As both a Rhinos and Thunder fan, let me offer some perspective. When, after a year's campaigning, we succeeded in getting a reformed Gateshead Thunder into the old NFP, we were overjoyed. That first season back was pretty disastrous, as defeat followed defeat and the crowds fell away from over 2,000 for the first game of the season to just a few hundred. But we were so glad to have any team at all that the players remained above reproach. No matter how many we lost by, no matter if we threw away winnable games, no matter how many basic errors were made, the team was clapped off.

I really think that did the club (and the players) no favours. It must be hard to motivate yourself to be better if the surrounding atmosphere is one that accepts mediocrity. Looking at the squad list we had, no way should we have finished next-to-bottom that season. Looking at our wage bill, we should have finished 4th. Maybe some harsh home-truths from irate fans would have focussed players' minds which instead stayed unfocussed.

Being a fan doesn't mean signing away your capacity for individual thought. Well, not for most clubs, anyway. You pay good money, you get the right to criticise, that's how life works.

Why anonymous?

It's blatantly jeff, you can tell by the tone of the comments underneath in bracketts.