I think most would agree with this and i think/hope Brian Mcdermott will also add a freshness and bring more steel to our Defence and pack but we do need 1 or 2 additions imo.

Spot on, but there are some reasons to be a bit optimistic next season:

1. Lowest expectations for 7/8 years. Apparently Wigan Stains and Wire are nailed on to fill the 1st 3 places with us fighting for 4th. Less to lose, more to gain?
2. Brian McD trying hard to show he's worthy of being 1st team coach for 2012.
3. Much less complacency in the side - the players should be keen to show that this year's form was a one-off. For match day motivation, just put a picture of the Wembley score line on the dressing room wall.
4. Having BJB and Watkins back will be like 2 new additions.
5. JP will benefit for having a long time off - 1st clear off season for years.
6. Clarkson, Pitts, McShane and Ambler bigger, stronger, more experienced and will contribute more.
7. No distraction of having to get ready for the WCC as soon as the season starts. A gradual increase in intensity as the season develops should benefit the whole team.

Any others?

Incidentally why "Tauranga" ? Serious question..spent a year living there with my family in 2006/7. Do I know you ?

small world.....actually spent first three months at the mount before moving to bayfair. ...maybe bumped into on the stand sometime or was that you in the hot pools mooning at the ice cream parlour across the road ????

So why bother replying then ? I have learnt this site is just somewhere to have a little light hearted fun. You really should try to do the same and not take life so seriously. No one really cares what others might have to regale us with...or at least they shouldn't as for resorting to apparent real attempts to insult...that is pretty sad.

Oops ! Lost my way with punctuation towards the end there....almost as bad as the imperious DHM's misuse of ' your ' instead of you're.