I picked the two Wakey games because the only time in the last decade we didn't finish top 8 was the last time we dropped points to them

Wakey have recruited well this season, a good mix of experience and youth in their side. The return of John Kear also.
You may be sniffy about them code but the fact remains They WERE better than us last season, certainly were smarter than us last year making sure they stayed out of the bottom Four by giving it all early on. who's to say we take any points of them again in 5 years? There's no right we have to do that- and we didn't deserve to last season!

I'm not arguing with any of that

What I'm trying to say is we are better than last season by a long way, and our form in the last decade shows that

I'm trying to dispel some of the doom and gloom on this forum

I think Wakefield will be stronger this year than they were last season they now have the fastest back line in the whole of super league with a lot more strength in depth than they ever have before. Williams could be a huge player for them next season. Like Jools said they have a good mix of youth and experience now.

Although a lot of the players have questionable defence - Ben Jones-Bishop and Mason Caton-Brown to name a couple, John Kear prides himself on defence and if he can sort that out they could well do much better than last season.

Our issue is we are probably going to have the smallest squad this year in Superleague so it really is time for the kids to step up.

Kruise Leeming, Nathan Mason and Ollie Roberts are young but they will probably play most games if fit this season as they did last season.

Sam Wood, Tyler Dickinson, Liam Johnson and Darnell McIntosh will probably get 5-10 games each this season depending on injury - Im really looking forward to seeing McIntosh especially.

Matty English and Izaac Farrell will probably be promoted to the first team squad as two of our best prospects - but don't expect to see them this year or next year to be honest but the first team regular training will benefit them massively for the future.

they were in the championship because bulls got relegated from super league and through loyalty decided to try help get them back up

id have hoped if we got relegated last season that some of our players would have stayed too, like alot of hull kr players are doing.

not forgetting the loss of a young player too which will also have had an effect on the team and fans alike.

Indeed it did

Was surprised Dickinson didn't get more game time last year tbh. Think just the one run out...at Leeds away(?)

Fair enough, I don't know if anyone tried to tempt them away from Bradford or not, and i suspect you don't either.

If they help us to stay in the top 8 that will do , and will be a big improvement on last season.

And Leigh made a fool of them in quick time.

Dickinson for me could go either way I remember when Josh Johnson was 16/17/18 he was immense and most clubs would have taken him from us - similar to Tyler when he was 16/17/18 always representing England and been England first choice prop at academy level. However, Johnson just did not improve to develop physically much over the last few years how I expected him to and props who he would of been much better than at that stage are better than him now - Nathan Mason being one but you can't fault his effort at all.

Although I was disappointed not to keep Josh as he is home grown and was still very young for a prop may have developed further over the next few seasons. If he doesn't find a club maybe we could still offer him a deal? although I want players who want to play for the club.

Tyler Dickinson is a very similar size and weight to Josh Johnson and plays with similar aggression and style although Tyler may be a big bigger since I last saw him play. Tyler is is 2 years younger than Josh so for me will either lack the size similar to JJ or may develop with game time over the next 2 years. Apparently went very well in the championship last year and was unlucky not to have got more games with us last season if so.

Matty English is going to be the one to watch over the next 5 years for me when ive seen him play he is very very talented prop forward - so will be interesting to see how he develops physically over the next few years when he gets into his early 20s.

like i say they showed loyalty at the time.

im sure we as fans will give all the new players our backing and hope they perform to their best

Thanks for the post. Interesting to read your views. Cheers.