As a club, this is a huge season for us and a lot depends on certain players fulfilling their potential IMO.
1: Ryan Hampshire, if he is to be the HB that he and his fans (myself included) claim him to be, he needs to prove it this season, end of and no excuses. Those who bang on about his ability need to be proved right or it's going to get embarrassing. Signs were not good on Boxing day, yes the whole team was poor but I saw no real attempt by Hampshire to take the game on, his performance was limp and it shouldn't have been in a game where he could have showcased his talents, the one who actually did what I expected Ryan to do was Josh Wood. He's not a right off yet, but for those deluded enough, yep deluded, to think he should replace Miller and especially Brough need to look again. No doubt the talent is there but no real signs as yet that he's anywhere near the old man.
2: Tom Johnstone, his problems are as much in the mind as the body. I've never had a sporting injury but I have suffered a serious illness and the fightback takes place in the head as much as the body. You have to work hard and be brave before you trust your body again. He's done it once let's hope he does it again. If he does we have one of the best wingers I've ever seen anywhere entering his prime.
3: David Fifita, the big Bopper is all people say he is, no doubt. However, there is also no doubt that Dave doesn't always have it right in his head, there is still an element of the class clown in Dave. I don't want that to go completely but at 30 its a good time to become more mature and focussed. If he does so and starts to truly lead he can in his own way be every bit as good as Andrew and now is the time.
4: Danny Brough, this is his last stanza and in his own words, he has unfinished business at Trinity. We need him to perform and to do so he needs to adapt himself better. Danny wants to be the centre of everything, this is fine at 25 where your deeds match your demands, that is no longer the case. Danny needs to pace himself and use his gifts sparingly, we don't need Danny to be magic 80 minutes a game, let the others take the strain, just be there when it matters.
There are others for whom its a big year but for these, it's not the end of the story nor in fairness are they quite as 'special' IMHO as the players mentioned above can be when on song. However there are others who's form would also make a huge difference - Walkers, Lyne, Tupou, Miller, Ashurst, Arona, Tanginoa and one of the Woods for starters but as its a team game then basically they all need to be the best versions of themselves that they can manage. If so and with a little chuffing luck then who knows.
Others, of course, may see it differently.
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