Not watched the game but did Thornley go off injured? In my opinion we need a quality centre, wonder if there are anyone knocking around the UK at the min?

Firstly, it isn't the final hurdle. The GF would help significantly but that isn't the only route to SL.
Secondly, I agree we need a freshen up but that's harder for us as we are likely going to SL and dropping those players.

None of the targets named are coming early as they are needed by their clubs.

I think we'll have to go back to Oz.

If the club believe they will have the required IMG points, regardless of winning the league, then they probably don't see the point in bringing in what would likely be a placeholder player, who won't get a game next year with the current/expected new signings.

Winning the league would be nice, but depending where we sit now with IMG points, not vital.

On the game. I'd rather lose now than in October and presuming we finish top, we will be at home. I keep reading that player X needs replacing, but with who? Who is going to come, that is better and for a dozen games before being let go.

If someone told me at when ME took over that we would have been to Wembley and won and only lost our first league at the end of July, I'd have laughed at them. Reality check, we are still rebuilding and spending a fortune on both the squad for next year and the ground.

Some come across like they are waiting for the next failure, to have something to moan about. God help us next year when we lose more than 1!

Who knows what IMG holds for our future. But wouldn't it be nice to finish off the season on an high, by winning the GF and starting SL with the goodwill and feel good factor that it would bring.

100%. I am just delighted where we are now and where we are heading. We could be near the bottom, maybe not even here at all without ME, so I am sure, whatever needs doing for the good of the club, he will do.

A poor performance and first league defeat in the South of France against a solid full time outfit in Toulouse I can take .

However personally I think it's imperative we win the league and the Grand Final irrespective of IMG , not going to feel right in my opinion with a piggyback in to Super League through IMG .

Yesterday was a wake up call and the squad to get the job done this season needs strengthening , Toulouse have shown they can beat us and in a one off Grand Final game they are capable of beating us again .

That can't happen .

Spot on.

I'm not quite in the 'imperative' camp for winning GF but it is all about momentum taking us into Super League.
We'd have clubs like Cas whining and taking the gloss off and it would impact our marketing and probably our crowds.

I'd rather take the hit now and rest some players so we are ready for a big push for playoffs.

Now that I think about it, a loan from SL club is the way to go. They don't stay with us but we get a fresh player who wants game time.
Clearly we proved last year it doesn't always work but there are plenty of young players out there in the top clubs.

Just read the championship grand final winners also get a significant 6 figure sum in prize money. I know Matt has been fantastic with what he has put into this club. However I would hope he would get some of it back by winning that prize.

I thought that came in next year but it would indeed be nice if we got it.

Invariably, the injuries we are having are helping with freshening up the forwards, Lino has had a decent rest, we could do with a half though, the young Wigan lad perhaps migth be worth an enquiry. We may get enough iMG points to be in SL, but I'm sure the playing group want to win the title.