I am not dissagreeing with that one. You have good halves.

But halves alone do not win games. You need a good pack, with good finishing backs, and more importantly a good game plan.

Your pack is weaker than a lot of teams, your wingers and fullback are pish poor. And most importanly you have a very poor coach dictating your game plan.

A lot of teams? So which 4 or 5 teams have a stronger pack? I would say our pack is on a par with any side in SL..

Haha stop it, you're hurting my stomach.

Never ever seen as much written down in my entire life! Looks like the rhino is a little bit worried.

Weak Pack

From 6-17 your side is very good and up there with every side in SL. The problem comes in the backs where it is still very weak IMO. Saints, Leeds, Wigan, Catalans and Warrington are alot stronger in the backs. Whether your pack and Halves can carry some of your backs remains to be seen.

Although, I do think you'll be alot stronger this year and a top 3 place is easily within your grasp if you can be consistent enough.

along with the comment about our 'weak pack'

that must surely rate as one of biggest foot in mouth moments today. Our backs have no problems with their finishing - its their defense thats the problem

I think that's a fair enough aim. I personally expect us to finish somewhere in the top 4. If one or two such as Nero, Tupou , Sol, Platt can improve on last year then we could be a serious contender . I certainly feel we're better equipped than last year.. so who knows.

think you can safely include our wings in the 6-17 statement as well. our potential weakness id in the and fullback, although think sykes is very good attacking but poor defensively and nero had a injury plagued first season. Platt IF he can cut out the bad decisions has plenty of potential as well so dont think our backs are as weak as a lot of people like to make out



similar comments could be aimed at leeds and saints who both have a old/unproven in there first team lineup

and injury prone/ ageing fullbacks

Indeed, you surely must make that play off spot now.

Wellens and Brent Webb are proven quality Super League players. On his day, Webb is scintillating with the ball, one of Super League's most dangerous attacking weapons by far. Wellens always has a good season and whilst his WC was disappointing, he's yet to let Saints down. He'll be eager to prove a few doubters wrong and I've not doubt he'll be fine this season. You're hoping Platt will come good rather than expecting it. He has so many flaws in his game it's unreal.

Fair enough on the Centre issue, although Saints have plenty of money to spend should they need to recruit a Centre (should one come available) and we have some exciting youngsters coming through who will get opportunities. We also have the best Centre in Super League in Matt Gidley.

Overall, Saints and Leeds are still the benchmark, but Bradford have made some good improvements to be competitive.

I thought they were making a loss.

We've been losing money for years, but it's never stopped us from hitting (or going over) the cap.

thats a saints perspective on things but likewise there are alternative viewpoints. Its possible to pick out weaknesses in every team in the league but think our backline is picked on quite unfairly at times. Agreed there are areas it could be improved but its no where near as bad as some people make out

Sure. Francis Meli's defence and ability to take a kick - you don't get much weaker than that.

I think generally though our backline is strong and that is complimented by a very strong pack and two very good halves.

As I have said in this thread I see Saints, Leeds, Warrington, Wigan and Catalans with stronger backs. Whilst you may be able to overpower Wigan and out think Warrington, I don't think you'll be able to do that with strong Saints and Leeds sides who are brutal in defence and strong in attack.

add gardner into that comment after his world cup performance

add in possibility of pryce going down and your backline doesnt look so great anymore
likewise for leeds smiths unproven and seniors starting to show his age. Wire are great on paper but don't play as a team. catalans may suffer from new coach syndrome, wigan still havent replaced barrett effectively etc. you can pick holes in any team

That's OK then. If we can't beat Leeds or Saints but win all the other games, we'll finish top, and be runners up in the GF.

It's better than I was expecting frankly but your confidence in us is inspiring, and I'll try to buck up my ideas

Unproven at what?????
I'm sure he's more than capable of handling the centre position given he's proved his worth at FB and wing.

He's well covered by a great Centre though. Gardner is a good player, who had a bad World Cup. I've no worries with him personally, he's proven his worth in Super League both offensively and defensively.

There are holes in every team, but it's how you cover the weaknesses in the team. Your 6-17 maybe stronger than the likes of Wigan, Catalans and Warrington (we'll see what happens), but not Saints and Leeds IMO. Overall, Saints and Leeds have stronger sides.

The key word in there was may.

Yes but he's relatively unproven at centre! He may well turn out to be a competent centre.. but he isn't proven at the moment is he?

May?? [size=150May??? [/sizeYou hinting that we're gonna win the Challenge Cup as well? Well, I'll go to't foot of our stairs.

If we can keep all our players healthy and on the field then of course we can do better than the last couple of years. Injuries to key players always hit any squad hard.

shhh - your not allowed to mention injuries. according to some on here injuries are irrelevent and we are expected to win no matter how many key players are injured and if we fail to do so its a sure sign that we're in decline and the coach is crap

Well injuries didn't stop saints beating us at Odsal when they only had one fit prop or when Leeds beat us in Cardiff.

We haven't ruffled any feathers at all with our rivlas due to the signing of Bird.

That's why they've all been beating a path to RAB today to tell us all about it