Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 1:40 am  

Let's get some rugby chat going.

How will we do this season, realistically? Lots of talk of culture change (does that mean there is an agreement that standards had slipped, if so since when and who's fault was that - the causes around this).

Short term, will we see tries scored can we manage more than a try a match?

Have we realistically resolved the sub standard goal kicking problem, who will be our main kicker when our main kicker hasn't even started training yet due to injury (or if he has apologies I haven't seen it).

Our new signings and the progress of our existing players, can we expect to compete with the likes of Saints, Catalans & Wire? They and other teams have strengthened too, can we expect to put up a serious challenge?

And finally our coaching staff, lots of right noises coming out of Robin Park Arena.


What can we expect? Who's confident, or not?

A rebirth to come or another damp squib?

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:06 am  

MattyB wrote:

Let's get some rugby chat going.

How will we do this season, realistically? Lots of talk of culture change (does that mean there is an agreement that standards had slipped, if so since when and who's fault was that - the causes around this).

Short term, will we see tries scored can we manage more than a try a match?

Have we realistically resolved the sub standard goal kicking problem, who will be our main kicker when our main kicker hasn't even started training yet due to injury (or if he has apologies I haven't seen it).

Our new signings and the progress of our existing players, can we expect to compete with the likes of Saints, Catalans & Wire? They and other teams have strengthened too, can we expect to put up a serious challenge?

And finally our coaching staff, lots of right noises coming out of Robin Park Arena.


What can we expect? Who's confident, or not?

A rebirth to come or another damp squib?

After the last last few I’ll be happy to just being able to compete with the likes of Wire, saints and Catalan. Everyone has strengthened well so winning the comp and cc will be difficult but I don’t want to be leaving a game this year feeling like the lads didn’t give it all, over the past few seasons that has been the feeling for most games.

The whole thing about culture change is good to talk about but it needs to translate on to the pitch like it did in 2010.

Hopefully Briers can improve the goal kickers, I don’t think it solves the problem.

I’ll be interesting to see how Peet, Briers, Lockers and Waney works. It does seem like a great mix on paper but might be to many people.

Overall just looking forward to having rugby back and hopefully a team that is willing to put the effort in to each game. A little bonus would be seeing the younger lads and new signings kicking on/ standing out this season.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:28 am  

As an opposition fan, I’m hoping the big clubs are all fighting near the top again, simply for a bit more of a buzz and atmosphere about the season. Hoping that there’s no disruption now the pandemic is on the way out.

Not sure how Wigan or Warrington will fare versus last season, but I’d expect Saints to be at least slightly ahead and more consistent. Cats may nkt be able to replicate last season without Maloney. Not sure about Leeds either, not convinced they’re as good as the media buzz suggests and whether Agar should move upstairs.

I just hope the play this year is more open and we get more ‘off-your-seat’ moments. RL just isn’t the fun it used to be.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 8:57 am  

I think we're going to be far more enjoyable to watch and ask the better teams more questions and make them work harder in defence.

We'll be less reliant on one player and I'm hoping this gives players like Smith and Field more chance to influence a game.

I like the messages that are coming out of the camp and overall positive for the coming season.

Hoping to see Bevan back, but I think Field has the opportunity to step in and make a reputation this season. I think with the new management in place he will be given all the encouragement, support and guidance he needs to make this happen.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:27 am  

I think being realistic we’ll be an outsider for a trophy but I wouldn’t rule out us challenging for one. I’ve said before, I think the main issue we may face is not how much we can improve by but the fact that a lot of the other sides look so much stronger as well. Saints will continue to be tough to beat, Catalans look stronger, Leeds look far stronger, Powell will kick Wire on a level or two, Cas have recruited well and both Hull clubs look stronger as well.

If we concentrate on ourselves, I expect there to be a bit of buzz about us early doors. I think the players feel there are some wrongs to put right from last season but because of the unknown element of a lot of our new players, it’s tough to really know exactly what a realistic expectation is. That opening night at HKR will be a real test of both talent and our mentality. The atmosphere should be superb, with a big crowd on and they’ll expect their side to kick on as well. There won’t be many better spines in the league this year than Coote, Abdull, Lewis and Parcell and we’ll have to be very good to get anything. It’s a tough start but I actually think it’s one that could be very good for us. There can be no easing in for anybody, they will need to be on it straight away.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:29 am  

Challenge Cup winners, beating Warrington by 17 points

Silva to take SL by storm

Finish 3rd

Massive injury and covid crisis for Saints that see them finish 8th after missing several games

Cade Cust MoM 7 times also MOS

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 9:52 am  

Compared to last year where we finished top 4

Peet/Wane massive upgrade of Lam

Mago/Ellis/Silva massive upgrade of Bullock/Clark/Clubb

Thornley obvious big downgrade over Gildart (although 2021 was a mix of injured/terrible from Gildart)

Cust v Hastings - downgrade on paper but like the attitude and reports about Cust

Miski replacing Manfredi is an obvious positive give Don’s situation.

Hopefully a fully fit Jai Field as opposed to 4 games last year.

Hopefully eventually a fully fit Bevan French as opposed to 3 games last year.

I’m fairly confident we’ll see a better John Bateman this year.

Smithies/Partington/Bryne/Havard/Shorrocks/KPP all a year older with more support in the pack. Hopefully they can be rotated rather than all starting every game



Don’t think we’ll see a Madge style turnaround (this squad doesn’t have a 21 year old STomkins and 26 SOL).

But I’m fairly optimistic, like what I’ve heard from Peet hopefully he isn’t going to hide behind ref decisions and injures like Lam.

Hoping to look forward to games again rather than dreading them, scoring more points and I think we can make a final.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:16 am  

So many unknows around the coaching team, a pretty significant turnover of players, and also how players returning from injury have recovered.

The noises all seem to be very positive which is great and it is clearly a conscious effort by the club to engage with the fans and the town more.

What I hope is a total change in style in attack but a maintenance of attitude in defence.

The young lads are all a year older and in theory we should be relying on them less.

I am hoping for a significant improvement in performance and entertainment value.

I do see this as a final year of transition. I think other teams are probably ahead of us in relation to where they are in the development cycle. I expect up to be top 5.

I have seen a few comments about Silva, I think expectations need to be managed with him. Seems to be a buzz because of his background. The lad isn't anywhere near ready for regular SL. He is a junior player who would be best served going on loan. Don't think we need to rush him and if he progresses well maybe look at giving him a handful of games in 2023.

I don't think you can expect a cup run as it comes down to the luck of the draw but it would be nice to get to Tottenham.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 10:21 am  

The squad should definitely be stronger. In my mind we’ve lost Hastings and a quarter fit Oliver Gildart. The other exits may as well have not been here last season.

We lose those guys from the squad but gain Thornley, Miski, Cust, Ellis, Mago, Silva and I’d also include Field and (hopefully) French. We also have the younger lads with another year under their belts, so it’s without any question stronger.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 13, 2022 11:07 am  

Progression is all in after. Improvement on both league and cup positions on last year, even if it’s by one position/round. If we win something it’d be obviously brilliant but I don’t expect to see either final to be honest - Saints, Catalans, Leeds, Warrington all looking strong. Don’t get me wrong out squad looks strong too but there’s a few uncertainties for me, who’s going in the halves, FB, centre, will our props actually be effective, is Powell still up to it, is Matty Peet and co up to it?

I’m hoping all those questions and concerns are answered and negated within the first month of the season but the jury remains firmly out for me.