Mixed feelings, we came third in the league only on points difference to Leigh and won the NRC which was a terrific achievement and has probably stopped Fev winning the lot (I think they will turn Sheffield over in the GF although it will be much closer this year) BUT we have not been the team I thought we would be, especially after that great defensive effort at Dewsbury in the NRC I thought that would be typical of our season but it wasn't, our defence has been a shock as I believed Karl would have a rock solid defensive team, not so.
Our attack has been blunt at times like most are saying we take 3 and sometimes 4 tackles just driving the ball in one man style, you know one of two runners will get the ball and opposition teams have just read it like a book and knocked us down.
We all thought Karl would make us a hard team to beat but that has not really happened, yer we won some games we would not have under Calland but we should not struggle against Swinton and York for goodnes sake but we did. Maybe the disruption with all the injuries took a bigger toll than we realised, I think that it was the quality of our squad thet we did as well as we did, the last game just caught us out and with Penky knowing he was going we had a passenger for the last few games he was not interested.
My big worry is that Karl seems to like players who 'smash' people like Rettie, when we need centres and wingers that can run round people, when they get the ball!
I feel like we are at a crossroads now as two good signings to replace Penky (we have lost one of our biggest wage earners) and hopefully we will get better, but two average just 'up and smash em types' signings and we will get left behind as Fev, Leigh and now Sheffield seem to have got it right they have backs that can really hurt you.
I am slightly worried but we must have faith and hope Karl knows who he needs to turn a decent team into a very good team, ala Fev.

Now the dust has settled Ive decided to do my assessment of how the players have performed this season and my views on who should be here next year.

Ryan Fieldhouse - Potential to be the best FB at this level if he irons out a few of his bad techniques he has in his game.
Paul White - An average winger at this level. Wont really be bothered about him been in an opposition team and that says a lot.
Rob Worrincy - One of the best wingers at this level, once again though the coaching staff should be working with him non stop on the bad things in his game.
Wayne Rettie - Not spectacular like Worrincy but gets through a ton of work and defo worth a shot next year.
Lee Patterson - Not good enough to play centre in a top Championship team and im not sure he is worth a spot on the Wing. Good player to have as cover though.
Ben Heaton - Impressed me at Centre early on in the season and I think he can keep improving in that spot. Needs to work on his passing technique though.
Steve Tyrer - Pretty meh over him to be honest. Good in attack but pretty slack in defence at times. Needs a good year next year.
James Haley - Been a good club man but for me same as White, are we bothered about playing against him?
Mick Nanyn - Hard to say really because he could be a good player for us but its going to depend how he comes back from a year out.
Anthony Bowman - Seems to been at the club for years now without making progress. cant see him making any impact next season either.
Anthony Thackery - On his day has looked good but cant remember him having many of them. Needs to be far more consistent.
Paul Handforth - Same as Thackery and im not sure the pair work well together. We are lacking big style in the half back department compared to other top clubs.
Callum Casey - Thought he was poor for most of the season but the last few weeks looks to have come on leaps and bounds. Probably worth another season.
Mikali Aizue - Frustrating really because he only starts to play when it comes to contract time. I would take a punt next year though if he were cheap.
Penky - Best hooker at this level at the moment and will be badly missed if we go with what we have got.
Sam Barlow - Him and Manning are the best 2 second rows at this level AINEC.
Dane Manning - See above. Outstanding.
Craig Ashall - What has happened to him? Beginning of the season looked really good but has been very poor at the back end. Very predictable and a liability at times.
Ian Morrison - Pay as you play deal and we might get a bargain.
Sean Hesketh - One of the worst players i have seen pull on the blue and white for a few years. Man mountain but plays like a speed bump.
Ross Divorty - Has looked very good when playing, will have to hope he can stay injury free.
Joe Chandler - Not good enough.
Adam Robinson - Has the ability to be very good at this level. Rough diamond who needs a lot of work though.
Josh Barlow - Cant see him ever making the step up.
Jim Gannon - Fancy another year Jim?
Tony Tonks - Looked a shadow of his former self since signing but lets get him fit and see how he goes.

So overall I think next season we could do with a very good Hooker and a very good Half Back although I cant see us signing a Half Back and if we dont sign a hooker we will struggle. Luxury would be signing a good centre and another good prop and we wont be far off next year.

Couldn't agree more with your assessment Greg Florimos boots......Let's hope the coaching staff recognise the consistency of the feed back on this forum particularly around the key positions.

Ive lived in Halifax for all my life and I have supported HXRLFC for most of it but honestly Im not that bothered where players who play for the team come from as long as they give their all and are good enough relative to how we are doing at that time.

Both players remind me of Scott Law in the sense that every year the Courier rolls out the same feature saying how much potential the lad shows and how this could be his year and then before you know it we are 4 years down the line and the lad is still nowhere near cementing a first team spot. As much as im not keen on going with Handforth and Thackery next season, I am still smart enough to realise that Bowman is nowhere near as good as either and Josh is way way way down the pecking order when it comes to forwards.

Fair enough if they dont cost very much then they can make up the numbers in the early stages of the NRC but really thats going to be about it. I guess sending bowman out on loan would be an option but I doubt he gets in any team in this division so would have to be a champ 1 team.