2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 10:59 am  

Let’s be honest did anybody see us getting 6 th place at the beginning of the season after the last few years I think with a couple of good signings we might win something I hope

[Mild Rover]

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 12:39 pm  

I don’t want to tempt fate ahead of facing a strong team away from home with us now struggling for numbers and doubtless more than we’d like playing busted. But what the hell, we’re in the play-offs for the first time since 2013. A lot has happened since then. Really… a lot! So we should enjoy this, we’ve paid enough up front for it emotionally. I wanted us to take a shot at 8th… just take a shot at it. Relative to expectation we may well have had the best season of anybody in SL this year. Direction of travel is huge.

Where did it all go right? Difficult to say. If you’d have told me 6th pre-season, I’d have assumed the new signings must be about the have great seasons. But, no not really. Hall was consistently very good and the others had moments to greater and lesser degrees - but they weren’t transformational. A couple bordered on the slightly disappointing, tbh. Culture, an intangible that is consistently overemphasised in analyses of this stuff (imo), is nonetheless real and important. Ours seems to have changed, and by goodness it needed to. One step back has, at the 3rd or 4th time of asking, finally been followed by two forwards.

Where next? Well, I think we can definitely recalibrate our hopes a bit. You never know whether any step is reaching a peak until later. Can we kick on again and go even higher with this squad and style of play? That we’ve played fewer games than anybody but look as knackered as anyone is worth acknowledging. And we can be knocked off our stride by a team turning up the intensity and physicality still. But we do have a stride rather than stumbling along, and a foundation to build on.

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 1:27 pm  

Lets be honest, we have enjoyed this season. 6th(whatever the naysayers say) is a massive turnaround, and very welcome. Made even better, although say it quietly, just in case they get upset, by our "big club" yawn! neighbours issues. We have had it from them for too long!
The style we have played has been great to watch. No backward steps from now on must be achieved. We seem to have good people in charge, but we need a bit of good luck occasionally, when it really matters.
One thing I think we really need and is currently missing, is a really big heavy destructive forward, just like Mose Masoe (desperately unlucky guy) that's what we are missing. If we could get one like Mose, then we are talking.
Not expecting anything at Wire, but next year who knows.
Thanks to the team for this year, it's been fun. Haven't been able to say that for a while.

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 3:31 pm  

I have been pleased with the spirit of the team & as I am still isolating I have not been to a game this or last season. But all being well I’ll be back in 2022. I think we are building a good culture at the club & I have not given up hope for Friday yet.

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 4:10 pm  

My expectation was to do better than Leigh, so for me we've massively over achieved.

I'll be travelling to Wire more just to watch a game, I don't really give us a chance.

Hall has been great, SKD has managed to be SKD. Lewis and Milnes have shown real potential, Litten continues to improve and Linnett's consistency is superb.

Abdul now looks like the player we all thought he could be.

I expected more from Takairangi, Vete doesn't offermenough other than a barge over and Sims has been a disappointment with bad hair. Hopefully all three will be better next year after settling in.

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 18, 2021 5:34 pm  

The great Sir Tony Smith has been a massive factor for you guys. My favourite ever Wire coach, wonderful.

Re: 2021 : Sun Sep 19, 2021 5:41 pm  

Going from 11th to 6th is a good achievement.

Our new signings haven't exactly set the world alight I'm thinking Sims, Takarangi and Vete so mainly the improvement has come from players already on the books. Ryan Hall has been the only new signing to play most games and live up to expectations. Johnson has been a good addition too.

SKD and George King have been outstanding having shown no form in 2020. Parcell and Litten have been possibly the best number 9 combo in Super League. Kane Linnett maybe we take him for granted but his move to the back row has been an unqualified success.

We started 2021 thinking we needed to sign a half back but Abdull Lewis and Milnes have all shone at various times and now we look well equipped in that department for years to come.

Matty Storton always looked like being the best of the Bradford youngsters and now he is being talked about as a future England player. Elliot Minchella & Ethan Ryan missed most of the season and will be like new signings in 2022.

Adam Quinlan had his usual mixed/injury plagued season so replacing him with Lachlan Coote adds quality, durability and reliability. We've taken a punt on Garratt, Halton, Richards and PLT. They are all exciting additions and at the least will add real depth.

I expect Vete to kick on in 2022 he is a real powerhouse looks like he could be a force. Sims and Takarangi well let's hope they show their true form like SKD did in his second season.

Looking forward to 2022 with optimism.

Re: 2021 : Wed Sep 22, 2021 3:16 am  

It's been a fantastic season in terms of improvement, I'm looking forward to seeing Vete, Sims and Taka next season hopefully after full pre seasons, they definitely haven't shown NRL quality IMHO, too inconsistent, too unfit, too many niggles.

Re: 2021 : Sat Sep 25, 2021 10:40 pm  

Rhinos fan here - just wanted to say congrats for the win over Wire, and a really competitive season.

You’re shaping up nicely for next year too, Coote is still quality and you’ve an enthusiastic and well-coached side there.

Best of luck against Cats on Thursday.

Re: 2021 : Fri Oct 01, 2021 8:50 am  

Well 2021 finished for Hull KR let’s hope 2022 is has good or better