Tough game given the little preparation time Broncos have had. However, if our trialists step up from the local game the same way that Herdman, Mighty, Leslie & Fenn did amongst others back in the day & Bassett more recently, it won't be all bad.

Shouldn't Goole be the Goolies not Vikings?

Would have been nice to have had the game in Wales last weekend - hopefully the two young loanees fromWigan will be decent.

no Stock?

No easy way to say this-they’ll need to be. I thought we were looking for the next Jarrod Basset not all his old team mates. Oh well it is what it is. Last time we brought in heaps of lower end L1 players it didn’t go well. Maybe it will this time.

Probably sensible to hold a few back in case of injuries as we are down amongst the L1, academy and Southern Conference players pretty quickly and I’m not sure the teams we play in the first few rounds of the Championship will be taking prisoners so it could get grim quickly.

Well, that looks pretty grim. I suspect a defeat is on the cards but hopefully not a heavy one, though a load of pretty poor ex-Skolars players suggests it may be.

The first few months are damage limitation. If London get cut adrift, it’ll be tough even with mid season signings. A win against Hunslet at home is a big one.

Of what?
Shirts, hoodies, mugs, players...
Or all of the above?

Time will tell how good they are or aren’t but it’s certainly not unreasonable to have concerns about players whose most recent experience is a confection of Skolars, Cornwall, Southern conference. Even our most recent Aussie recruit was snatched away from a northern conference team.

All points to a situation similar to the Coleman era one except we have, as yet, no benefactor to bail us out. I suspect we can get to mid table but the start is going to be difficult. This game against a L1 side with quite a few decent recruits will be interesting to see where we are.

True, but part of me is relieved that we’ve actually got a team to put out onto the park. A few months back that wasn’t looking too hopeful.

Yes I agree. We have a core of decent players but the rest of the squad is well and truly to be seen….and then there is what happens when we pick up injuries, we’ll be phoning around for anyone that wants a game. But there it is better to put out a squad and give it a go than just fold.

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I think the pack and halves will hold up ok, possibly even well. There is a good chunk of the forwards who were doing fine against decent super league teams last year. But the outside backs are another story.

Mike Eccles's coaching could be key to their success on Saturday. He has shown he can develop players and keep the team focused during tough times and hopefully his leadership will help the younger players settle and the team stick to a clear plan. However, the Vikings will be eager to impress as the new League 1 side, and their strong recruitment suggests they’ll be ready for the challenge. If the Broncos play to their strengths, Eccles’ coaching could give them the edge - just!!!