I find it hard to believe that a couple of posters apparently don't understand the meaning of 'pressure off' in a sporting context. Have you folks been living in caves for the last 20 years or so?

Are you joking, have you not read other threads, people think seasons done because we've made top 8. Play the young kids, prepare for next season! I agree with op, its annoying, with games left to play, hows the pressure off, if we get hammered every game, people will moan like duck, including yourself. I know youll come back with you dont understand the context of "pressure off" blah blah blah. But people are just happy to finish in the 8 and see out the season, thats whats annoying

Has anyone for the club said the pressure is off? Think that's the main thing. I'm mentioned playing the kids, but if we get in the position of not been able to finish in the top 4 and it would only be the odd player for the odd game.

In professional sport the pressure's never off until the end of the season. Some games are more 'must win' than others, true, but usually down to a situation whereby the team has created the extra stress because of careless losses previously.

Can anyone imagine Wane or McDermott saying "Pressure's off for this one, lads", never mind at the beginning of the business end of the season?

I want to see us continue to put in the great effort we have shown most weeks this season, but develop our style of play (we still don't finish off as many chances as we should) and develop the players we expect to have first team places next season. For example Logan should be playing instead of Yeaman and Sa, and when fit we need to test Lancaster out again.

I'd also like to see us address our home form issues, as it will be the home form and style of performances that has a big impact on pass sales.

All I meant by pressure off is we are safe in the 8, definitely not happy with 7th and expect Hull to kick on now that they're secure in SL for another year. The pressure was to qualify for the playoffs which we have.

It's not really the players the fans are suggesting kick back, it's more the club. Bang some youngsters in, try some new things, etc. People are suggesting treating these games as friendlies. Really?

We've not strived for the top eight to avoid relegation. We want to try to win the bloody competition, and whilst we still can, the pressure most certainly is not "off"!

Not quite sure who you're referring to here?

You have momentum now. Beat Wigan and the confidence should be sky high and tell team won't notice Ellis and Pryce missing. Radford should tell Abdul the super 8's are yours go do your stuff,

Yes but Wane and McDermott are coaching sides that are expected to win a trophy.

Radders has had to coach a side expected to do better most of the season and at times they have played well but in my opinion the first priority was to secure a top 8 for the club seconded by a good cup run.

If those were the expectations of the club then Radders and his players most certainly can accept the pressure is no longer on them to perform and perhaps play with less shackles now. It doesn't mean put the cue on the rack.

They have done reasonably well against most of the top sides this season. Silly losses like the one at Wakey have probably meant they are not top 4 and expected to challenge.

I certainly hope these were not the expectations of the club. If so, why get rid of Gentle?

However I think you're right in that the huge sigh of relief you can almost hear coming from the club is a precursor to taking the foot off the pedal just at the time we should be pressing it down harder. After all, how many times have we seen it before? The touch and go and stress before we finally secure the place in the play-offs followed by capitulation and lacklustre performances once we get there.

So you've never, ever, heard the term used in any professional sport ever before? Pardon me if I find that hard to believe.

And yes, I have actually heard the phrase used by coaches of the more successful SL sides before. It's all about context.

But that wouldn't make such a good excuse to have another pop at Radford, would it?

Work it out.

I guess the situation is that when you are worrying about dropping down into the middle eight and all the issues there are with that, the style you play and the hesitation to play expansive rugby in case you conceded stops you trying a bit of off the cuff stuff. When your safe from potential relegation you can expand things a bit test your arm and try a few youngsters. That doesn't mean you don't care about winning quite the contrary and I hope that we play every game with the intensity we have of late, but with no inhibitions now! It must at least 'free us up a bit' which should be good to watch don't you think!

am hoping we play with the same effort we have the last 3 matches, plus free up our attack more, looking forward to thurs COYH