Dave Woods to Jordan Abdull at the pre-season dinner last night:

"Have you been on the Ozempic?"

Just watched the extended version of the forum on YouTube. Worth viewing, some interesting stuff in the extra 15/20 minutes or so.

Good to hear that Thirkill had spoken to Nigel Wood who told him that there are three big clubs in Super League. Wigan, Leeds and Hull FC.

Am I getting carried away in thinking this combination of new team, new. coach and backroom staff and renewed optimism around the club can make us into a top half of the table team this year?

Yes, I think you are, still think we last some quality for a top 6. You never know, but I don't see it.

I've booked my tickets for Wembley and Old Trafford

Think the new combination is a huge step in the right direction of getting us back to where we want to be. Nigel Wood is right in what he said to Thirkill. The untapped potential is massive.

Dread to think of the mood of the fanbase without these changes.

Also think Myler will be a real asset. We’ve needed someone to be bullish about the club for years, and to fight our corner. Having his father in law as an owner will make it even more personal.

Thought it was good that the mood of the fans was that eighth is a realistic place to finish next year. Must be reassuring for the new owners to have a passionate, yet realistic, fanbase.

I would be surprised if they didn't finish higher than that with the new coach and new players

Think Thirkill was spot on, even if we do everything right that we can control the competition to finish 8th or above is massive, it means we have to get our house in order and hope someone takes their eye off the ball or has bad luck with injuries etc. Even Huddersfield who we are now expected to finish above by many now still have some quality players, Salford every year punch well above their weight and Leigh, Leeds and Catalan potentially have trophy winning sides on their day. Wigan, Rovers and St’s will be way above the rest.

Optimism doesnt suddenly catapult the team into a top 6 or 8 position.
The squad has been strengthened and experience added but is still poor quality,coupled with ageing players and a distinct lack of pace.
I think with Cartwrights coaching adding fitness and discipline we will keep out of the bottom two but all teams in S/L have been strengthened and i dont see a really weak team there at all.
Even Wakefield will surprise a few

The key thing is if we are sorting the basics out, the fitness, the discipline, the defence and then if we are losing games by a try or two because our slow centres couldn't finish the break off, then I'd say fair enough sign some top centres for 2026 and jobs a good un.

It's getting away from the 50 point thumpings that is important for the fans morale, and also not downing tools after the end of July. The Cup is more of a chance for sucess even a day out at a Semi final would feel like a dream after these last few years.

Put this on a post a few months back but I'm not bothered about our league position this year. Obviously I would like it to be higher than 11th/joint bottom but it's more about getting our house in order for me. Getting the fitness and conditioning sorted, improving the injury situation, getting the right attitude/culture/mentality into the club so we are at least competing in games every week even if we end up losing more than we win.

A change of ownership doesn't really alter my thoughts on that. It gives me optimism (more than I have had in a long time) that we have a bright future ahead of us but we still have to fix all the things I mentioned above and a whole lot more. I'm loving the positivity coming out of the club at the moment and it sounds like we have already addressed things and started to make the improvements needed but I'm also accepting that it's not necessarily going to equate to points on the table next season. I'm fine with that. Let's get the foundations sorted in 2025 and go from there.

If the mooted P&R comes in we absolutely need to finish as high up the table as possible. Finish 12th as a B grade club and we'll probably be relegated.

For me, if everything goes right for us, including injuries not being too bad and discipline and defence being sorted then we will be in the mix for 9th, with 8th being a possibility but probably unlikely

in the current scheme finish 11th as a grade B club with whats happening at clubs below us could see us relegated anyway.