And yet I've never been more apathetic about the start of a super league season! It feels so flat, even the new TV deal doesn't excite me that much. The rule changes around high tackles etc is more than likely going to create chaos for a few weeks with more cards and bans again. I just don't think I'm in love with the game anymore to the extent I'd happily sit and watch Huddersfield v Salford on a Thursday night commentated by Stuart Pike and Kyle Amor. Add to that I remain deeply skeptical and unsure of the prospects for the Wire this year, I guess the last few years have just worn it down for me. Hoping once it's back something reignites, but I'm not sure. Sorry to be a downer before a ball has even been kicked, but am I the only one?

I'm similar, I enjoyed the game much more around the turn of the century early noughties.

I'm only interested in Warrington and, to be honest, that interest is waning. Forever promising, forever letting us down. It's basically nostalgia that keeps me engaged at arms length. Twenty years ago I was a home and away man, now I can barely endure 80 minutes in the stadium.

I have zero hopes for this season. Our roster is not good enough, our winning mentality is absent, Burgess is inexperienced, our young prospects are not as good as our top rivals, and I don't rate Chambers in the DoR role, we have a clown as CEO and we have owners meddling in recruitment and retention. I cannot see any recipe for success and I doubt anyone involved with the club seriously believes we can win a GF in 2024. I look forward to this thread being pulled out late October to show how wrong as I was.

Nothing changes much. Those of us who are mildly optimistic by nature have hope & those who tend to be less so will have the same concerns. The start of every season is similar to the last. Bring it on as I've missed Rugby League since the end of the season.

I don't have any real expectations of the Wire apart from the odd win against a top team or a gallant loss. As long as the effort is there i am happy . We probably sum up the British as a sporting nation , gallant losers .

I wouldn't conflate people's opinions on Warrington Wolves 2023 with their nature. For example, I have little hope for UK politics, HS2, peace in the Middle East, welcoming Russia into the embrace or the West or Warrington Wolves but other than that I'm fairly hopeful and content.

I don't agree the start of every season is similar to the last either. The start of the 2012 season there was the real probability we could win the league having had an exceptional 2011 season with a strong squad. Coach was settled and recruitment good. Everyone was excited by the prospect of Hodgson, the Monaghans, Bridge, Atkins, Briers, Myler, Morley, Carvell, Waterhouse, Westwood, Grix etc.

I don't think people feel that the start of this season is anywhere near the same in terms of excitement or potential, or if they do they may be delusional.

It would be nice to be able to win against Wigan or Saints again.

I too was much happier at the start of 2012 ... twelve years ago. In 2024 only Wigan will have that sort of feeling.

Back in 2011/2012 I would have bet money that we would win at least one GF in the next 12 years.

Christ all mighty, you’d all be swinging from the nearest lamppost if you’d watch Wakefield like me over the last 50 years with that attitude, man up and enjoy the ride

Super League in general is nowhere near as entertaining as 10-20 years ago. I know that the defences are much improved, and that has lead to better international showings, but as a spectacle RL has gone away from its Raison D'Etre - to entertain. It's still the best sport to watch of course, and I'll never lose interest in watching RL in some capacity.

Regarding Warrington, I'm sort of glad this off-season has been very low key with not much to boast about. I'm hoping that it's a sign of the team knuckling down and getting back to basics, with no pressure from above, or the media, or the coach. I agree with the negative points made by Wires71 about the squad and coaching team, but I also think that may be our strength going forward this season. We're not full of reliance on superstars, we have a coach who won't feel under pressure to play in a particular way, and other clubs don't know what to expect of this team. Of course we don't know whether this will make a difference, but the old way didn't work either so at least we're trying something completely different. Add to this the crop of young players coming through, and we could easily exceed my mid-table expectations.

As ninearches said, if the effort is there every week with this lesser squad and inexperienced coach, I'll be happy. We just need to steadily improve once the culture has been brought back to basics.

Dear Big Lads Mate,
Can you please visit the Wire forum more often.

Indeed it would, but if that along with scraping a playoff berth remains our season highlight/goal then we're no better than, say, 2004/5 alsorans.

I agree wholeheartedly with all the reasons you gave for pessimism, and, I also would dearly love to be wrong. I will watch casually, but I think I'm rapidly falling out of love with RL overall and since I only really care about Warrington then also falling out of love with them. I don't even enjoy the match day 'experience' anymore, it's stale and sanitised and there's more atmosphere on the moon.

I mean put it this way, even if we win our first 8 or 9 games this year, who would still be optimistic after last year?

As ever, I’m looking forward to the new season, do I expect to win anything? Not really, I’d quite like to be entertained and generally between seeing friends and watching RL I always am - one generally compensates the other!

Am I bothered we should be better? Absolutely, but I think I’ve outgrown that expectation that we need to be great. I love RL, be it youth rugby or super league. I hope IMG can create a story behind the season, I’ll be right behind it - as I am every year.

You do you, I'll do me. I reckon you will be swinging before me with Powell at he helm.

People are misinterpreting "zero hope for the season" as pessimism. Whilst not optimistic i grant you, I would say closer to realism. We didnt win the GF when we had a good team, now we have a pretty poor team with non functioning halfbacks and pack that is 2 quality forwards light.

Anyway for the happy optimists ill give you 15 to 1 odds on £100 bet on Warrington GF win. Put your money where your mouth is.

I can assure you that Wakey have had far worse, to be honest DP is the best signing we’ve had for a long time, only time will tell

W71. I love that. Will you do each way for a third of the odds.

Ha ha you wish. We have a track record of making finals only to blow it.

Nah it's winner takes all. GF all bust. Only optimists need apply.

Still, good news about the chocolate oranges!

Classic reference

Agree with this Alfi. I'm sure we get a bit more fun out of sport because of this attitude. I too am bothered about not being No1 ... but won't allow it to stop the enjoyment of the great game. I cannot see the point of one or two posters who have totally fallen out with Wire & RL ... why don't they just forget the game and do something else & see if they miss it?

“Optimist” in my case means hoping for a decent season. It doesn’t mean winning something. In fact anyone who supports a sports team expecting to win will at some point face crushing disappointment. I suspect the majority of supporters want to see their team play consistently well, accepts that defeats will happen but hope to win a title of some sort at some point.
You obviously feel that we “should” be winning titles and are therefore destined to be disappointed far more than you are fulfilled.

The game in general is in decline imo and the standard of rugby has dropped dramatically in the last five to ten years.
Lack of money is an obvious reason but for me every sides style of play has become predictable and plain boring.
The 'wrestle' drives me mad and takes away any flow an attacking side tries to build. Two or even three in with another arriving to take the legs away? How has this been allowes to dominate the game both here and down under.
I don't care if it's what they do in the NRL, it's ruined RL as an exciting gladitorial fantastic sport and replaced it with a boring stop/start defence first and penalty ridden version.
I haven't bought a membership this year and to be honest I'm a bit relieved.

I think we should have won at least one title in the 13 years since 2010, yes. I so no reason why not as Wigan, Saints and Leeds have multiple wins in that time frame. Wigan and Saints are pro RL clubs operating ~10 miles away from Warrington, operating to the same rules and with the same finances, playing the same game. So why not?

Don't forget we get all the messages from the club about "going places", "aiming to be the best" and "marquee signings" so you will excuse me if I am a little jaundiced at the perennial under achievement. We have become the laughing stock of the league with the alleged wealth we have and perma-failure to even compete latterly.

My expectation, based on the wealth of the club being no barrier, is that we should be competitive in all seasons, barring the odd "transitional years", make finals every couple of years, and win a GF and CC every now and then. Maybe a CC and GF per decade. Is that overly ambitious?

Personally speaking, I wish I could. Something to do with following the club since about 1977 and all the nostalgia keeps me bonded and a place in my heart. I think like the wife that stays with the bad husband hoping he will change his ways.

So if it's OK with you* I'll keep watching the odd game live, many games involving Wire on TV, and comment on here as I like and challenge others posts as I sit fit within the constraints of the AUP.

I've out lasted many vocal "ardent" supporters on this site though. Seen a lot come and go in my time . They all used to tell me what to do too.

[size=85*you do seem to have a bit of a record of commenting publically on what [iyou think other people should do[/i . It's a bit like the "mummy mummy I've seen something on the internet that I don't agree with" meme. [/size