I suppose some know it all patronising individual now needs to common and state the bl**ding obvious - so it might as well be me.

First of all congrats to the club, I really don’t think they could have done more in terms of team strengthening and talent retention than they have - hats off.

However we all know this is Trinity and the propensity for things to go wrong especially when they seem most right is frankly legendary. It’s the Trinity way that often the worst prepared teams do rather well whilst the ones that look the business on paper end up totally under achieving. So good as things are looking I still think it’s best that we remain positive but modest in our ambitions.

Whatever happens I don’t think we could have tried harder to assemble a more competitive team than this, and to use Belly’s quote “we won’t go down wondering” as this on paper at least is our most competitive side since 2009 IMHO.

One request though, give the coach and the team some breathing space, at least the first third of the season before bagging players and coaches. There will be poor showings to start with as the team blends so patience will be required but other than that just turn up and pay at the gate.

Couldn't agree more Vasty - the club have done a frankly amazing job of building what is, on paper, the best team we've had in some years; I'm still not sure how it's been achieved, but then that's not something I need to concern myself with - I'm just happy that we've got a really good squad boxed off nice and early, and we can go into a full pre-season ready to rock and roll.

Defence will be the key, as Avenger pointed out on another thread - if we can get a good defensive structure, executed with discipline and commitment, the attack will take care of itself to some degree; we have speed, skill and off the cuff genius in the backs and 3/4's, they just need a platform and some time in the opposition half to let rip.

Barring some kind of disaster, there is reason to feel optimistic about 2017 - and no need to start calling for heads if the first few games of the season are still about creating partnerships and building understanding.

I don`t buy this need time to gel business, they have a full pre season and pre season games, no excuse for me. I never bag the players for lack of ability, I applaud effort and desire. The home game against Hull last season was a great game and our lads gave everything, as a fan I could not ask anymore from them, they were great and. beaten by a better side on the day. I will despite Vastman have a go if I see a lack of effort : Kirke and Anderson style.
I like what I am hearing on the coaching side of things, Kear spending time on the defense with Chester on attack. I am confident that we should get our tactics right , the message should be keep it simple. That said if I see basic errors ie not taking the two on every occasion possible then I think we / I have every right to criticize.
Agree 100 % that the club have done a great job so far with the cards they have been dealt re crowds, season tickets, ground up keep costs etc etc. Adding Huby to the squad is a great bit of work.

When we talk about defence I personally would focus on ball control in attack.
When we are at our worst it tends to be because we gave the ball up too easily and put ourselves under pressure.
Williams and Huby will improve our decision making and hopefully Williams will improve our 6th tackle play too.
It will be no good our monster pack making great yards to the line only to see a pass that wasn't on go to ground, or an aimless kick not chased.
For all our speed in the backs, it's only useful when ball is in hand.
If we improve that, all other areas will improve along with it.

Tell us all Belly why you are not a millionaire? Clearly you don't put the same stringent expectations on yourself do you.

Then you're wrong; any team, regardless of the environment or the activity they're undertaking, needs time to develop an understanding of each other and a method of working that makes the most of each others strengths, and compensates for the corresponding weaknesses. It's one of the most established management models there is, neatly summarised by Bruce Tuckman in 1965: forming - storming - norming - performing.

Jowitt
BJB
Arundel/Gibson
MCB
Johnstone

Miller
Williams

England
Finn
Huby
Kirmond
Ashurst
Sio

Fifita
Allgood
Arona
Wood

My 17 would be...

Jowitt
Jones-Bishop
B.Tupou
Caton-Brown
Johnstone
Miller
Williams
Huby
Finn
England
Ashurst
Kirmond
Sio

Subs. Fifita, Allgood, Wood, Arona

Bit torn at hooker (shame Moore is likely to be gone) but recall CC suggesting that Sio is not a hooker but a player that can cover there. In effect that is the same as Finn who is slow and defensively not as strong as Sio but has better distribution from dummy half. Think Hirst provides good depth at prop but cannot be ahead of ex-NRL prop and rookie of the year Allgood.

Well Done to MC and others for getting this squad together. It looks impressive and has real ability. Looking forward to Boxing Day!

Couldn't agree more. The biggest improvements we could make to our defence would be to stop knocking on as much in attack and by not being the most penalised team in the league.

I think the whole fitness issue was more to do with the stupid amount of work we were giving ourselves at times. Knock on's, penalties and a poor long kicking game meant we were defending for too long, hence looking knackered and then conceding.
As well as being better in defence, I hope we are better at not defending - if that makes sense!

I see Scott Moore has been re-bailed until next March.

No idea how these things work. Does that mean he's playing seeing as you;re innocent until found guilty.

I'm 50/50 on this morally as I reckon he's a bad un but as it's not proven and as I assume we still have to pay him then we should play him - sadly because there is no room for sentimentality in this world anymore I'm 100/100 on that.