Obviously a season of transition. However, after watching the Saints game and looking at the up and coming fixtures the alarm bells are beginning to ring!

Positives:
Young squad, loads of potential.
Still got some good/ experienced players who have proved they are good enough.
Great coach and owner etc etc.
Looking forward to seeing how Russell does and feel that O'Brien should be picked and not in and out as he has been. He looks hungry to do well, clever and a good kicker.which we haven't got!

Causes for concern:
Not enough leaders (lost 3 of the biggest leaders we had in Briers, Morley and Hodgson and we haven't replaced them!)
If we get 3/4 injuries we have a very average squad and could really struggle.
Other teams seem to have recruited well, strengthening with tried and tested super league players, however we haven't!
Bridge needs to stay injury free and have more of an impact on games! Atkins needs to become more consistent. Riley needs to defend better! Myler and Ratchford need to become leaders BUT unfortunately I'm not sure they can!
If we had the consistency of Higham, Westwood, Joel Monaghan, Hill and M Monaghan when fit and at hooker then we'd be fine!

Ha Ha i like that lets score on every attack but get beat 58-56 by London

Arrh. Somebody half gets it.
You score on each attack, you always get the ball back.

The closest wire have been was 2011 v Swinton.
Almost 100% attack.

Momentum is a word used quite a lot in these modern times

That term wasn't around when the scoring team restarted play by kicking at halfway.

Going to be a period of transition for a little while. Players who wouldn't normally be taking games by the scruff if the neck are going to have to learn how to do it; and for a lot of players it's not something you can just pop up one day and start doing, it takes time to learn how to do it.

Losing leaders and experience, and so many at once, is a big change to this squad.

I worry about our kicking game (the field positioning side if it). I think Gaz O'B has to get some good game time as he is a good kicker of the ball. But where does that leave the Myler-Ratchford partnership? And if they're going to play where is the kicking game going to come from to get us up the other end if the field turning the opposition around?

I also think we lack a depth of power and really lack some pace in the forwards. Who is going to break a tackle and sprint eight-fifteen metres for us in our pack? I think that's something we've missed in Grand Finals and it's not something we've addressed.

This is the first time in probably a decade that we're starting a new season weaker than we were the previous season. We've known for a few years that that group of players were going to be leaving us in quick succession soon and we had plenty of time to recruit well to push us to that next level. We've won three Challenge Cups, a League Leaders Shield and got to two Grand Finals...but it feels a bit like that is the end of this dynasty for Wire.

I don't feel like we've signed to a sufficient standard to keep us going at the level and going up another level by going to these Grand Finals and winning, then giving the World Club Challenge a go, and maybe winning multiple trophies a season. I feel like that little era of success we've just had has been signed off.

I think it's time to learn how to be patient with the team again and not expect too much.


I am excited about seeing Matty Russel. I like an exciting Full Back and he's one of them!