We are good at self promotion and hyping ourselves up every year.

Then when the season starts its the same old underwhelming story on the field.

Sadly true. We don't have a SL title winning squad. We have a 3 - 7 squad for 2024 which is likely where we will end up.

Hopefully we will have a "team" this year though. (note expression of hope)

I don’t see the “hyping ourselves up” bit. You would expect some positivity coming from club sources pre season, it would actually look strange if you didn’t. In fact show me a club where there aren’t Strangely I have seen a number of pundits suggesting a good season for us with a CC win. Some suggesting G Williams for MoS. I don't think any of that will have come from the Club or even the average fan. Of course I am optimistic at the start of the season, if not then, when?

Of course nobody begrudges that optimism (clearly some people have a problem with others not sharing that optimism) but I am genuinely interested as to what it is based on? Is it just irrational optimism akin to a national lottery player buying their ticket, or is there a rationale to the optimism?

I am genuinely interested in this as I don't know what is worst - having optimism and that optimism draining away or never having it in the first place.

Natural disposition v being a Wire fan since ‘74. Disposition currently ahead by a nose.
Having said that I won’t judge a season based purely on silverware so if we play better rugby, with more commitment than last year (which is an achievable ambition) I will be reasonably happy. I get that you hold the club to higher standards and i’m fine with that.

Sky preview of our 1st match with Sam Burgess. No promises and realistic approach to this season IMHO. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... ter-battle

Sky preview of our 1st match with Sam Burgess. No promises and realistic approach to this season IMHO. https://www.skysports.com/rugby-league/ ... ter-battle

Happy new season to you too.

He’s got to be given a chance. The old way wasn’t working, and there was no standout candidate available to bring in, so we went for a guy proven in motivation and with a reputation for wanting to drop the worlds best players when they’re not on form. What more could we ask for? It may or may not work but at least give him a chance to work out what he thinks is wrong with us first, before he’s supposed to fix it.

Im looking forward to this season simply due to the fact that expectations are rather low and whatever happens it can’t be as bad as Powell’s horrific reign. Pressure is off, should be fun.

Is it true that his future lies in Australia and that he is only using his tenure at Warrington as a practice run?

I'd imagine most players and coaches who aspire to be the best will use SL as a stepping stone to a gig in the NRL. But in order to get a decent position in the NRL you'd think he'd have to show some coaching nous in SL. He gets my blessing if he leaves in 2 years with 2 SL winners rings

He has made no secret of his ambition to be a head coach in the NRL. Who knows how long he'll stay at Wire, and whether he'll eventually jump or be pushed? Time will tell. But on the whole, long-term coaching reigns are becoming pretty few and far between anyway, which is probably a good thing. We have seen first-hand with Tony Smith how a good thing can eventually turn stale.

I’m fine with that ambition. He needs to deliver to get himself to a big job in the NRL. Look at what Woolf did at Saints, granted had a great foundation to work from, but even after that success he has had to settle for a 2 year apprenticeship at the Dolphins.

Sam will want the Rabbitohs, or a Sydney club at least you would imagine. Unless he settles for a club without a chance, he really needs to get some results out of us.