There's no doubt that the club has got itself into this state through mismanagement. Supporters should be a critical friend, airing concerns but maintaining support throughout difficult times. As you say, most on here are stalwarts and it is the likes of us that need to build a platform for success with a "we'll support you evermore attitude". It's always darkest before the dawn!

For me it comes down to the level of entertainment and its been a long time since ive felt consistently entertained. Handing over approx. £300 to get about £100 back (season always ends a month or two early and boring loop games) has got very dull. The atmosphere in the stands is poor, you go to sit in a half empty ground just to moan for 2 hours and there are simply better things to do with my time. Even the pre match music and entertainment is groundhog day, yesterdays game could have been in 2018 its a complete timewarp.

Its one more pass for me, we've had the clearout, Smith will have his team, if things arent on the up after that then it never will be.

Hmm interesting, so Pearson will soon have no other income at all?

Never went to either venue but in fairness to all involved the Fruit Market one opended right at the end of 2019 and we all kmow what happened next. Plus whats happened to the economy could not have been predicted in 2018/2019 when they dreamt this up.

I’m sure mistakes have been made, but I think the underlying factors were largely beyond the control of those managing the club.

Hull seem to have been hit harder than other clubs by the economic impact of COVID… as I understand it they were tracking okay before that, financially. Compounded by being in a stadium that once provided a huge boost but that now feels too big and therefore expensive… which isn’t really anybody’s fault and about which there’s not much that can be done.

From Pearson’s perspective, based on what he said last year, it’s arguably success just not to have gone under.

It’s not like Saints (for example) are brilliantly managed. McManus just has a lot of money.

Forwards win games, backs decide by how many. Over the longer term though, it is mostly about money.

I know their are ways of manipulating the salary cap but it is still a salary capped sport and while I agree that a clubs finances play a major part in their chance of success, there are obviously lots of other factors. We need some innovation and play to our strengths, recognise our weaknesses and plan accordingly. For instance;

1. We play in the best stadium in the league but just complain that it is too big and expensive when we should be working with partners to utilise the resource effectively. Get our backsides of them seats and start giving it some Threepenny Stands!

2. We have one of the largest fan bases in the league but don't work hard enough at recognising the value of it, nurturing and building it (ref point 1). Build a strong supporters group that feels valued and included.

3. We have one of the most respected coaches in the game, he must be backed. If finances don't allow big name signings, work to attract players that want to work under him for self improvement (eg Clifford, Walker and Minchella, Abdul et al when he was across the river).

4. If Mr Pearson no longer has the stomach or the pockets for the job (although I think he has), investigate ways of providing him some assistance.

5. Our tradition and heritage is second to none. While I'm a firm believer in looking forwards and outwards it must be used as a platform and a driver of club culture.

Some very good points

As a Saints I have to dissagree McManus may be wealthy but Saints make a lot of money from the coperate side and we are well managed imo

Quote thesaint71="thesaint71"As a Saints I have to dissagree McManus may be wealthy but Saints make a lot of money from the coperate side and we are well managed imo'" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/su ... atering%20£2.5million. To be clear, I don’t think Saints are [ibadly[/i managed - far from it. I just think the secret sauce is money rather than an amazing culture or super academy. Again, to be clear, that’s not to say there isn’t a good culture or that your academy isn’t productive but rather that their importance is generally overstated, imo, and I don’t believe they are the [ukey[/u things that distinguish St Helens you from SL’s perennial also rans.

Quote thesaint71="thesaint71"As a Saints I have to dissagree McManus may be wealthy but Saints make a lot of money from the coperate side and we are well managed imo'" https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/su ... atering%20£2.5million. To be clear, I don’t think Saints are [ibadly[/i managed - far from it. I just think the secret sauce is money rather than an amazing culture or super academy. Again, to be clear, that’s not to say there isn’t a good culture or that your academy isn’t productive but rather that their importance is generally overstated, imo, and I don’t believe they are the [ukey[/u things that distinguish St Helens you from SL’s perennial also rans.

Are you Daniel Tomlinson in disguise?

Even Hull fans don't need this kind of whitewash.

Regarding the Huddersfield game it was easy to see it coming.

Huddersfield lacked nothing in enthusiasm and aggression against Rovers they just came up against a better team on the day but not by much.

Hull were spent after the Wigan game and had nothing left to offer.

The reason why Rovers are 5th and Hull are 10th is superior fitness.

Of course our culture is what sets us apart look at w@nkys squad for example on paper it's as good as Saints Wigans or Catalans but their culture is poor

That’s not how I see it.

For balance, I don’t think it is a coincidence that Rovers last period of trophy-winning success followed on from them breaking transfer records. I’m sure the culture was good and that [ihelped[/i, along with having a core of players who’d come through the ranks. Fairytaling (new verb for the day) it doesn’t add anything extra for me… possibly because I’m emotionally stunted, admittedly.



I saw Shaun Edwards interviewed by James Haskell and Mike Tindall a little while ago. They asked him about his time at Wigan and set him up with a standard ‘special culture’ question, but fair play to him - he acknowledged they had all the best players and more money, drawing parallels with Manchester City’s current dominance of the EPL. Shaun Edwards gets it. I strongly suspect the hierarchy at Saints get it too… and what is an easier narrative for the media and fans to digest.