Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 12:58 pm  

And yet I've never been more apathetic about the start of a super league season! It feels so flat, even the new TV deal doesn't excite me that much. The rule changes around high tackles etc is more than likely going to create chaos for a few weeks with more cards and bans again. I just don't think I'm in love with the game anymore to the extent I'd happily sit and watch Huddersfield v Salford on a Thursday night commentated by Stuart Pike and Kyle Amor. Add to that I remain deeply skeptical and unsure of the prospects for the Wire this year, I guess the last few years have just worn it down for me. Hoping once it's back something reignites, but I'm not sure. Sorry to be a downer before a ball has even been kicked, but am I the only one?

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 1:14 pm  

matt_wire wrote:

And yet I've never been more apathetic about the start of a super league season! It feels so flat, even the new TV deal doesn't excite me that much. The rule changes around high tackles etc is more than likely going to create chaos for a few weeks with more cards and bans again. I just don't think I'm in love with the game anymore to the extent I'd happily sit and watch Huddersfield v Salford on a Thursday night commentated by Stuart Pike and Kyle Amor. Add to that I remain deeply skeptical and unsure of the prospects for the Wire this year, I guess the last few years have just worn it down for me. Hoping once it's back something reignites, but I'm not sure. Sorry to be a downer before a ball has even been kicked, but am I the only one?

I'm similar, I enjoyed the game much more around the turn of the century early noughties.

I'm only interested in Warrington and, to be honest, that interest is waning. Forever promising, forever letting us down. It's basically nostalgia that keeps me engaged at arms length. Twenty years ago I was a home and away man, now I can barely endure 80 minutes in the stadium.

I have zero hopes for this season. Our roster is not good enough, our winning mentality is absent, Burgess is inexperienced, our young prospects are not as good as our top rivals, and I don't rate Chambers in the DoR role, we have a clown as CEO and we have owners meddling in recruitment and retention. I cannot see any recipe for success and I doubt anyone involved with the club seriously believes we can win a GF in 2024. I look forward to this thread being pulled out late October to show how wrong as I was.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:03 pm  

Nothing changes much. Those of us who are mildly optimistic by nature have hope & those who tend to be less so will have the same concerns. The start of every season is similar to the last. Bring it on as I've missed Rugby League since the end of the season.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:14 pm  

I don't have any real expectations of the Wire apart from the odd win against a top team or a gallant loss. As long as the effort is there i am happy . We probably sum up the British as a sporting nation , gallant losers .

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:21 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

Nothing changes much. Those of us who are mildly optimistic by nature have hope & those who tend to be less so will have the same concerns. The start of every season is similar to the last. Bring it on as I've missed Rugby League since the end of the season.

I wouldn't conflate people's opinions on Warrington Wolves 2023 with their nature. For example, I have little hope for UK politics, HS2, peace in the Middle East, welcoming Russia into the embrace or the West or Warrington Wolves but other than that I'm fairly hopeful and content.

I don't agree the start of every season is similar to the last either. The start of the 2012 season there was the real probability we could win the league having had an exceptional 2011 season with a strong squad. Coach was settled and recruitment good. Everyone was excited by the prospect of Hodgson, the Monaghans, Bridge, Atkins, Briers, Myler, Morley, Carvell, Waterhouse, Westwood, Grix etc.

I don't think people feel that the start of this season is anywhere near the same in terms of excitement or potential, or if they do they may be delusional.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:22 pm  

ninearches wrote:

I don't have any real expectations of the Wire apart from the odd win against a top team or a gallant loss. As long as the effort is there i am happy . We probably sum up the British as a sporting nation , gallant losers .

It would be nice to be able to win against Wigan or Saints again.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 3:20 pm  

Wires71 wrote:

I wouldn't conflate people's opinions on Warrington Wolves 2023 with their nature. For example, I have little hope for UK politics, HS2, peace in the Middle East, welcoming Russia into the embrace or the West or Warrington Wolves but other than that I'm fairly hopeful and content.

I don't agree the start of every season is similar to the last either. The start of the 2012 season there was the real probability we could win the league having had an exceptional 2011 season with a strong squad. Coach was settled and recruitment good. Everyone was excited by the prospect of Hodgson, the Monaghans, Bridge, Atkins, Briers, Myler, Morley, Carvell, Waterhouse, Westwood, Grix etc.

I don't think people feel that the start of this season is anywhere near the same in terms of excitement or potential, or if they do they may be delusional.

I too was much happier at the start of 2012 ... twelve years ago. In 2024 only Wigan will have that sort of feeling.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 3:36 pm  

Smiffy27 wrote:

I too was much happier at the start of 2012 ... twelve years ago. In 2024 only Wigan will have that sort of feeling.

Back in 2011/2012 I would have bet money that we would win at least one GF in the next 12 years.

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 3:57 pm  

Christ all mighty, you’d all be swinging from the nearest lamppost if you’d watch Wakefield like me over the last 50 years with that attitude, man up and enjoy the ride

Re: Less than a week to go... : Sat Feb 10, 2024 4:05 pm  

Super League in general is nowhere near as entertaining as 10-20 years ago. I know that the defences are much improved, and that has lead to better international showings, but as a spectacle RL has gone away from its Raison D'Etre - to entertain. It's still the best sport to watch of course, and I'll never lose interest in watching RL in some capacity.

Regarding Warrington, I'm sort of glad this off-season has been very low key with not much to boast about. I'm hoping that it's a sign of the team knuckling down and getting back to basics, with no pressure from above, or the media, or the coach. I agree with the negative points made by Wires71 about the squad and coaching team, but I also think that may be our strength going forward this season. We're not full of reliance on superstars, we have a coach who won't feel under pressure to play in a particular way, and other clubs don't know what to expect of this team. Of course we don't know whether this will make a difference, but the old way didn't work either so at least we're trying something completely different. Add to this the crop of young players coming through, and we could easily exceed my mid-table expectations.

As ninearches said, if the effort is there every week with this lesser squad and inexperienced coach, I'll be happy. We just need to steadily improve once the culture has been brought back to basics.