Quote: vastman "People are very critical about the team not performing and rightly so but then neither are the fans.
I personally lost interest in this season after the CCup semi final and I don't think I'm alone.
TBH I think everyone at the club will be happy to see the end of this season which seems to have gone on for an age.
Good news is I can't wait for next season and will be buying my first season ticket for years as I feel very optimistic. I think or hope the team feels the same as certain players head for their peak next season.
The back line looks fantastic with cool hand Jowitt at FB and some real pace in CB and BJB and an ever rising star in TJ.
The H/B's need some work reinforcements.
The pack with the return of England and Ashurst from injury along withe the signing of Hirst will see a bit bore size added, If we keep Fafita and get him really fit then thats three big front rowers to start with. Ditto if we can get Kirmond and Tupou fit then that helps and Sio make L/F his home then great. Arona and Simon add depth.
We need another hooker as to support Moore but with the likes of Anderson and a few others departing it's all possible.
I see 8th spot again but with perhaps a bit more presence in the play offs etc.
One investment we must make is on a better fitness regime - we started fit thanks to Brian Smith son but Clarkson yet again failed to maintain it as far as I can see. We can't afford the best players in the world but fitness is the one thing any team can achieve if they so desire at a relatively small cost - that needs to be our big weapon next season as it was for a while this season - if we can't play them off the park we can at least force them to play for 80 minutes.'"
Agree with just about all that. Against Catalans, although it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things, it was just so unbelievably frustrating to watch and it would have been nice to finally get a win. Like you & others say, a new Fitness Coach is a must . You could even go as far as saying, getting the right one would rank as being one of the most important signing we make next season. Clawson's been here a fair while now and it's time for him to move on and let someone who knows what they're doing get the gig.