Expectations for the rest of the season : Mon Apr 17, 2017 10:00 pm  

So...after Easter, 9th in the table with 7 points from 10 games.

What is the rest of the season about?

Top 4 looks unlikely. Both Wigan and Hull (4th/5th) have 13 from 10, it will be a big ask to get more than three clear wins than both those sides in the rest of the season. My guess from here is that Hull will end up overhauling Salford so the top 4 will end up as Cas, Leeds, Wigan and Hull in whatever order.

So more realistically it's about avoiding the Qualifiers and playing out the final games of the season in the anticlimax but relative comfort of being also-rans in the Super 8s, where we could look at some young players and see how they handle SL ahead of next season.

The little mini league of clubs fighting to avoid bottom 4 will be competitive. Widnes look off the pace and are probably destined for the Qualifiers but there are then three clubs all about the same standard - us, Hudds and Leigh, plus a couple who are probably a bit better (Catalans and Saints).

Wakefield are the interesting one. They are on 10 from 10 and their next 5 games are against us, Catalans, Leigh, Widnes and Hudds. If they get 3 or 4 wins they could start putting daylight between themselves and the bottom 4 which will mean us having to not only hold off Hudds and Leigh but also overtake Saints or Catalans. If Wakefield stutter in those next 5 games, particularly if we beat them, they could be our target team to chase down.

My guess is at the season split point we will be somewhere between 7th and 10th. It will probably make the league part of the season more interesting than it has been for a while as this battle to avoid the bottom 4 will be close.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 4:41 am  

Win all remaining games. We should be higher in the league with the squad we have.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 6:28 am  

Action replay of 2015

Coast along just doing enough. Dull rugby.

Somebody might beat a man in May. Not holding my breath, though

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:15 am  

lefty goldblatt wrote:

Action replay of 2015

Coast along just doing enough. Dull rugby.

Somebody might beat a man in May. Not holding my breath, though

Agree.We've not got a forward who can break through a paper bag + why can't the powers that be not see that when we all can?

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:42 am  

runningman29 wrote:

Agree.We've not got a forward who can break through a paper bag + why can't the powers that be not see that when we all can?

The powers that be look at the stats list to form their opinions and "breaking through paper bags" cant be on the list

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 7:57 am  

runningman29 wrote:

Agree.We've not got a forward who can break through a paper bag + why can't the powers that be not see that when we all can?

I am told it's all about a quick play the ball now and having centres take the ball up from our own line.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:03 am  

I expect us to be in the middle 8's.

I don't think the table will change much at all from its current standings.

Our only hope of finishing in the Super 8's is if Wakefield go on a poor run.

And we still won't sack our coach. ....absolutely horrendous.

Maybe when the reality of playing Featherstone away and struggling, sinks in, something will happen but this season is THE worst I have experienced.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:28 am  

We have the best winning run in Super League.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:36 am  

We'll finish 5th/6th at the end of the regular rounds and come the end of the super 8's the top 4 will be:

Wigan
Leeds
Cas
Wire

We'll travel to Leeds and loose out by 2 points.

You heard it here first.

Re: Expectations for the rest of the season : Tue Apr 18, 2017 8:44 am  

I am probably expecting us to finish outside of the top 8 and be playing qualifying games against championship clubs.

I was quite excited after the Leeds game that maybe we had turned a corner and would go on to play a bit of rugby... But the last 2 games, while we have won them, have been absolutely horrendous to watch... We just have to accept that we are a pretty poor side this year.

The bottom 3 teams are probably Widnes, Leigh and Huddersfield... then like Sally said, Wakefield are probably the key to our final league position... i fear we are going to finish 9th.