I agree. Hull KR have no half backs or first choice hooker, an inexperienced coach and a Chairman who's just slagged the players off in the paper.

Anything can happen and I'm generally optimistic based on the squad. It's all rather dependent on two or three unproven props really stepping up. Sidlow and Clough are only OK at their best.

The most important factor about this new squad is that it is essentially a ground zero squad. the only other GZ side in SL or the Champship is London. I haven't called it a dream team, but in the sense that Jimmy and Steve were able to pick the type of player they wanted does sort of make it one. The clear downside mentioned by others is whether they gel.

Regarding the props, Jimmy said when Sidlow re-signed that he was a solid player that would do the hard work for the interchange "fireworks" props to capitalise on. and IMO we have three solids, Sidlow Clough and Fleming with the fireworks the other three to save me looking up how to spell Samir's etc. So we have cover for each type for injury and rest. I see them as a set of props to have the potential to be SL standard.

With the other Championship teams stepping up their game to claim our scalp I have no doubt that come the super 8s we will be in with a chance. We will lose a few on the way to the S8s, but that's what is needed to improve our performance. and with the ability to rest players we should arrive at the business end with a lot fewer injured players than the bottom four SL clubs that have been battered in their prelims.

I can see plenty of reasons to be optimistic, but the heart, bruised by the last couple of seasons of disaster, is a bit more cautious.

Re Props - Davies (The Lumberjack) looks very impressive from the clips ive watched on youtube, very agressive and powerful with a good offload.

Granted its only a snapshot of the guy but it could be argued that the second tier in the Aussie comp is of a far higher standard than Ch 1 over here so I'm expecting him to go well..

One of the staff at Wakefield said he could not train after games due to his knee problem and said that if he had a medical before signing no SL club would touch him. A relief to get him off the payroll on an inflated salary given on a panic buy. You will be searching for a replacement early season. Looks like someone has been hoodwinked.

Doesn't say much for Wakefield's medical staff then. If his knee was that bad they'd have had him in for surgery surely?

I'm not sure I believe your source. I can't believe any club would sign a player without a medical

This isn't football.

Exactly why I can't see clubs signing players without medicals

A player struggling through injury and pain to put in a performance each week might be a very different player with a full pre season. The 2nd hand opinion of a wakey fan doesn't concern me much.

Welcome back Rhino www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... _comeback/ Another one who will put some starch back into the Squad

Welcome back Rhino www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/s ... _comeback/ Another one who will put some starch back into the Squad

'Starch' is a good description of what been's missing.

Welcome back Karl.

Not sure about KH as a SL head coach (but I said the same of Lowes) however he is the kind of physical presence sometimes needed, especially for younger squad members. Looks like a good coaching set up, certainly far better than Cummins ever had at his disposal.

Agree TT. Karl has experience in the championship too, which has to be a plus.

Agree with the last few posts re Karl, a one year contract with a possible extension given performance objectives seems good.

I'm surprised by Karl taking up the assistant coach post. I thought that working Part Time suited him with his other business interests (he has a kitchen/furnishings company IIRC). Cant see the post being a part time one.

On the plus side, he was assistant coach during the most successful period in the Bulls history so knows what it takes. Hopefully he'll add a lot of aggression to the pack, something that was missing last year and will definitely be needed this coming season.