Couldn't have put it better myself.
Not sure i want us in the GF if we were to get there. We do NOT have the big game players other teams have to win a GF. It will most definitely be a Saints or Wigan win who ever gets to play either at OT. If they meet each other well i can only see a Wigan win to be honest.
There is a winning culture at Wigan and Shaun Wane wouldn't allow anything else but for him to go out on a high.

What does this mean, exactly? Do we all sit in a circle in a community hall in Orford and, one-by-one, stand up to say, 'Hello, I'm JB and I accept that Lee Briers has retired from playing'?

There's little I disagree with in your summary of our shortcomings, although I am less certain how having a group anger session will help. As usual, people have started tugging their forelocks (and other things) in the general direction of Saints and Wigan, but Saints took an even heavier beating from Catalans and Wigan's halfbacks are as bad as ours.

We have played well at times this season and we have played poorly on other occasions. Saturday was poor. With the right attitude, we will finish 4th. Then it is two coin-tosses, heads or tails.

We don't need to go out to find the greatest half-back of all time: I'm not sure he is out there. We do need to ensure our recruitment focuses on nous and brains - a Paul McShane or Josh Drinkwater-type character would be great - so we make better decisions at the pointy end of matches.

We have been in 8 of the 19 finals since Tony Smith took over. Even the glory team of 2011-2013 couldn't win the GF. With only two trophies to play for, that sort of record will be "normal". It's not as good as Leeds or Wigan over the same period, but heck it's not awful. With the current play off system, we just need one or two things to go our way in the semi final (assuming we get there) and well then be in the GF again. Fourth time in 7 years that would be.

Whilst I agree generally with Wires71's analysis, it amuses me when everyone talks about the "winning culture" at Saints and Wigan.

Saints got smashed by Catalans in the semi final, and Wigan got smashed by us in the quarter final - these were knock out Challenge Cup games and therefore "big games". Look at Saints recent record in big finals - it's a succession of losses. The one they've won is where Ben Flower got sent off early and they played against 12 men all game.

As for Wigan, it's a club in need of a change. They are "there or thereabouts" at the moment but not really shaping up as GF favourites.

Leeds were the club with a winning culture but they seem to have lost a lot of their key pieces including the coach. Wigan did have a good culture till recently but I think the reason they are bringing in Shaun Edwards is because they have lost their way a bit.

I think we will make 4th and lose at Saints in the playoff, and then there will be some aggro on here, but it should focus minds that a fair few pieces of the jigsaw are missing and perhaps losing rather than winning the CC final will help that as otherwise it would be harder to make that case.

For me, this is what seems to define the split in the Warrington fan community... you’re either in the camp of ‘only two trophies on offer each season and we’ve nearly won them for several years’ or your feelings are ‘we should have won the big one by now and be at the top each year’.

A few years ago after our first couple of trophies I was happy to be competing for silverware. Now I’m firmly in the camp of ‘why haven’t we won Super League?’. We are the only club in recent times to have spent huge sums of money on trying to achieve that goal. Leeds, Wigan and Saints are not even nearing what we spend so yes, I think our return on money spent has been poor and we have under-achieved hugely. I’m happy that the structure of the club below first team level is being addressed and hopefully we’ll start to see the benefits of that in a few years and have a decent youth production line like the other top clubs. However, we really should have done better over the last ten years.

Having said that, this season is not over. Most of us had written 2018 off as a transitional year, but we have a very slim chance of 2nd place and a possible GF appearance. And who knows we may just click on the night.

Where do you get the figures on this - I'd be interested if we're the only club that can afford maximum salary cap.

Back in the dark, damp month of March, I said on here (even after our poor start to the season), that there's NO reason why this side cannot win SL.

Price inherited a side with quite a few quality SL players. Ratchford, Lineham, Atkins, Hill, Clark and Cooper. Add to these, the intermittent form of Livett, the unfortunate Currie and the signing of Charnley, that the basis of a good side, that SHOULD be good enough to be playing in the GF. The talk of transition (imo) is just bluster. We've employed a coach, have a side of internationals....GET ON WITH IT.

Our problem lies with our halves. Pound for pound, they're the worst we've had, considering their "worth".
As a club (again, imo) this can be traced back to our great 2011 side. It was clear (to me, at least) that Briers' time was coming to an inevitable end, and we needed to prepare for [ilife after Lee[/i. He was getting no younger, and had a penchant for picking up month long injuries. Smith buried his head in the sand, and carried on regardless, Briers GREAT performances were few, after 2011, but never poor. We then wrung every bit out of Briers, until he was told to finish by his doctor. In 11, we should've made it No 1 priority to bring someone in to work alongside Briers, eventually to replace him. WE DID NOTHING.. Myler , was bought as an individual, not a team man.

I had a quick glance at other sites opinions of the CCF, yesterday. I think it was on the Hull site one post said (something along the lines of) [ithese are the worst set of halves I've seen.[/i It's hard to disagree. In the last month or so, bar walloping a massively understrength Cats, and a hapless Leeds, we've created NOWT. An early try v Saints, then plod through the rest of the game, a 10 minute flurry v Cas, and two scruffyish tries in the final, we offer nothing in the halves.
When Roberts announced his intention to leave, he should have gone THEN, and replaced (if available, is he injured, out of favour) by Matty Smith, a proven winner WHO ALSO KICKS GOALS WELL. What's not to like?
Roberts is not, and never has been, interested.
"He's not settling" We waited....nothing
"Wait for the grounds to firm up". They did....nothing
"He's had that weight lifted from his shoulders, watch him kick on".....nothing
Dictionary definition of fraud. How people can say he's played well (bar the qf v Wigan) is baffling. They're trying to justify his signing, by upgrading an average performance to [ioh, he REALLY tried, today[/i when we all saw how ordinary he was.

Brown is simply a passer and a shouter. THAT'S IT.

Yes, we can win the GF, but that's a sad indictment of where the level of SL has fallen, in recent years.

Is there a 'block' feature on here? If people are suggesing Matty Smith as the answer, it's time to give up. The amazing Saints club have got him selling programmes and cleaning boots.

He's not the answer [iper se[/i, j_b, just a short term solution to a clearly evident problem.
He can't do any worse, surely

Agree with Lefty's last sentence. I'm not confident of winning this years GF at all, but it's still a possibility. It will be difficult to get to OT, and we need points out of the next two fixtures in the battle with Huddersfield for 4th place. Thursdays game comes too soon after wembley for my liking, and I'd be surprised if we put in a decent performance (although annoyed that it's come 5 days too late!). An ugly win would be welcome against what would still be a weakened Hull side. The next game is a four pointer against Huddersfield. I think if we win against Huddersfield we should just about get fourth place, regardless of the Hull result. If we do get to the playoffs, we will be up against Saints side who will have secured the hub cap and will be able to rotate the squad, which will end in a defeat for us.
For 2019, if we recruit a second half back, another two forwards we should be better placed to challenge for silverware. We have challenged for silverware this season after being in last years middles eight, so at least we are heading in the right direction. However, to come out and say we'll win the GF in October is very speculative.

Yes, we can win the GF, but that's a sad indictment of where the level of SL has fallen, in recent years.

When I said I agree with Lefty's last sentence, it was this one!

So lot's of moaning and groaning and even one I told you so etc. but what would you do until the end of this season. You can't bring someone in so what would you do?

Drop Roberts
Go with Brown Patton as halves
Promote Smith to bench.

Not sure if this is possible anymore, in relation to the Johns Appo affair, but
De-register Roberts
Bring in Matty Smith as a short term solution