Wilkin does verbally what he did on the field - has cheap shots.
I dumped sky sports ages ago partly because it's poorly presented and dependent on people like him.
That said, I agree with others Terry O'Connor speaks with more sense and respect on the Sky Sports page.

Not wanting to be controversial but I like Wilkin as a pundit
I don't find him anti Wakefield, he just doesn't sugar coat our issues.

Saying that, he made himself look a bit stupid yesterday by not doing his homework.
I guess he was trying to say he isn't a well known coach but ultimately, there is enough info on him to be able to tell people who he is

Tbh I found the whole thing v disrespectful … Jenna Brooks just laughing like mad don’t know why ! and Wilkins silence and eyes up in his head when asked about Applegarth . Can see why Sky have deleted it !

Just hoping that the club realise what a big miss Miller, Dave,Arona are going to be ,last year they looked as good as any thing on the Pitch .Just hope they are not going thinking of Gaskell can play 6 brining young props from the reserve in .Hope there is a plan to bring some Quality to the team in main positions ,some thing does not feel quite right .Hope I ham proved wrong but it is at the back of my mind .Hope we are not going down the same path we have been on for the last 4 year I have bought my S T

What I got from JM is that we are promoting from within. And not just the odd player or 2. This worries me somewhat are if you look at who has left, and the quality that has departed the team. If we struggled last year with the likes of Dave, Batch etc, then I worry that replacing with youngsters may not end too well. Especially if IMG split the league to 2 x 10.

Or maybe MC has already accounted for that in his spreadsheet - the 5 year plan starts with trimming the 6 figure wages from the squad and replacing with low 5 figure wages, let the side fall naturally to SL2 and in the meantime the youngsters mature into super league calibre players. Plus a little bit of moneyball in there (Bowden, Butler etc).

You have to be a hard hearted soul to do that, with zero emotion, but if there is any CEO in the league capable then it's MC.

Am I wrong?

Er, I think they [imay[/i have spotted that tbf........

Wait to see who we sign first and make your mind up from that.

I’d be happy with 4 quality signings where it’s needed - Halfback, 2 Props and a loose.

A cover full back.

And a few young lads making the step up into full time or a promising champ player or two.

I’d definitely retain Croft and Shaw too.

He will have his own ideas but let’s at least give him the chance to shape his team.

I don’t know if Applegarth is the man or not, only time will tell.

What I don’t get is this age thing, it makes no sense and actually flies against the clubs history.

Both Toppo and Andy Kelly were 38 when they took charge and neither had anything like the coaching experience of Applegarth.

Yet I think most would agree both were successful given the state of the club at the time - far worse than it is now!

Has it not been for for some dubious decision making by the board and a total lack of funding both could have gone on to far greater success.

Applegarth has a huge advantage over those two. Much as I liked Ted he was not professional or corporate like JM and MC etc are. A lot on here can’t bear the fact that the club is now run professionally even though that’s what they demand. But that is exactly what we now are. Mash may not have a huge budget but he will know exactly what it is. Unlike Toppo he won’t arrive at ground on a Monday after a win on a Sunday to find his star player sold to balance the books or just because Ted couldn’t resist a deal.

He will know his resources and will be able to plan and I reckon if really needed money will be found. He has a chance the rest is up to him.

Good luck fella

Barnsley Hull there is a difference between spoting it ,and doing something about it .That is why Chester was bad over the last 3 year Keep fingers crossed

Anyone have thoughts on who will be the assistant coaches?
My initial thoughts are that MA will need someone with experience, an older wise head. I think that he may go also for a recent former player, they know the club etc (similar to the reasons given for MA's appointment) and looking at recent former players, then Kirmo must be in with a shout.
I'm probably way off and another 'surprise' is in store.

Sorry should read Gull predicted text does my head in lol

Why is an older head a wiser head. I know plenty of old people who’ve learned nothing. I also know some young people wise beyond their years.

One thing about Applegarth is that RL is his career, he doesn’t appear to have a plan B. He’s not dabbling like some do, it appears to be what he’s always wanted to do.

I think very early on Applegarth recognised his limitations as a player and chose to concentrate on what came next, might pay off.

Let’s also be honest if you’ve got that much experience and your still a number two??? What MA needs is another more junior MA regardless of age. He needs someone who believes in his goals and will back him all the way.

So yes the person could be older but for me they don’t have to be. They just need to be committed.

As for Kirmond he does strike me as the sort who’d make a great assistant coach. It’s a less political job that allows you to be more in with the players and that’s Kirmo all over. Also I don’t reckon he’s that ambitious either so no threat and that does matter.

It’s an untried partnership but both have been around the game a long time. Who know but I reckon MA might surprise us.

I listened to the SMTM program with Craig Harrison last night. He’s hearing of a 14 team SL1, with potentially a three year license. If that is the case then clubs will have the opportunity to blood the young promising players without the fear of relegation. This would be an opportunity for every club to bring their youth forward, and at Trinity who better than Mark A, perhaps MC and JM have heard something, or they are very confident of their decisions.

Personally I am looking forward to Mark being head coach, what I see of the Academy and the reserves which admittedly is not a massive amount but the style of rugby played is very good. The young lads always seem to be competitive and if he can bring that through to the first team then we should have a good foundation to build on and improve as a team and as a club.

Well if true it would turn our Academy from a worthwhile endeavour into a possible game changer.

There is no doubt that we have some good young players coming through as it is but with a three year licence we could do seriously well.

It’s not just the players we have or the local youngsters either. The U17/19,s world is very fluid and if you happen to have an academy that offers good access to first team - then you become very attractive to ambitious young players like - Corey Hall.

The absolute dream would be to produce so much talent that we have to sell the surplus - that’s sell not let go. However more realistically we wil no longer have to carry that group of filler players. Instead when needed we can blood young players we believe to have serious talent.

TBH I’ve always believed MC and later JM were committed to the Academy on ideological ground as much as anything else. But if they have anticipated this then hats off, a coup.

It will take our friends across the common a decade to catch us up assuming they can.