I expect us to not start great, new coach, new players to gel in, only 2 home games in first 8, cannot see us winning more than 3-4, performance and how we compete is more important in first 8-10 games. But i expect dry warmer weather will see us climbing the table and with 8 home games in last 8 pushing for playoffs, we need to be patient and not knee jerks. Warrington started slow last year and where in a similar position to us, and they made both finals.

We signed two Half backs. one for now one for back up and the future.
We signed two back rows, one a high end quality world class, the other a solid enough back up fringe player
we sold one injury prone lazy bad attitude prop (albeit good when actually on the field) signed one to replace him (Crosby was only on loan for a handful of games and now permanent) and have Peteru back who was very unfortunate with a freak injury and started to looks good when fit last year.

we all no we do need another real quality prop, and we all know why that has not happens, we have to go with what we got for now, and with Holroyd Mustapha etc chomping at the bit and Oledski (really looked good against Cas) just about a full time front line prop, don't think we are too bad shape. Cuthbo was great as well and looks 2015 & 2017 form again.

To be fair most of us wanted another top prop even before Garbutt was offloaded. We have very much a ball playing back row, which I don't have a problem with, but in order to allow them to play we need a front row which punches holes and we haven't had that in years. Maybe the reduction in interchanges will have an impact, but we'll see.

Will be very interested to see if Holroyd gets some 1st team games this year, the lad is an animal and too good for academy level now.

For me we still definately need a wrecking ball prop & a line breaking BR.
Far too many average forwards are still involved here & we've signed one to add to them (Donaldson).

Completely agree with Christopher aswell we need to give the new Coach/Team time we are going to take some hidings this year but saying that hopefully we will still see Furner putting the foundations in place for us to challenge at the top from 2020 onwards

I don't think we will take some hidings this year. We may not be the winners some expect, but I just can't see us as easy beats this year, like last year. I can't see us getting anything out of Warrington, Wigan, and Saints at the start, but I still think we will compete at least.

yep thats what i was thinking, can see this being a similar year to 2002-2003 after the disastrous dean lance years, some real backbone and enthusiasm in the side and some young plates pushing through. Don't think we will have any hidings this year, not the spineless beat before we get on the field ones like last year anyway.

To be fair, beating Warrington and Saints last year didn't help us at all!

I don't think we'll be easy beats either but don't expect to be winning silverware

That pack is a major concern mate i know its only 8 interchanges now but if/when some of the bigger & better packs get fast starts against us i dont see us holding them long enough & then having enough to get back into the game.

I'd imagine it is going to take time for the team to gel, but if Leeds play to their strengths I don't see any reason why we can't end up being grouped with the top sides, albeit towards the lower end of the spectrum. Silverware seems doubtful but I'd imagine the club will be aiming to make the play-offs and have a good run in the CC in their pre-season list of targets.

The post-Lance years are a good call (2001 - 2002, maybe not 2003 when we only needed a little extra class and coaching). Perhaps 2017 without winning the GF is another realistic expectation - that year we owed a lot to other top teams losing around us in the latter half of the season to maintain league position, and Castleford's lack of big game experience in the GF (not to mention agent Hardaker).

Otherwise I agree with Gotcha's assessment that we shouldn't be easy beats any more. This doesn't rule out the possibility of the odd one-sided score against us, but I think these will be less common. The pack is undoubtedly a concern but there's room for optimism if we get some of them to play to the best of the ability they have shown in the past (e.g. Cuthbertson, Ferres, Parcell, Ward etc) or fulfil their potential (e.g. Oledski, maybe even Mullally, Singleton etc). Garbutt seems like a big loss on the face of it but if he was part of a negative culture that Sinfield and Furner wanted to change his position may well have been untenable, so we should hopefully see a better morale and attitude from the get-go.

Exeter -When has Mullally shown potential in the last 2 seasons? He's been 1 decent game in 6 for 2 years minimum.
Also i doubt Ferres will ever rewind the Clock to his England BR days.

Well mate both players are in last chance saloon in 2019 I think, along with a handful of others.

2020 almost becomes more interesting because you'd like to think by then, the rebuild will be just about completed. There's a big opportunity for players like Johnson, Holroyd, Dupree, Trout, Mustapha, McClelland to step up. The centres may need to be patient, and we have three good ones coming through.

Oledzski and Holroyd in particular both played prop for England Academy and both mixed it very well with their Aussie Schoolboy (future NRL stars) opponents, and I'm confident we have prop sorted down the line.

We'll have to see how things pan out in the early season, but for me if we're not really in with a shout of winning anything, but also not in danger of relegation, I'd rather see us give the young lads game time than has-beens and older squad fillers. I know we need to protect them too but we have a big enough squad to rotate them.