Can this be seen as a successful season? I doubt DH will think so, I think the word is frustrating season.
Bit like every other year when we have had a go at the coach, he only works with the tools that he has, so you can't lay all the blame on hendo, a few of the players have underperformed, junior for example, we were all having a go at sammut early on, Dixon blew hot and cold. At times we have played dumb rugby. Am sure that's not what hendo coaches,
For me we have not achieved what we should have, our target was MP game minimumn. Where do you lay the blame, dog will blame DH some will blame hendo, some attitude of the players.
I don't think the answer lies with getting rid of hendo tho, for me depth in the squad is where we need to strengthen

It sits squarely with the coach, he choses the squad, he trains the side, he picks the team, he makes the decisions.... if the players under perform, make critical errors that comes back to him.

Its just the same in any business etc etc

I would be keen to see a post season review report and how the season was viewed, in terms of strengths, weaknesses etc

We will end this season where we probably deserve to be. Things might have worked out differently, a few decisions going for us instead of against.
That is the way it goes.
I for one am quite happy for us to stay in The Championship next season. If we had won promotion it would have been a struggle next year. Where if we recruit well it could be a great year.

Hasn't Hendo mentioned 3 players coming in? Is that enough

Toronto with Leighs ex coach at the helm are upsizing there pack(Sims, coal train, Krasniqui) and up skilling their backs in prep for a go at SL. That's exactly what he did at Leigh and he got them up.

This was the season for us to go up. We had the squad, we had the skill, but the brain was lacking and that is what cost us. I think we will struggle just to make top 4 next year with a stronger Tolouse, Toronto and Probably Leigh coming down all looking to be stronger than us.

Really undecided on whether to renew the season ticket (we have 3) or just turn up for the odd games next year. I've followed this team though the good and bad for 20 years now ( I know a lot on this forum will have longer than me), but after the stupidity we showed at Cats, Fev and Warrington in the 8's this year, I just at the moment have just lost all interest in the team. Wont be at the Leigh game, as its a pain to get to on a friday night, and TBH I dont think I care if we win or lose.

Hopefully will get my love for all things broncos back for next season, but for now I'm going to forget about them for a couple of months and see how I feel in the new year

Mmm, sounds good that. Then Widnes lose in France,then The mighty CENTURIONS turn it on at Widnes, and send them down................Mmm, It really does sound good dunnit?

Not sure you can start looking at next season and second guessing who will do what.
Agreed that Toronto will want to recruit strong and push hard, am not convinced they will have things there own way, they did start to show they are not invincible at the end of this season. Championship rugby is a step up, but they will throw money at it.
Toulouse!! Again it depends, I think they will be similar to this year, hard to beat at home, depends how they travel.
Leigh, a lot will depend on if they lose any players if they come down, same with Widnes, we all know if a team drops then some of the quality players may look for contracts elsewhere.
If the RFL go back to licensing then it's irrelevant really.
Hope they don't, I think the 8s this year has shown its worth, things are still to be decided in the last week, it's made it exciting for the competition.

I suspect next season could be tougher than this. A SL team with parachute money, Toronto already setting there stall out, TO who have said they will look at this season and learn, Fax Fev and us.

Rowley didn't get Leigh promoted, he left just before the start of the 2016 season. That said, Toronto will be pushing hard for promotion next season.

I think what Rowley learned at Leigh was the need for a bigger, tougher pack on the previous year, which was the platform for which you went up. I get the feeling he's using that experience when building the team in Toronto for next season.

What he should have learned from our Middle 8 collapse in 2016, was:-

1) To rotate a talented squad, rather than risk basically the same 17, in an unnecessary attempt to 'win the league'. (and the 'hub cap' trophy that goes with it) Beating all and sundry in the Championship is all well and good, but the Middle 8's is an entirely different competition - and the only one that counts.

2) When playing SL opposition, you can't afford to be the 'great entertainers' and fling the ball about with gay abandon, regularly dropping it in your own half. SL teams are quite capable of finding their way to your try line, without being repeatedly presented with gift wrapped opportunities!

3) Appalling on-field discipline wins you few friends - especially in the high places of the Disciplinary process. True, a bigger, tougher pack is a big advantage - but only when they are available for selection!



P.S. We would be eternally grateful if your guys would roll over on Friday, so that we don't have to go to Perpignan for a third time this season, or give Widnes the chance of tonking us for a fourth time!!

Oxford people were told in Toronto the names of some of the people Toronto were in talks to for next season, 4 year contracts on offer to some of them. Won't name them as I have no idea if any have signed but a couple of the names were jaw dropping. We shall see.

Their team next season is likely to be substantially stronger than this season as some of them will probably say yes. They didn't do too badly against a top championship side with their current team from memory.

The Championship manager of the year 2017. Well done Andrew.

Well deserved.