Okayyy....so we've been playing poor and at times very bleak. But I used to think I was reasonably as pessimistic as the next man, however it turns out the man next to the next man is a forum poster and by definition that seems to make him or her much more pessimistic than I thought!

I'm not saying we're amazing, or have made progress, or don't need some major changes looking at to be really successful l - but I used to come on here to see the banter, be inspired and occasionally get that juicy bit of rumour that against all odds turned out to be true.

All I see now is:
- we're rubbish
- we're more rubbish than we used to be
- our signings aren't very good up to now
- our rumoured signings are even worse
- we had a poor attendance
- we deserved a poor attendance
- etc
- etc etc
- more etc etc

It's really quite depressing.

And to all the "I've been going for decades but I won't be renewing next year" ok, fine, it's your money but to be honest I've seen some real proper dross over the years and to be honest we may have been undeniably erratic but at least there's been some ups as well as downs (I've known more than one season of complete downs!)

For those about to shoot me down as some unrealistic soul who should shut up and go back to la la land; this isn't a call to arms to get behind our unlucky team (luck doesn't exist), neither is it a shout out to give people a break and forget why we are what we are....

...it's a request for that thing which should grab us all a little from time to time - blind optimism.....At least until theres nothing left to play for!

We got to a cup final, we won out first playoff game and as shiit as we are (and I agree we're pretty shiit on the whole); it's all relative and we've done ok against the yardstick of mediocrity (that's not an endorsement of the yardstick either - just that's the only yardstick we are effectively measured against).

There's a long off season (probably/possibly starting Friday) to get the knives out, demand things only forum members can demand, go crazy on the will I/won't I buy a pass (not to mention a good cheerleaders thread......and although not my personal taste we must embrace the hunks thread too - not literally, unless you want to of course)

I realise a lot of blind optimism went to waste a few weeks ago in the capital, but what the hell, let's have some again, after all it's much more fun than moping about why were going to get knocked out and why it's all down hill from there.

Caaaamaaaaan - Broughy is due a really really poor game against us, Huddersfield are in freefall, the league winners only win the title about 50% of the time, all that sort of silly stuff to give an inflated chance of well being, go on, try it, it feels nice. After that then who knows, the sky's the limit; at least in possibility.

During the regular season we can moan and groan and hope we see changes, after the season we can moan and groan...but this is the playoffs and all there is now is a game on Thurs, that's it, simples, then in unlikeliest but not impossible circumstances, another game, and so on. So let's put on hold the pessimism, even the realism, nowt is going to fundamentally change in 72 hours or so. So can't we try enjoy something for a change?

Go on, poke holes in it, make fun, dismiss it - I don't care. I'd rather speculate that we have an unrealistic chance of winning something rather than dwell on the ultra-realistic chance of winning nothing.

Be more dog.

Did you type that in word and paste in into here?

Nope, all on the phone

Fook me, have you been doing it since lunch time?

Started before the Feka rumour clearly!

You'll have to take my wife's word for it, my fingers can tap like lightning...

The reality is this.

Last 4 finishes have been 6, 8, 6, 6. So we're a top 6 side, but unable to deliver the consistency to break the top 4.

We play in the best stadium in the competition and are top 4 in terms of attendances. That said we don't have the same resources as the top 4. Wigan have a gazillion back room staff and benchmark academy. Warrington and Huddersfield the bankrolling availability of Moran and Davey. Leeds own their ground and have a bigger fanbase and excellent academy. We don't have that level of resource available, nor the recent pedigree of success of these teams. The consequence is that we're a harder sell for players and probably pay a premium to secure them. Overlay the imperative to retain our homegrown players like Shaul, Lineham and Crooks and the limited availability of top drawer players in the open market (which is getting worse), and our recruitment is a challenge.

Personally I'm OK with another year of 6th and a final appearance given that we've had 8 half back combinations and have missed our marquee signing for most of the year, because the emergence of the younger players at 1st team, U19 and academy is grounds for optimism that we're focussing in the right area.

We'll be renewing all 4 passes. The quality of the overall competition will be diluted next year - apart from Saints and Salford, there's precious little net squad improvement going on- so that's got to be an opportunity.

Not really seen much about new players from wigan, wire or leeds. hudds supposedly signing broughton.

Maybe you're right and 6th is where we're at and staying there

One thing ive gathered on this forum is that no matter who we sign who we beat how well we do , some will moan and just be negative,

If we were World Club Champions and Challenge Cup Winners five years on the trot, quite a few on here would still find something to moan about.

Good post!

Well yeah, there's no way I could afford all those finals.

One thing ive gathered on this forum is that no matter who we sign who we lose to how poorly we do , some will smile and just be positive

Good summary & your right, my darkest moment this year has got to be Wembley & I sulked & questioned our coaching etc however the improvements in the club are clear to see & the difficulties we face are captured by yourself very well. My optimism is nicely restoring itself, passes shall be renewed & I will convince myself we will finish top 4 just like I have done for the last god knows how many years & Gentle will be the best thing since sliced bread...I love my club simple as that so my sulks don't last long.

Excellent post, its about time we backed the lads okay there's been some poor performances but the same counts for Wigan saints Leeds etc., the positives of so much local talent coming through the ranks is brilliant and they will only be better for next season and the future of the club, as I said in a post previously the likes of shaul, lineman, crooks, green, Bowden would have been discarded and all playing nl1 or amateur rugby by the Hetherington and rule regime and don't forget the next crop James Cunningham etc. who will probably be given the chance next season at least we aren't signing washed up aussies who are injured like our poor relations so come lets be a cup half full rather than a cup half empty come on ulllarrghhhhh