Sandra The Terrorist wrote:

My hopes are that I don't blow the engine on my car again or crash it.

My concern is that this is probably unlikely.

My prediction is that as well as blowing up my car, it will also catch fire.

If that happens, we should pop over with some pancakes and plum sauce (assuming you tragically don't escape)

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:23 pm  

Easty wrote:

I personally hope we can make Craven Park a fortress, Be much luckier on the injury front. And finally have a good challenge cup run, for the last 4/5 years we must be the must unluckiest team in the hat. I think back to the other year, we drew and knocked out Saints to then draw Wigan in the next round. Lol

Our last 4 CC ties have all been home draws, so we shouldn't complain too much. The Catalan (2012) & Warrington (2014) defeats were both avoidable with a little more composure.

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 3:05 pm  

Hopes

Our team at least show effort, commitment and desire in every game.
The team and the Fans make craven park a fortress again. last year to many insipid performances from players and fans a like
A good cup run - Batley away, Dewsbury away, Then a SL team at home in quarters would be good. Miss going to them places!
Terry Campese proves to doubters that he is still a game changer, and not past it.
Our forward pack get some mongrel about them, and bully teams.

Concerns
As mentioned a lot, Keal Carlile is not the answer for me at hooker.
Defensive issues have not been sorted, we still look like we could not tackle a sunday dinner.
Maurice Blair not ever getting into shape, meaning when we inevitably have half back injury issues it looks like dwayne barker is playing 6 again.

Predictions
8th. A massive injury epidemic. A huddersfield hooker coming in on loan at some point.

Re: 2015 hopes, concerns and predictions : Thu Jan 29, 2015 10:14 pm  

I am new to this forum but a mad passionate Robins fan. I now travel with family from our new North Yorkshire home to see Hull KR, a team I first watched in the flesh and supported in the heady days of Motown.

For 2015, I hope we play with 80 minute intensity and desire every match!!

If we do, although we will not win every game, we will not allow teams back in to games we should win easily and we will not let teams get away from us before half-time or get blown away in the second half, as has happened often in recent seasons. We have passionate and loyal fans, who deserve equally passionate and committed players.

My concern is our fringe defence, especially the tendency of some established centres and wingers to jump the line. Our halves and forwards need to develop a better reading of the game, watch the opposition more and the ball much less. We need players with better peripheral vision who read the game situation better and instinctively slide with more purpose to the sidelines when defending the fringes.

We also need a fullback like Hardaker who can tackle well and dominate in the air near the line.

We also need our head coach to get our team up for the start of every match and subsequent game half thereafter. Slow starts always cost us dearly.

Get these fundamentals right and we will end up either 6, 7 or 8 quite comfortably in SL this year and it will make my hour plus long drive back home a much happier one.