Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:00 pm  

DaveO wrote:

A lot depends on whether French comes back and is fit and if Field turns out to be a good player. Otherwise we are in the same boat as last season with all our attack going through one player, Cust instead of Hastings. TL is past it and Powell isn't good enough on attack which is why French and/or Field are important. The coaching team can play a part here and if it's obvious there are issues with these two I'd expect them to act rather than make them automatic selections. Same goes across the park really. I am hoping to see some assertive coaching dealing with any issues rather than trying the same thing over and over if it's not working. If the coaches do that we are already in a better position than last season.

I don't think Cust will try to be drummer, lead violinist, trumpeter and conductor. Hopefully that will allow other players to do their jobs particularly not having any of the kickers caught on the 4th tackle.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Mon Jan 17, 2022 9:25 pm  

I don’t think our problems were solely focused around Hastings trying to do everything tbh. I think it played a part for sure but when you’re playing a junior pack against grown men each week you’re in trouble. We were totally unorganised in attack, we had nobody willing (or being instructed) to do any running off the ball, so dummy runners and support play became redundant. The players generally looked totally at a loss regards what Lam wanted from them.

There’s plenty to work on but I’m confident a lot of quick fixes will have been implemented in the off season and even if we started with Hanley at fullback, Cust and Tommy in the halves and Powell at 9, I still think we’ll see a real upturn on anything we saw last season.

From a solely attacking POV, I don’t think I’ve seen a team have a worse season pound for pound than ours last season. Even teams who have gone through seasons winning hardly any games have averaged more points per game than we did.

Things can only get better.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Tue Jan 18, 2022 5:13 am  

For me the return of French is massive, if he can come back and be close to his form of 2 seasons ago we’ve got a chance to compete, imo our starting 13 still looks a hell of a lot weaker than both Saints and Catalans and also weaker than Warrington and Leeds, what we do have is the strongest depth though. I’ll be fairly happy if we make the top 4 and play some attractive rugby.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Tue Jan 18, 2022 11:15 am  

CobraCraig wrote:

For me the return of French is massive, if he can come back and be close to his form of 2 seasons ago we’ve got a chance to compete, imo our starting 13 still looks a hell of a lot weaker than both Saints and Catalans and also weaker than Warrington and Leeds, what we do have is the strongest depth though. I’ll be fairly happy if we make the top 4 and play some attractive rugby.

I think Wire look weak in the forwards which will cost them the chance of being a genune threat for trophies. I reckon Wigan have a decent chance of finishing above them.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Tue Jan 18, 2022 12:39 pm  

I think the the likelihood is we will be scrapping it out for a top 5 spot.

That on paper maybe doesn't look like an acceptable return however I think we are in transition this year and the improvement should be judged by on field performance not just league position.

Saints, Catalans, Wire, and Leeds I think will all be scrapping it out with us and I expect a much lower spread of points between 1st and 5th spots than in other years.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Tue Jan 18, 2022 12:56 pm  

jonh wrote:

I think the the likelihood is we will be scrapping it out for a top 5 spot.

That on paper maybe doesn't look like an acceptable return however I think we are in transition this year and the improvement should be judged by on field performance not just league position.

Saints, Catalans, Wire, and Leeds I think will all be scrapping it out with us and I expect a much lower spread of points between 1st and 5th spots than in other years.

I hope so - its been a while since a few teams have been competing for top spot.

Re French I think we have to view him as a potential wildcard that could strengthen us mid season - obviously we can't be certain if he will come back at all but if he does (in a month to 6 weeks for example) then he should have his own mini pre-season upon arrival. We can't rush him back like last time - that would be neither ethical or logical. A fully ready Bevan French in June will help us far more than a half ready French in March or April.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Tue Jan 18, 2022 1:14 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

I hope so - its been a while since a few teams have been competing for top spot.

Re French I think we have to view him as a potential wildcard that could strengthen us mid season - obviously we can't be certain if he will come back at all but if he does (in a month to 6 weeks for example) then he should have his own mini pre-season upon arrival. We can't rush him back like last time - that would be neither ethical or logical. A fully ready Bevan French in June will help us far more than a half ready French in March or April.

Absolutely correct and it’s where I’m hoping Field can really step in and show us what he can do. If he gets a run at fullback for us and really lights the place up, we’ll be in such a fantastic position. The club won’t feel pressed in to any rushing back of French (I mean rushing him from the point of being back over here, I’m sure they won’t rush his arrival in the first instance) and as and when he is back you could have massive competition and two players with sheer pace that could play together.

There can be no repeat of last seasons mistakes. We rushed Field back in because French wasn’t here and he wasn’t ready after a back problem in pre season and then we rushed French back because of that Field injury and the result was season ending injuries for both.

Unlike Lam, I expect Peet will trust the likes of Hanley/Halsall to do a job in their correct positions rather than rush players back.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 20, 2022 9:11 am  

I’m hoping to be pleasantly surprised.
Looking forward to being on the front foot more with more tries and conversions together with better field kicking.

I’ve been impressed with how Matty goes on about culture, environment and performance, just hope this translates on the pitch resulting in better entertainment and improved performance.

Finally I really hope the concourse beer improves, last season offer was totally rank, with no cask or decent lager on. The small bar under the west was a revelation once, but last year it was the same dross as the other bars.

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 20, 2022 3:58 pm  

To get my season tickets before the season actually starts

Re: Realistic expectations this season? : Thu Jan 20, 2022 4:21 pm  

Warrior Winger wrote:

To get my season tickets before the season actually starts

Excellent point, the click is ticking, anyone idea when the ST’s will be received?