Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:22 pm  

Before the season started, I expected that again we would be in the bottom four teams and that we would end up in the middle 8 comp and it really looks to me at this that this is going to happen. Our squad simply isn't good enough for the top 8 in super league, be it down to a lack of investment in the right type of players, misfortune/whatever.

I actually believe that 10th in the league is about "par" for where a team of our ability should end up though I would be interested to hear the opinions on anyone who genuinely believes we should be higher up the league table?

Accepting we're going to again be in the Middle 8 competition, I would hope that we take some more opportunities to give young players some game time and try to bring along their development. We need to start looking ahead to the coming seasons and seeing which players we're going to need to be replacing soon, who's going to be our next fullback once Cockayne isn't here anymore? Will we need to invest massive chunks of our salary cap into signing big name Australian halves or can we bring someone through to partner Marsh and give us a home grown half back pairing? Having a spine of home grown players with a sprinkling or "marquee" imports is where I'm sure everybody would like us to get to eventually.

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:26 pm  

We have a crap academy so don't rely on our youth. We are $hite, and we will be lucky to be anything other than 12th or 11th. Peacock, Hudgell and Crossland have tonnes of work to do!

[Mild Rover]

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:36 pm  

I pretty much agree with you. With our spine all fit and firing I'd now say that 10th would be par and 7th or 8th possible. But I think we're all realising that probably won't ever happen for a long run of games, which makes 11th or 12th likely.

I'd like to avoid the spoon, just on principle and winning a handful more between now and the 8s will be good for morale.

Then obviously, survive in SL to rebuild.

It'll be tough to attract new players who are good enough to have options - the possibility of us going down can't be dismissed. To get out of this rut, we might have to look at paying fees once we're safe. Five-figures, sort of thing. I'm not sure the club can afford it, but I'm not sure they can afford another year of turning up late to find the cupboard bare, either.

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:46 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

the possibility of us going down can't be dismiss

I'm happy to admit to not being much of an expert on Championship rugby (at least since the 2006 season ) but as poor as we have been at times, I still don't believe we'll be relegated. It will be very interesting to see who joins us in the middle 8 comp though, SURELY Leeds will pull themselves up the table?

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 9:49 pm  

Mild Rover wrote:

I pretty much agree with you. With our spine all fit and firing I'd now say that 10th would be par and 7th or 8th possible. But I think we're all realising that probably won't ever happen for a long run of games, which makes 11th or 12th likely.

I'd like to avoid the spoon, just on principle and winning a handful more between now and the 8s will be good for morale.

Then obviously, survive in SL to rebuild.

It'll be tough to attract new players who are good enough to have options - the possibility of us going down can't be dismissed. To get out of this rut, we might have to look at paying fees once we're safe. Five-figures, sort of thing. I'm not sure the club can afford it, but I'm not sure they can afford another year of turning up late to find the cupboard bare, either.

Who ever has all of their key players available though? Hull have had pryce missing for 1/2 their games, wigan tomkins, wire gidley and now sandow, les cats carney, leeds maguire etc. etc. rovers have been badly hit but that's what you get when you sign players with poor injury records. Doesn't stop the rest of them putting some effort in though

[Mild Rover]

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:04 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

Who ever has all of their key players available though? Hull have had pryce missing for 1/2 their games, wigan tomkins, wire gidley and now sandow, les cats carney, leeds maguire etc. etc. rovers have been badly hit but that's what you get when you sign players with poor injury records. Doesn't stop the rest of them putting some effort in though

Other teams have other strings to their bow. The quality of our spine was one thing to be optimistic about through the winter, but yes we were aware that there was a downside to that, even if it has been worse than anticipated.

I don't think lack of effort has been a major problem, at all. In fact, trying is the one thing we do have.

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:31 pm  

I said walking out after the Walefield game on Feb that I'd take 10th there and then to get the extra home game on the middle 8's. That might be a tad optimistic.

the trouble we find ourselves in is that the current bottom 2 surely won't stay there for much longer.

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:36 pm  

SirStan wrote:

I said walking out after the Walefield game on Feb that I'd take 10th there and then to get the extra home game on the middle 8's. That might be a tad optimistic.

the trouble we find ourselves in is that the current bottom 2 surely won't stay there for much longer.

I think a lot depends also what kind of points deduction salford get but id take 10th like you say get the extra home game

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Thu Apr 07, 2016 10:39 pm  

Having seen Bradford play recently, I seriously expect the middle 8's to pose no problem to any current SL side. The gap in quality is vast.

Re: Aspirations for the remainder of the season : Fri Apr 08, 2016 4:35 am  

Doom & gloom merchants out in force I see! The team is busted & what was on the field last night is just about what we have. Can't fault the effort last night just don't' have the skill levels to deal with a big side like Le Cat's with a scratch side out on the park. Not pleasant to watch especially if you have to be at work at 4AM, but that is sport just hope we have enough skill available to do a job on Oldham & re group, But you either support Rovers or you don't lets move on.