If we start next season losing say 6 out of our first 10 games, lose the WCC and really struggling in the league how long will Brian be given to turn it around? Without trying to sound like a doom merchant, if next season doesn't go to plan and we do go on a bad losing streak will we stick with him and hope he can turn it around like last year? Lets not forget we were far from consistent last year, and if we had not won the GF the attitude towards him may be very different. Would we really be happy with say an 8th placed finish and just rely on the fact we pulled it off last year, or would the axe fall before that?

Upbeat thread this.

Lovely stuff.

Just a hypothetical situation y'know. lol lmao rofl

question that could be asked of just about every coach in SL

I don't think it's any seceret an improved SL campaign performance wise is what's required and on reflection he shouldn't/won't have the excuses and injuries to back up any kind of repeat of what was awful at times last year.
I'm looking forward to seeing how we get on not least because our back line is predominantly young ,fast and skillfull enough to trouble any team in this league imo and will hopefully remain injury free.
Of course losing the experience and quality of Buderus at 9 puts added onus on Mcshane and Hood but i think they can handle the step up and i certainly see Griffin and even Moore (if he can repeat Boxing days efforts when required) an improvement on Kirke and offers more depth at Prop.
Having Delaney and Ablett in the BR hopefully on a more regular basis also adds depth and competition for places there too so on paper at least we look better and to have more options squad wise this year.

Except the ability to lose the WCC..

... isn't that right Tony

McDermott is only the second coach to win superleague outside of the top 2, so no it couldn't. The point I'm making is would we hold onto him for longer due to the fact we won it lower down this year?

i think fans dont mind losing as long as they play well and if we want superleague to be stronger then we need a competition where most games are tough to call
id like to think leeds,warrington,saints,wigan and huddersfield are 50/50 games with catalan away another close call but we shouldn't be expected to lose against any of the others

if a team defends and attacks just a bit better than us on the day or a flash of brilliance decides a game i wont be too unhappy at losing but if we are easy meat for some teams like we were at times last season then the coach deserves the flack

I think the squad and approach has been to be there of there abouts each season, without busting a gut trying to top the league, but saving a bit more for the play-offs.

That, combined with the level of expectations set by GH will determine how much slack he is given.

Personally, even if next year is a disaster, which I dont think it will be, he'd be given until the end of the season

Thanks to some drunken claims after the Grand Final, I am not allowed to moan or complain about the team this season, however badly they are doing.

I reckon the senior players will focus on the WCC and Challenge Cup more than the normal league games. I wouldn't be at all surprised to see us have some periods of being off form in the league as a result. Lets hope we don't go OTT on the WCC like last time.

confident we'll go well next season, prob not the hubcap, but i'm confident of some silver in the cupboard. Have a feeling Griffin & Moore are going to be very good signings. Our backline and back row are excellent on paper, if 6, 7 & 9 gel we could be in for a good season, IMO.

I am much more confident than at this time last year. The squad has a better balance about it and the young backs are a real plus. The turnaround last season will have taken some pressure off the coaches and players and their refound self belief will cause some headaches in other dressing rooms. I hope we can maintain our form from the end of last year, play some good attractive rugby and stay reasonably injury free. If so we will be in the mix again at the end of the season. To win more silverware will be a bonus to be hoped for but not expected.

I hope I will not be in the position to have to defend the coach yet again. Who knows I might even be able to have the odd pop at him?

Let's hope your assessment of the props can be on the money this year. We live in hope.