I was careful not to bash anyone in that statement. I think you may be reading it with prejudice. Just commenting on your change of heart on pack or half backs being our weak point. It started with the pack not being good enough now you seem to imply the half backs as the case (as Sally said).

Rest assured I'll not be commenting Any more on the performances of Patton as it's a moot subject for 2020. The club clearly see Austin and Widdop as our half backs for the future and that's fine by me.

Only 1 League title and 3 challenge cups? I think you've a chance there.

Sorry to disappoint but Leeds will be the top team in the 2020’s. Still a bit off this year but by the time we get to next season and 2021 we’ve got a very good crop of youngsters to add to our marquee signings.

I'm sure Wire can offload another couple for you.

“Another couple”

I'd be wary about making too many predictions too far ahead.

10 years ago, January 2009, Warrington had James Lowes as coach. I wonder how many people would have called us as winning three Challenge Cups in the next four years, and making nine major finals over the next decade? People would laugh at the idea of Warrington winning a trophy.

What about 20 years ago, January 1999. Wigan had just won the Grand Final. They had been champions 8 of the last 10 years. Who would have called then, that they would not win another title in the next decade, and would only win one Challenge Cup? Bradford were also being hailed as the model of the club that had actually embraced summer rugby and Super League, and had the best marketing and management which is why Bullmania would go on to make Bradford dominate rugby. To an extent they did for the next few years, but they fell off a cliff after that. And also back then I don't think anyone would have predicted that Leeds would be the most consistent team over the next two decades....we all knew Leeds were a big club, would always splash money about and talk about their next great crop of youngsters, but two words you knew did not apply to Leeds back then were "consistent" and "winners". Well look what happened.

True and I’m only messing with my previous post. At best you can look at the next 3/4 years. Rubber Duckie at the start goes on about Elstone and introducing a 3rd marquee signing....that might happen but it won’t be without a fight from clubs who can’t afford one which is most SL clubs. Also the league structure and rules change every few years so god knows what we’ll have in 10 years time, how long will Elstone even be around?

....and I still don't think I'm cocksure.
We have to go way back to the early 70s of Claire Owen to see near agressive building like we have now.

Refreshing this topic to arouse out noisy neighbours.

Clarrie Owen it was.

Thank you pal.

Pal? you must be joking.

Offering an olive branch.

Or back to the early TS years when we signed Myler, Solomona, Hodgson, Joel Monaghan, Ratchford and Waterhouse.

Before that, in the late Cullen years we signed Morley, Michael Monaghan, King, Hicks and Louie Anderson plus Carvell and Higham under Lowes.

I would argue your example is one steady build over a decade.

Not really - Myler and Solomona joined in 2010, Hodgson and Joel Monaghan in 2011 and Ratchford and Waterhouse in 2012.

And in Cullen's era, Morley arrived 2007, Hicks, King and Michael Monaghan in 2008, and Carvell and Higham in 2009.


Those are three year periods similar to 2018 to 2020, when we have signed Charnley, Austin, Burrell and Widdop.