Improvement is the only yard stick by which to judge the side. If they stay up and do so more comfortably than this year it is a step in the right direction and a step further along rejuvenating the club.

At the moment MC and BS are putting together a squad. A squad is that will get the required improvement. I think the 2 "star" signings will be announced last of all. The club will hopefully be cashing in on the momentum caused by the way the season finished last year and as sales slow down a couple of big name signings to have up your sleeve like Topou and Pommeroy may well generate some more momentum.

As others have said it is a bit daft to write the team off yet or set unattainable goals.

I think next year a club will gain promotion, probably Leigh assuming they will have learned from this year, the signings they have made and I doubt they will implode so spectacularly again. As long as Trinity are not the club that take the fall for them, then the season will have been a success.

I'm genuinely excited about next year across the piece I think it will be a cracking season now we have got the first season of rule changes out if the way. Both my lads and I will be getting season tickets as without doubt last year the North Stand provided is with some of our best rugby days out of the season.

Perhaps it's a clever ploy and we're waiting till the early bird deal expires to announce the big names so that we get people buying season tickets but at the higher price.

Or perhaps the club are still working on the other signings - I can't imagine it's the easiest sell to star names - come and play for the side that was so uncompetitive last year that we only won 3 out of 23 games before the Super 8's.
I just don't see the benefit of moaning at every signing that is announced until you see the whole picture, but then I'm a supporter who likes to "support"

I think it is possible, this is a weak league with a not a great deal of quality around outside of the top 4. With a decent coach and a bit of luck it's not beyond the realms of possibility.

Of course it's possible that's exactly what your beloved Cas did. Cas are not light years ahead give it a rest.

That said I concede it will take an almighty efforts by all concerned and some of those who's attitude concerns me are still at the club - hence the new signings at all levels are more critical than normal.

2011 we finished 2nd to bottom and only won 5 games and in 2012 we made the 8 on signings that didnt really get pundits thinking we would make the playoffs. Hard task but not impossible and stupid to write us off now.

Exactly, some posters just revel in misery.

Funny isn't it that when Kear was in charge and Cas were easy beats I don't recall any of misery brigaded claiming we were "light years" ahead of Cas.

We may well be utter crap again as this year - could happen easily but it's by no means a certainty just like a top 8 isn't an impossibility.

We'll have some idea how we are doing by game 4-6 and not before but some folk never learn in my most humble opinion.

I really can't see a top 8 finish, but, if we finish bottom but are taking confidence and wins into the middle 8's then we again only need to beat the four championship teams and one SL club and we'd be ok, a bit negative I know. But in two weeks with three or four quality signings I may well be singing a different song.

Yep it certainly boils down to certain signings - personally think just 2 or 3 would do it, mainly need some brains.