You can't carry an off the cuff player if he doesn't pull his weight (no pun intended) elsewhere. The way a 35 year old kevin sinfield ghosted around him then left him for dead next season isn't good enough at this level

To state we have the same quality squad as per last year compared to other teams is just not accurate, if you can't see the improvements we've made in the squad through the signings, extra experience of the younger players coming through, another years experience for the coach (he's on a learning curve beyond any other SL coach if you didn't know) being indicators of how we [ishould[/i be better by comparison then there's no hope is there?

Just because you disgree with something doesn't make it "absolute nonsense", but that in itself is very telling, that clearly says to me you think there is no possibility at all, you said 'absolutely' meaning without exception, ergo that makes you a pessimist if you have stated in essense that we have no chance and yet you counterbalance that with saying we have the 5th best squad, when did having Xth best squad define how a season goes as an absolute anyway?

As I said, my prediction was 5th because I don't have that much faith in Lee Radford's ability to get the best out of the players he has, I just think he hasn't got the tactical nous nor man management skills/awareness of how people tick to get us to our potentialt with the squad we have. But as Radford and others have said if we turn small losses into wins that jumps us up the table, of course every team wants to do that but why is that so unsurmountable?
We lost 8 games by 6 points or less with lets be honest a shocking try scoring/attacking record for most of the season, if we turn around 6 wins out of those 8 close losses including one each against Hudds & Saints would see us third.

But according to you it's absolutely nonsense to think we can close a 1-6 point difference in 6 games and we have no chance of making the play offs?
We should be looking to be in the play offs and displacing Hudds, Saints, Wigan AND Leeds, that surely has to be the target, think small and you'll never succeed.

Here's some imponderables
Will Ellis be the player he was at his best last season or will injuries and another year on the clock take their toll?
Will Manu be better than Westerman was last year let alone the year before? Can he find some form , he's not shown anything for some time?
Will big Frank be as good as he was last year? Similar to Ellis , will he have another big year in him?
Will Taylor be an upgrade on Paea?
Will Mini be able to do it all again? Another player that is getting on and at times looked knackered last year.
Will Sneyd become the player we thought he was?
Is Pryce past it? He started last year really well but faded badly.
Can Abdull and Logan kick on? Can Tuimavave play centre?
Will Houghton improve his game management?
Will one of the new or last year's stars be able to galvanise and lead the team and find something from somewhere at that point in the game when you look at the team in a difficult spell and think where is it going to come from? So many times last year that happened and you knew nothing was coming.
If enough of those get positive answers then things could be really good but it wouldn't take many where the outcome is negative to put us in trouble. Luck will play a huge part in respect of how bodies hold up and who gets injured because for all the talk of depth we like everyone else can't afford the sort of depth that can be needed when injuries hit.
As usual at this time of year I think we have something to look forward to but at the same time am really worried that it could all go horribly wrong , just like that. Not because that's just sport but because it's what seems to happen to us and then people say , well what did you expect with aging forwards , an inexperienced half , no cover at hooker and no strike centre?

Wow!!! You've just killed of any optimism I had!!

will I win the lottery ? will leeds win the sl ? will we beat rovers ? will I meet carole Kirkwood ? will it rain tomorrow ? will I have fishnchips for supper ? will ELO tour again ? is elvis living on bransholme ?

It was probably the structures the coaching staff had in place at Cas and the players he had around him playing as as a unit that made Sneyd look good.
His goal kicking average was also a lot better but maybe more to do with more tries being scored nearer to the posts.
His goal kicking from wide out for us was poor,that said i like him as a player,tries hard and never afraid to try something a bit different.

Agree, hence my point about a big pre season.

In comparison, it could be argued that an ageing Leon Pryce ghosting past Terry Campese leaving hi for dead etc, but I doubt rovers would even consider dropping a fit TC.

I think maybe abdul ate campese at some point late last season

If Pritchard is fit he'll tear holes all over the field. He really is an outstanding forward with great hands. Of all the NRL signings in SL next year he's the absolute standout, followed by Tupou at Wakefield. I hope you get to see him at his best.

Latest gossip....

Leigh might have to release centre Tom Armstrong & hooker Bob Beswick ,to sign Rangi Chase..

Wouldnt mind both.. TBH...

Regarding potential age and fitness concerns of the older players I'm hopeful that our depth will allow us to manage their game time quite well. With Ellis and Mini I think we have been guilty in the past of playing them when they've been carrying a knock or looked in need of a rest because they're big players and we've needed their experience, talent and guidance on the field. Hopefully the arrival of players like Frank the Tank and Manu, plus our younger players being a year older and having more experience under their belts, will allow us to do a fair bit of rotation as and when needed which should hopefully keep players fitness's up for the full season. Obviously you can't predict when and if a player will come a cropper with a serious injury (as you say, that's sport and you need a bit of luck on this front) but with the depth on offer I think we should be able to limit the usual "injury crisis" providing that we make use of that depth throughout the season and don't just rely on it when someone picks up an injury.

Regarding the halves comment, I'm hopeful that with what looks like a dominating pack that our halves will have more space and freedom to express themselves. Can't disagree with the comments on hooker and centre. Is Washy our cover at hooker now? Hopefully Tuimavave and Fonua will provide the strike we need or we'll add that strike with an additional signing.

I'd take both.

Its a good job our support play is second to none

this is true he was a handful for nearly all defences he came up against last season, causing constant problems on the left hand side. we've been short in this area since manu left us. shaul especially should have some joy running off him. pritchard could well improve our support play as he will no doubt tell his runners where to operate and won't be best pleased if they don't appear - and you don't want to get on the wrong side of big frank (pun intended). i think sika manu will operate down the right so there is a good chance he and mini will be able to spell each other so mini can get a bit more rest in games when needed. much will depend on how much field position our pack are able to set up in the opponents last third, but once there i expect our attacking options to be much improved on last season

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_202 ... eason.html Confirmation that Ellis will play prop/loose and 'cover back row'. Also confirmation (not that he needed it) that Ellis is a machine to get himself fit for the start of the season. What a superstar.

www.loverugbyleague.com/news_202 ... eason.html Confirmation that Ellis will play prop/loose and 'cover back row'. Also confirmation (not that he needed it) that Ellis is a machine to get himself fit for the start of the season. What a superstar.