This board is about to go into meltdown -- Hull KR

Quote: Next Best Thing "I can see your point Rescuedblue but you fail to see our side of the coin.

As a Hull KR supporter since the late 80's (when i was finally old enough to appreciate the game) we were a team languishing in the bottom half of the Stones Bitter Championship. In 1994 (our relegation season) I was mascot for the Wigan game where we won 21-10 yet later that season we accepted our doom to the lower division. This was the demise of Hull KR and for years we struggled, even ended up in the 3rd division. Here, I was one of 1,500 faithful supporters (sometimes less) who travelled the country in numbers to support our lowly placed team built with ex Hull FC reserve graders and amateur players who fancied a shot at Semi-Pro.

Gradually we improved and then in 1997 (not sure?) we met Hull FC at Boothferry Park and beat them thanks to a Mike Fletcher try in the dying minutes. Not long after, Gateshead Thunder were absolved in a merger with Hull FC and formed Hull Sharks. The talent pool in the city was bound to swing the way of the black n whites.

Still plodding on and still with attendances of 1500-2000 people we endured many trips to delapidated grounds and froze to death in the cold of Cumbria.

So when Steve Linnane arrived as coach and added a 'team mentality' things looked up. Sadly Steve left the club and in came Martin Hall and Mal Reilly. Martin Hall appeared a good coach but Mal Reilly was old school, good in his day but not so now. We battled hard, made a few key signatures. Attendances began to rise the more success we had and Harvey Howard became the coach of a sleeping giant. He brought in Makali Aizue who still plays, the only player left from the Howard era. James Webster joined and was one of Howards biggest captures. In fact it was Webster, after the sacking of Howard, that led the Robins to the Northern Rail Cup Final at Blackpool in 2005. Watching that day was the newly appointed Justin Morgan.

Under Morgan we made the playoffs that year (with Howards team) and lost heavily to Halifax proving Morgans theory that we weren't ready for Super League yet. We made countless signings with Morgan in charge and a board that had restructured the finances and were now making money.

Morgan built a squad with a budget that wouldn't break the bank. We had a captain and leader whom we built a team around. A young Leeds lad with potential was his half back partner and was getting better with age (scott murrell). We dominated the league and even managed to give a few youngsters a couple of games at the risk of defeat (which did happen).

So when attendances hit 3,000 we were excited, we'd reached Super League and, being one of those 1,500 supporters who followed the club through thick and thin and painted the stadium voluntarily because the club didn't have the funds to stretch that far, it felt oh so good to be in the top division.

To survive in our first season defied the odds, as we were told so often - "The promoted team generally gets relegated."

So after 10 wins in our debut season and surviving the drop we then kicked on and missed out on the playoffs by one league position. Now, in only our third year, still with recent memories of National League rugby, we sit proudly top of the table. Even if only for one night!

We've played poorly, been nowhere near our best and yet clawed some results. So for those wanting a top 6 finish its not being modest, its wanting progression and no matter what is said, it will be progression.

No team in Super League can say they have been their best on a weekly basis. You openly admit Leeds have been shocking, but not in every game. Quite simply teams are not allowing you to play, something you've been able to do without worry in the last few years. I remember one night at Craven Park back in 2007 when we didn't allow you to play. It wasn''t a case of you turning up expecting to win, we just didn't allow you to.

It's the arrogance of thinking because you don't win you're poor that people find offensive. Maybe its because the other team was good?

If anything mirrors Hull City with Hull KR it was the 2007 season. Newly promoted, good start and then we were finishing the season in a relegation scrap. Those days have gone, we are stronger and whether you like it or not we will be in the mix come September. I for one hope Leeds and Saints turn up expecting to win, for they will be the ones to fall.'"

Exactly. Rovers fans have a sense of perspective, and are enjoying this for what it is. Mind you, at least you never had the full downward slide to experience too - it all felt even worse when you'd had your first season ticket as a kid in 1982, so had been given the distinct impression that winning the championship was the natural order of things! (Probably like being a young Saints fan now, or that daft Leeds bloke on this thread).

Soon got that idea knocked out of my head mind... maybe one day that'll happen to some of the Saints, Leeds (and, amazingly...) Wigan fans who think that recent success gives you a god-given right for continuous glory. Sport isn't like that.