Leigh and HKR look far more likely than us this year. Both have won the cup recently and are nailed on for the playoffs. Both have been "gash" enough as you say, in recent memory, to warrant time in the championship. We're nothing special, we are not exempt. We are as bad as the likes of Newcastle or Liverpool in the 90s, acting like we have a divine right to be in the top 2 and challenging for everything. Well, that outlook has to be earned, doesn't it.

I am not yearning wistfully for the Powell era. All I'm saying is, the guy had a mandate and never got to see it through, for fear of the club being where it actually is right now - falling short of the playoffs. Weren't we actually in a playoff berth when he was sacked?

If we somehow stagger past Wakey and Hull into 6th, I will be mighty surprised. But as I've said before, does anyone really envisage us then beating whoever finishes third at their gaff, then winning another week, THEN winning our first Grand Final?


If you do, then I want what you're having.

All the people who decry 'happy clappers'  lose all their credibility when they start yearning wistfully over Daryl Powell. Great post above, BarbedWire2.

Interesting how do they lose credibility for having their own opinions would like to know that. I don’t think people are so much yearning for Powell it’s a case of what he has done at other clubs that didn’t work here, yes there are lots of stories and rumours going around but until we get some facts that’s all they are. I have said recently in regards to him I would queue to read that biography. As for happy clappers I think that as come from some posters getting really fed up with the likes of Smiffy constantly attacking a posters opinion on any given player the match or the club. EVERYONE as the right to an opinion if he came in and gave a counter opinion then I’d like to think the name calling would stop. I don’t make it personal.

Patient? For another 70 odd years? Ridiculous. 

Ah yes, and remind me how long Leigh spent in the championship? I'd rather be crap in the top flight than have the embarassment of falling to league one. The sheer resources we have at our disposal, it should not even be a thought in anyones head that we 'take a year out' jesus.

I reckon patient for the next 70 years might be stretching it a bit. I was thinking that we might not be able to bring in any more troops this season & not many to come back from injury. 
Put on a brave face or I suppose we could scream & shout and throw our toys out ... and be really miserable. Unfortunately the latter approach hasn't made much difference either.
As Captain Astwood would say... bit of a "tricky one".

It seems you have difficuly in holding a nuanced argument in your mind, instead you reduce the discussion to a polarised black and white view. Happy clappers good / Powell bad.

I don't think any post is yearning for a return of those days. Just some of the more observant posters noting Powells previous and prior success and considering the problem may be endemic to the club that is beyond the reach of any coach. Powells attempts to change that ended up with the players downing tools and the board throwing him under the bus. Interestingly when Powell was sacked he had 3 more wins than we have now and was in the playoffs spots ...

Anyway we will play out 2026 in broadly the same manner as 2025 and then Sam will be off and we will be having the same discussions / fall outs in a years time. All pretty depressing. 

One could argue Smith taking us into the bottom 4 playoffs with championship sides was pretty rank.

Price was great in his 1st year, and a complete failure in his following three.  He has never been a head coach since. 

Your attitude proves my point in all honesty. 

Season ticket since1991…..is 35 seasons not patient enough?  If not how many more?

Now that really was a frightener. Hated it. Peta Hiku was very handy for us at the time. I think we did OK in them but that was very tough watching.
The current situation is a doddle in comparison.