Glad to hear about John, guy oozes class! He will carry you through games if he’s fit!

Is holmes injured already? He seems barely to have played the last couple of years

[quote="Jake the Peg":2pdz2s3g]Is holmes injured already? He seems barely to have played the last couple of years[/quote:2pdz2s3g] "Oliver Holmes will be monitoring having taken a precautionary stance on a knee injury from his time at Leigh Leopards this pre-season." Taken from HDM article this morn

Yesterday was a run out that was needed to put some of the things done in training into practice in game time pure and simple. Some stuff they’ll be pleased with and other stuff not so pleased and under Cartwright it does appear the ‘not so pleasing’ stuff will be worked on. Still a long road ahead, don’t think any of us are or will be getting giddy for some time yet. What I will say is that whilst we were clunky and timings a little hit & miss as you’d expect, it does look for the first time in years we actually seem to have structure about our play particularly defence. While it was still only a pre season game was pleasing to see the young players didn’t look too out of place which bodes well for the future.

These young players must now be properly nurtured and not over exposed. I have far more confidence that the club is better placed to do that now both from a financial point of view, the coaching set up and the fact that in Myler we have a knowledgeable rugby man at the helm. Something we haven't had for a long long time. Great start but nothing to get too excited about.

[quote="Jake the Peg":18nqq9wn]Is holmes injured already? He seems barely to have played the last couple of years[/quote:18nqq9wn] Thats why we signed him so he is fresh for 2026 season

https://youtu.be/HIQydsRjw00?si=v7yXMmSCxHNW945A 2 minutes of highlights. Hopefully they'll put the full game up

https://youtu.be/HIQydsRjw00?si=v7yXMmSCxHNW945A 2 minutes of highlights. Hopefully they'll put the full game up

[quote="BESTY":2xe28ylw]These young players must now be properly nurtured and not over exposed. I have far more confidence that the club is better placed to do that now both from a financial point of view, the coaching set up and the fact that in Myler we have a knowledgeable rugby man at the helm. Something we haven't had for a long long time. Great start but nothing to get too excited about.[/quote:2xe28ylw] Be very disappointed if the new coach sticks with Briscoe in front of Martin get Barron back on the right and Martin on the left with Rapana

Here is a radical thought regarding the signing and young players….maybe just maybe Myler and Carty have got it right by bringing in experienced players so that when the young players do play they aren’t exposed as much and have a lot more extend quality around them…I mean Mylere a ex player and carty a experienced coach may just know something more than a lot on here

[quote="The games afoot":1bhqd49q]Here is a radical thought regarding the signing and young players….maybe just maybe Myler and Carty have got it right by bringing in experienced players so that when the young players do play they aren’t exposed as much and have a lot more extend quality around them…I mean Mylere a ex player and carty a experienced coach may just know something more than a lot on here[/quote:1bhqd49q] Have you got a pass yet?

It's going to a long hard season this year but all we want to continue to see is the passion and endeavour we saw yesterday at Cas. The youngsters in that second half were so committed to not losing and how refreshing that is after the last few years. I think we'll improve but I won't get carried away however I don't think we will be on our own in the struggling stakes this season, as I'd be more worried at present if I sere Cas fan or particularly a Huddersfield fan. The latter were shocking today against Featherstone and have now lost to two Championship clubs in pre season. Our major strength has to be our youth and the work Adam instigated four years ago with regard to the development of our youth structure could well start to pay big dividends this year.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf":pw8qj96s][quote:pw8qj96s]It's going to a long hard season this year but all we want to continue to see is the passion and endeavour we saw yesterday at Cas.[/quote:pw8qj96s] The youngsters in that second half were so committed to not losing and how refreshing that is after the last few years. I think we'll improve but I won't get carried away however I don't think we will be on our own in the struggling stakes this season, as I'd be more worried at present if I sere Cas fan or particularly a Huddersfield fan. The latter were shocking today against Featherstone and have now lost to two Championship clubs in pre season. Our major strength has to be our youth and the work Adam instigated four years ago with regard to the development of our youth structure could well start to pay big dividends this year.[/quote:pw8qj96s] Echo this from Wilf. Have noticed that virtually every poster on here is very realistic about what the coming months are likely to bring for the faithful. We are all very aware (too aware by far!!) of the errors which have been made in the past and the amount of hard work that is going to be needed to rectify those errors, but there is unquestionably the feeling that the work to turn around this great club has already started in earnest. As Wilf says, all we are looking for is passion, commitment and endeavour, if we can continue to see those attributes each week we will be walking in the right direction once again (even if it's not exactly a full-bloodied march to the summit just yet!!). I'm also hoping to see more than three wins in the coming year! it surely cannot be as draining as 2024 was, even our patience (sorely tested to the maximum last year) has its outer limits!! As Chris 71 said earlier, no one is likely to be getting too giddy just yet, but let's hope we can continue to see positive signs of recover as the year unfolds, that really is what most of us are asking for in 2025.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf":1n4607z9]Our major strength has to be our youth and the work Adam instigated four years ago with regard to the development of our youth structure could well start to pay big dividends this year.[/quote:1n4607z9] We’re going to win the league, we’re going to win the league

[quote="Armavinit":ahlnp34a]:ROCKS: We’re going to win the league, we’re going to win the league [/quote:ahlnp34a] You're not in the Championship you know.

I think that most of us are just happy to take it game by game and not get carried away, just look for the positives per match and see signs big or small that we're progressing. I thought that the most telling thing to come out of Cartwright's post match analysis was that the players went in at half time knowing where they had gone wrong in the first half and what they needed to do in the second half to turn that around. That tells you a lot already about the change in attitude at the club and I feel that will win us a few more points this year on it's own.

What I'm looking for is the will to defend and overall resilience. If we can show some organisation and aggression in defence and not wilt when things go wrong it will be a massive step in the right direction. Put teams under pressure with defence and we'll get the opportunities to score

[quote="Roam Ranger":3eb2qi6o]I think that most of us are just happy to take it game by game and not get carried away, just look for the positives per match and see signs big or small that we're progressing. I thought that the most telling thing to come out of Cartwright's post match analysis was that the players went in at half time knowing where they had gone wrong in the first half and what they needed to do in the second half to turn that around. That tells you a lot already about the change in attitude at the club and I feel that will win us a few more points this year on it's own.[/quote:3eb2qi6o] Ironically it was the six changes and bringing on the young lads that turned the game for us in the second half. Pleasing but thats not how its meant to be The senior players may have known where they went wrong but can they rectify it on the field against much better opposition to come?

https://youtu.be/V8QLveIO31o?si=PZ-tgA7exgj5h4l2 Hopefully we can carry on these videos during the season

https://youtu.be/V8QLveIO31o?si=PZ-tgA7exgj5h4l2 Hopefully we can carry on these videos during the season

Superb insight and hopefully we'll see a lot more of these vids .

I watched the video and Sao just looks unfit

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":2rgvy2wx]I watched the video and Sao just looks unfit[/quote:2rgvy2wx] Based on those 7 minutes I'd love you to explain your reasons for thinking this

I'd say the opposite regarding Sao, he played decent minutes and, along with most of the players, looked the fittest I have seen them.

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":7x5hb8pi]I watched the video and Sao just looks unfit[/quote:7x5hb8pi] You bang on about Aussie training methods and fitness regimes then slag Soa off for being unfit after watching a brief 7 minutes of a pre season friendly. Don’t you trust Cartwright anymore

[quote="Armavinit":2n8kdrmu]You bang on about Aussie training methods and fitness regimes then slag Soa off for being unfit after watching a brief 7 minutes of a pre season friendly. Don’t you trust Cartwright anymore [/quote:2n8kdrmu] It's an odd take. I wasn't at the game, but he obviously wasn't either, so all that either of us have to go by is that video, and there's nothing in there that jumps out regarding Sao's fitness. Cartwright has made it clear that anyone not up to scratch on fitness wont be involved, and the Abdull situation has backed that up. Also, there are various criticisms that could be levelled at Sao in recent years but I don't think fitness has ever been one of them. I'd say he's always had a good engine and looks after himself. I find it hard to believe that under a regime that holds fitness in high esteem Sao's level have dropped significantly.

In the end we might not end up being any good but one things for sure everyone looks fitter and playing at the right bulk for their stature and position on the field. First time for a few seasons we can say that! How good the game plan is and how accomplished we are skills wise remains still to be seen.