Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 7:32 am  

I didn’t get to see the game last night, so won’t comment on it. The 2024 season overall was one that began with much optimism for improvement on the back of some improvement in the squad and a genuine good quality player in Brodie Croft. The rest of the recruitment was a mixed bag, but to RS credit, he did manage to shift a number of contracted players off the SC. This will need doing again for the 2025 season for us to make a significant step forwards.

As he season progressed, the style of play, and in particular the number of errors we made, meant it was going to be another long hard slog with little return. The lack of leadership, both on the field and in the dressing room condemned us to a death loop of same old same old, and rightly we removed the coach from his role. Putting him in charge was described at the time as the biggest decision in the clubs recent history and frankly it was one that GH got badly wrong. Again.

Bringing in Ian Blease, who then recruited BA however, was one that GH finally got right. We now have a coach that has the knowledge and experience to win the competition, but not with the squad he has at his disposal today. Highlights were difficult to find, the first half of the home game against Saints, the game against a tired Wigan at home, and running in points against probably the least committed Hull FC side I can ever remember. The emergence of some younger players, particularly Riley Lumb who has a big future ahead of him, has also been a positive.

Negatives are obvious, the lack of ability in the playing squad, which I cannot believe for a second represents good value for money (another one at GH’s door), and the lack of mental strength to play when tired without mistakes, along with a lack of leadership amongst the playing group. Together this means we will have to replace most of the current players over the next year or two.

With Blease and Arthur in charge, there is hope for the future, but the board must back them heavily with new playing blood of the right quality, or we will only advance a place or two on the table and miss a golden opportunity to jump forwards. My biggest doubt is if the board will do this, or if they will constrain the spend, repeat the cycle (but with a better coach) and we spend more years hanging around in this dead zone or 7/8/9th place.

It’s up to the board to show the fans that we should trust them again after a revolving door of 10 years or so of decline. Will they?

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 7:48 am  

I said, just now on the HKR thread, I think mentally and physically arthur will make a huge difference in preseason.
added to, at least, 4 incomings, I think we'll go much better next season

with blease and arthur, 2 proper RL men, I'm really hopeful for next season. not winning but competing every week.

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 8:06 am  

tad rhino wrote:

I said, just now on the HKR thread, I think mentally and physically arthur will make a huge difference in preseason.
added to, at least, 4 incomings, I think we'll go much better next season

with blease and arthur, 2 proper RL men, I'm really hopeful for next season. not winning but competing every week.

Agree with both of you. I think three (Momirovski, Sangare, and Goudemand) will leave and we'll look to bring in 4 players - 2 props, a second row and a wing/centre. The big thing is - all those signings would have to be very good players, and one would have to be a non quota player. Not an easy task for Blease. Also think that pre-season is a huge opportunity for young Sinfield. We don't have a goal kicker and our first choice half is no more than solid, so destiny is calling him if he has the talent.

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 8:11 am  

This season was an unmitigated disaster. Edgell and Lumb could be a couple of shining lights for next season but apart from that there’s nothing at the moment to look forward to. I was disappointed with last nights display, I wouldn’t say we looked any better than the first game of the season under Smith where we lost by the same margin. It’s pointless going through individual players weaknesses because we’ve been doing it all season, but if anyone thinks a tough pre season under Arthur is going to improve the majority of this squad they’re kidding themselves. Smith will still be as slow as the slowest prop in the league, Frawley will still have the worst kicking game in Superleague and the forwards (if retained) will still be powder puff. I await Gawry’s email with more cynicism than ever

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 10:02 am  

Everyone thought we were light in the forwards before the start of the season and then had 2 of the first team effectively miss the season with concussion. How Holroyd and Gannon come back will be vital as we can't have them missing huge amounts of games anymore. The last couple of games have really shown the weakness of the front row, with Handley and Miller out there's no yardage made in tackles early on in a set and we proceed to go nowhere then the props get their turn.

Big first recruitment cycle for Blease, it's what he's been brought in for and needs to deliver.

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 11:24 am  

If the aim is to re-build that Murray pack, it is going to take one hell of an off-season.

I mean, that pack contained Fleary, Farrell, Newton, Morley, Glanville and McDermott. They would struggle with the latest protocols on tackle height, no doubt. Let's not forget the RFL letter to Leeds warning us about our style of play in those days - inconceivable now.

To think that the only player who comes close in our team is James Bentley, just sums up what opposition forwards must think of playing us. Tbf, McDonnell has the right attributes, not sure about the others. I like Oledski a lot but he comes across as too much the gentleman professional.

Re: Season 2024 : Sat Sep 21, 2024 11:35 am  

Agree with much of the above. We certainly can’t just spend our way out of it, it needs to be combined with top coaching and development of quality young players. We’ve not done enough of that for several years.. this season has been a bit of a shambles and the appointment of Rohan has set us back a couple of years. There’s a hell of a lot of work to do