They’ve been building for a few years, have been better than us for a few years and deserve their shot as SL although I suspect it will be a struggle. We look in good touch and I hope we give a good account of ourselves. I think we have a chance if we start well. I’m hoping for the best but am realistic.
On field save for a low battery performance in the 1895 semi and mediocre performances in first few home games ( no doubt the result of sluggish recruitment and the need to bed in players after the clear out of the Coleman era) we’ve done as well as I think any could hope for. The players and coach deserve credit for that and although recruitment was far too piecemeal and slow it has been good. Napoli, Stock, Whare, Bassett and Norman all good. other decent, certainly no passengers or any I’d be desperate for us to unload. Compare that to the year before- how many were duds? Nuff said For that the management team, although completely below the radar and offering up nothing in the way of updates to fans, do deserve some credit. Hopefully they will take what they have learnt and apply it to next season, albeit in a little quicker fashion.
Off field we have a lot of work to do in the close season. Some kind of strategy for growing/sustaining gates, engaging with the local area (even the coach to play off games doesn’t go from Wimbledon - what does that say) and acquiring sponsors and a coordinated recruitment and retention policy. We’ll need it because Toulouse will still be knocking around and Trinity will be full time.

Jumping the gun a bit but should we win does anyone know where the final will be played? I assume it is a neutral ground, not the highest-placed finalists' stadium.

6.30 kick off is really helpful for fans going to the game under their own steam on a Sunday!

I'm fairly sure it's not a neutral ground; I'm not sure why I think this though. And Google isn't helping.

Yup I’m pretty certain we would all have to schlep over to France.

Unless Bulls won in which case Bradford.....which is slightly easier to get to but arguably less salubrious.

While I don't disagree BT, did I miss the return of the hapless Frank Napoli at 40 odd?

Don't say his name three times!

It’s auto correct. It simply won’t have his name.

Although you will recall during the dark days of our 2022 recruitment me not recognising the picture of a 50 something Offiah holding up a pair of shorts appropos of something or other and raising an eyebrow over whether we needed to sharpen up our recruitment policy.

The final will be staged at the ground of the highest-seeded finalist, as has been the case every year since the current play-off format was introduced in 2019.

If I can find a stash of inflatable hammers to bring along on Sunday, anyone else going to join me?

It was not neutral when we played Toronto in the final. We had to go to Canada. I guess if we win at Fev we will have to go to Toulouse or Bradfart.

Sort of Cassoulet or Curry

Do inflatable hammers sing I'm for ever blowing bubbles?