Could I be the first to welcome Cas back with us to mid table mediocrity at best for the next 10 years or so..... Until the next time they have their 15 mins of fame, same as the likes of us and Salford have done in recent years.

I'll stick me neck out and say that due to massively inflated expectations, after we beat them on Good Friday next year somefans will be calling for heads to roll,

I don't think they will fall quite so far next season. Their new signings are not that bad.
The key is to keep Powell and they seem to be doing that.

They need to replace Clarke but not as a hooker necessarily. There are other hookers that do a good job and they have a kid coming through that looks preety good. What they need to replace is the guy who makes the breaks. Clarke was breaking the line for fun but they can get a second row who does the same or a centre.
Hard to do, but they don't need to replace like for like.

For me, Leeds have exposed exactly what to do to nullify Cas in the final. Extra bodies in the ruck to keep Clark quiet by not giving them a quick PTB, snuffs him right out. Drill the ball into touch at the end of your set and nullify their other main attacking threat, Dorn and Carney kick returning - now the cat's out of the bag infront of the world I wouldn't be surprised if the bubble burst completely - especially loosing Sneyd, Clark and Huby - add to that Lynchy cannot have many more seasons as good as this in the old bones and you have a different dynamic completely.

Ben Roberts & Junior Moors from Melbourne will be good signings for them as will Luke Gale from the Bulls. Matt Cook is also damn good hardworking player and will bring good leadership to them. They'll miss Clark big time yes and no doubt Scott Moore is a poor replacement and they also need to get a replacement for Huby but whilst they might not hit the heights of this year they'll not fall that far.

Cas were supposedly 30 minutes from administration and yet they managed to keep that info under wraps.
Trinity were supposedly a week away from administration and our "fans" were falling over themselves to be the ones to spill the beans on here.
You've got to admire the loyalty of the Cas fans who were in the know in those dark days.

You've just about nailed it there. FWIW with the salary cap now finally taking effect I think the league table will change quite a lot each year and we will all get a chance of a good year or two.
Good coaches will become more important than ever. Just look at the difference Lowes has mad at Dulls

I knew we were in bother, 30 mins away? I didn't 'know' as such. There's no smoke without fire but very few know the whole ins and outs.

I'd bet a fortune alcasfan did, but he was too busy salivating about our predicament to mention Cas's dilemma.

I was going to say that too, how many times did they delight in sounding our doom, and ignoring it was also happening to them. It's like when politicians realease bad news to cover up messes by themselves

Either way its been and gone and hopefully both clubs can continue to make steps in the right direction?


On a side note, when are you mugs doing yer ice bucket challenge?

Coolcash wanted to do one with MC tomorrow but idk if it's on

Although better than a kick in the head or anything we've managed I think you're a bit behind the times on this one.

Long gone are the days when a CCup final turned a club around or built them a new stand - I suspect compared to Cas or our own debt it's a help but not a cure by any stretch. Ditto the play offs.

I suppose the real benefit will be in season ticket sales and sponsorship deals/packages for next years - something both clubs are not due to their crap facilities able to capitalise on is a way Saints or Hull FC are.