My prediction all through the off season which I bored everyone with as usual was that our season would pan out like this

1. Before the season started lots of denial from our fans about the players we had lost: we don't need more forwards because we have got England coming in and young lads can step up, we don't need a new halfback because Myler will step up, we won lots of games without Briers before, look at Wigan they lost Finch, Leuluai and Carmont and people wrote them off and they won the double, why can't we?

2. When the season starts some major anguish as we find out we are badly missing the players we have lost, Smith being criticised for the first time.

3. As the season progresses we have mixed results but struggle along to a playoff position so things don't seem quite as bad as they did.

4. Season ends in a damp squib as we go down quite easily in the playoffs to the first decent team (eg Saints/Leeds/Wigan) we have to play, cue more anguish from the fans again and major post mortem/inquests about how half the team needs shipping out and TS has maybe taken us as far as he can.

So far I see nothing to change my prediction that this is how it will turn out.

The only thing I'm surprised hasn't happened yet is major calls for Kevin Penny to be in to turn around our season. I would have thought we would have had this by now because remember, Offiah and Bevan couldn't tackle either, there's no substitute for pace and we don't have anyone that can go the length. A few more defeats and maybe Penny will emerge as the great hope.

How much worse are we than last season when you take the same games into question ? i may be wrong but i think we are the same.
The loss to Wigan at home was counter balanced by the win at home to Hull all other games have gone as per last season, so even though we are not playing anywhere near as well, we are on par with last season and we have played the top 4 sides in 7 games ?

...and playing the top sides is a measure of where your at.
Unfortunately we lost all 3.
Hammered in 1st. (Saints)
Showed our backs lack of confidence in 2nd. (Leeds)
Embarrassed in to submission with forwards and displaying our downward spiralling kicking game that gets worse with each week instead of improving!! 3rd (Pies)

You can't judge where you are by comparing a small set of one seasons results against a different seasons, especially where you're also swapping teams. There are too many other factors that can come into play; different players, different form and luck on the day amongst other reasons.

The best way to judge is with your eyes and from what I can see, we're a mile off what we were last year and a lot further than back in 2011.

Last year we got better has the season went on. The players were managed in a way where everything from form to injuries all came together at the end of the season and got us to the play off final. For the first time, I think the fans bought into it as well, accepting an average start as it was the play offs that mattered.

I can't see that happening this year, we just don't have the players for it. This year is more of a transitional year where we get some more experience into our youngsters and I expect the level we have started at to continue throughout the season.

I agree will Sally's assessment although I don't think we'll struggle into the play offs, I think we'll end up finishing fourth or fifth. As Sally also says, I then expect us to go out to the first decent team we play.

I totally agree with Latchford Bob, this is definitely a transitional year and I dont expect anything more than a Playoff spot, and I certainly wont be calling for Smiths head. We need to make sure our youngsters are nurtured correctly and are able to make a massive difference in the years ahead.

I expect us to improve LABob and its most likely that we'll improve the greatest.

But being so far off the pace with so much to make up, when the other teams improve a little, it'll still leave us in their wake.

Why are we so far off the pace? we were narrowly beaten by Wigan and Leeds. I cant belive the negativity out there by our fans, yes we are playing poorly but we are not being smashed every week, in fact we are picking up wins and looking good at times. The defense is good and as long as the defense is good then the attack will come due to teams being frustrated and being exploited as they try everything to break us down.
It would not suprise me in the slightest if we are again fighting in the latter stages of all 3 trophy's.

The score lines may have been close but we never looked like winning at Leeds and we were awful against Wigan (who were also awful).

No ones saying we're poor and we're not getting smashed (Saints aside). We're still better than most teams in Superleague but we are nowhere near were we've been over the previous few years.

I fully expect the team to make a few people eat their words during August, September and October.

Let's hope so. I hope Myler is top of the assists charts, Asotasi is odds on for MoS and everyone one who ever uttered a word of concern or criticism, me included, are reflecting on their knee-jerk, short-sighted despair.

But, hand on heart, can you see it? I think our best chance of silverware starts this weekend.

If the draw is kind to us, we could make the cc final but we wont win it this season.

We are not a bad side, its just we aren't a particularly good one - I think we will improve, simply because Smith is too canny a coach for us to do otherwise. However, if we reach either major final, then it would probably equal his best ever feat, which was turning us from an unorganised rabble, into Challenge Cup winners in 2009.

I think I would agree with that. We are good enough to finish 4th, but this is a year of transition.

We are probably where we expected to be aren't we?

we have lost some close games to the teams that will be near us at the end of the season... We have won the games you would expect..

PLUS POINTS

* We shipped out Riley (probably 12 months too late) and replaced him with a far superior player from the youth team... We now have Ormsby and Evans who are hopefully infront of him.
* Waterhouse has been fantastic. He has really picked up this season and is putting the shifts in when required.
* The younger players are getting a chance to prove themselves. This game time could prove invaluable in the future.
* Our defense has improved hugely over the last few games.
* Russell looks to be dynamite. When this team is firing again on all cylinders and has a few more players added to it, he will be one of, if not the biggest attacking threat with ball in hand.
* Ben Westwood is simply incredible.

MINUS POINTS

* Our HB's have been poor. There seems to be no kicking game and not much direction. We need a leading HB with a kicking game. We dont have one and will almost certainly need to bring one in.
* Atkins
* We are still desperately short of a hooker. Monaghan is a shadow of his former self. I feel this is the position that will hurt us more than any this season. An injury of note to Higham and were in the poop big time.
* Im not going to put Asotasi in here... He is new to the country and should be given at least a season to settle.. although he hasn't exactly set the world on fire, im reserving judgement.

I don't think we will win anything this year. But i can live with that. Progress is being made and im sure the people in charge are already identifying corrective measures for next season.

We are in the same position saints were in last year when they lost graham. We will have a similar season.....and hopefully find our own Luke Walsh and kick on next year!