Quote: cieranblonde "Our squad isn't a whole lot worse than it was last year and without the 6 point deduction we would have finished above all the aforementioned teams and Huddersfield to boot. Finishing in a similar position is by no means unattainable. If we finally learn to close out games we'll win more than we did last season too.'"
Agreed. Our back line looks better with Foster coming in and Blythe who can play centre. Purtell is back from a long time out. Gale and Sammut are more settled. Foster offers a kicking alternative. Whitehead is not starting with a five match ban. Evans and Sidlow offer more than Kopczak and Burgess IMO. Bateman another year older and Donaldson at full fitness is like a whole new signing. We won't concede as many penalties too now that Elima is away.
Add to the fact that the uncertainty is over then I would argue we are a bit stronger. Scruton returning also seems to have been overlooked too.