The Qualifiers : Thu Nov 06, 2014 9:47 am  

Looking through the Superleague squads for next year, it's quite unlikely Widnes will make the top 8 for a few seasons.

What effect do you think this will have on the club in both the short and medium-term?

Re: The Qualifiers : Thu Nov 06, 2014 10:40 am  

Barnabus wrote:

Looking through the Superleague squads for next year, it's quite unlikely Widnes will make the top 8 for a few seasons.

What effect do you think this will have on the club in both the short and medium-term?

You mystic meg? No reason why we can't repeat next season and finish 8th, we have a strong core squad of players who have been together for a number of years now. I still think we could do with another couple of players if I'm being honest (prop and outside back) but we'll have to wait and see.

Im sure the club will have a plan in place if we finish below 8th, i think as it stands Widnes, Wakefield, Hull KR and maybe Hull or Castleford will fall into that bottom 4 places. The rest i think will be safe, just my opinion of course.

Re: The Qualifiers : Mon Nov 10, 2014 6:51 pm  

I would tend to agree with the OP, Widnes in my opinion will struggle to equal last seasons end of the year standings. I doubt Castleford will repeat their form of 2014 either. Wakefield will also be among the relegation candidates. I feel Hull will struggle because their starting seventeen, squad number wise, when injuries occur. Hull KR are an unknown quantity given the number of new recruits, depends in my opinion how quickly they gell as a team.

Re: The Qualifiers : Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:22 pm  

Structured wrote:

I would tend to agree with the OP, Widnes in my opinion will struggle to equal last seasons end of the year standings. I doubt Castleford will repeat their form of 2014 either. Wakefield will also be among the relegation candidates. I feel Hull will struggle because their starting seventeen, squad number wise, when injuries occur. Hull KR are an unknown quantity given the number of new recruits, depends in my opinion how quickly they gell as a team.

Well considering you've named 4 teams that will struggle too I think that makes us 8th.

Widnes were never out the 8 last year, and were in the top 6 until round 12. Glad we get written off it only gives us motivation and allows us to slowly improve under the radar. The only player we've lost of note from last year is Clarke and we've replaced him with Hereamia and brought in a couple of good players in addition.

I see no reason why we can't be competing to get in the 8 again.

Re: The Qualifiers : Tue Nov 18, 2014 8:11 am  

I wouldn't be surprised to see any teams in the top8. I expect the usual front runners Wigan, Saints, Wire but after that anyone could make the top8. Should be an exciting season!

Re: The Qualifiers : Tue Nov 25, 2014 2:52 pm  

Widnes have the advantage of playing on a 4G surface at home which gives them a few points from home games that they might not get otherwise. That's what they built their season on last year, I think they'll get another advantage this coming season although not quite as big because other clubs will be more prepared for the differences in performance on a 4G