Kelly, Ellis and Jones didn't play much. You always seem able to trawl (troll) other people, can't you find last seasons league table?

So we're still worse off rosterwise? I agree unfortunately.

With Reynolds in and rid of the club Hull mentality, I think we are better off, but we shall see. Hopefully Hodgson will sort the captaincy out in the next few days too.

Look, I think Hodgson is making a decent first impression. I also think Reynolds could be a gem. But the fact remains we are a few senior players short of last season and also Shaul is effectively written off for months. Other teams have strengthened. To match 5th would be an achievement in that context.

Whilst I can see we have lost a number of players compared to the number that have come in I think with the exception of Ratu we haven’t lost a great deal or any worse off. Ellis hardly played and was more effective off the field last season, this season he has a defined role on the coaching staff which is an improvement. Kelly again spent a lot of time on the sidelines with injury and never played to a great deal of structure, more as an off the cuff maverick, in Reynolds we have certainly improved on Kelly as good as he had been for us.. Bienek well nothing more to be said on that one. As for Jones again decent player when he chose to be but never really saw him and also seems he maybe wasn’t a popular team member so again not a miss at all. Shaul will be back at some point but with Connor maybe he doesnt possess the speed of Shaul but he certainly is a much better pivot and gives us an extra dimension at FB

Radford gone, Andy Last now gone and Brett Hodgson in who has already pin pointed the areas the we all saw were a problem and has alluded to doing things to put those right. Also the team first ethic I think will improve us and the fact he states that he demands there are no half measures either in games or training its 100% from everyone at all times.

I think the new broom affect will reinvigorate the players and that again will give us another % improvement. A lot of the little things will add up significantly I feel.

I think St’s & Wigan are the ones in front but feel we can certainly run them close. Warrington not sure as Price is still at the helm so the pressures on there. Huddersfield could go either way but too many changes I think to get it right straight off. Leeds I think may struggle to be honest similarly same with Cas, Catalan always too hot and cold. Wakey I think could go fairly well and Andy Last will improve their coaching team. Then a toss up between Rovers & Salford with Leigh making up the numbers.

Also interesting that Hodgson prepared to wait keeping his powder dry for the right additions to add further. The only area we are really worse off is wing and lack of speed on the edges with loss of Ratu.

Add a bit of pace and another back row of forward and think that certainly helps.

All in all I’m really looking forward to the start.

Excellent,

Saints to retain the title, with us finishing mid-table in our rookie coach's first season in a hot-seat.

Is the coffee ladies always pessimistic outlook catching faster than a dose of the clap in a house of ill repute?
Mid table with our squad would frankly be a disaster, but the owner will be fine as he accepts mid table mediocrity and worse from his coaches in their first two seasons.
This continual negativity by some posters and making out we are in a far worse situation player wise is tedious, we have a great squad, a half that knows the way to the try line and is loving that he won't get the crud as he's had in Australia the last year of his life so will be more settled. We've got 3 top NZ players that are well and truly settled and with a new coach I expect them to shine even more.
And were we actually going to have any more cap, usually when we have fewer in than out it's due to backloaded contracts to prevent us going over the cap.

I hope he doesn't give it to Reynolds in all honesty.

agree, and with your comments about Mrs B and her constant negativity, it will be time for her to start spouting about finances and accounts soon.

Houghton is not a captain, Taylor does all the press stuff but I think he is overrated as a forward, works hard, but not much else. Connor would be an option if he didn't already have an ego bigger than Jupiter... who else?

So Houghton is not a captain, you cannot recall the last time we had a true captain (er, Gareth Ellis?), Taylor is overrated and Connor has an ego problem but you knock Mrs B for being negative.

You really never change, do you?

Good post Chris hard to disagree with any of that.

I know we all want to see a Ratu replacement and possibly someone with experiance and leadership to replace Ellis's presence. What I will say though is under Last we seemed to change our mentality and stop looking for excuses such as Ellis not being on the field, or quitting when errors and decisions went against us, it was the biggest leap forward I saw whereas the players seemed to really start concentrating on their own games and taking accountability instead of bickering and pointing the finger. Listening to Brett this should continue and improve.

Il also say I think Cators emerging as a real presence and leader in the way he plays, I think he's inspiring his teammates in the way Ellis used too by leading from the front, long may it continue. Future captain material?

I think we're stronger with Connor at fullback so don't really see Shauls absence as a huge negative, I'd be interested if anyone can find Connors try assists from Fullback, I know I saw 7 in two games back end of the season, I'd hazard a guess that's more in two games than shaul made all season.

Reynolds should shine, I think he has a better mentality than Kelly in that when the going gets tough he l compete harder. Whereas Kelly at times was guilty of going missing when errors/decisions went against us, injury wise from what I read he had trouble with his hamstrings but seemed to be fine after surgery but just couldn't get passed benji marshalls form, fingers crossed we have luck with injuries .

I agree about Jones, we barely saw him so will we miss him? Something tells me Manu Mau will have a big season, showed some good form last few games of last season. Along with Lane improving a lot too.

While I'd love to see us make a couple more signings, I like the way Brett's not signing for the sake of it like we've been guilty of in the past, seems he's being very shrewd in recruitment and will only sign quality when it becomes available, I'm hoping this approach will help take us to the next level. Let's see if any clubs need wages off their books and a couple of good additions pop up.

... and only in excess of £2m in debt.

Bumpy will be one of the first to shout for heads if things don't pan out.
He's got form.
Like everybody, I hope Reynolds can move us up a level but its by far from a done deal how effective he'll be after NRL underperforming. Passion is great but its got to be a whole lot more than that.
Pretty sure the new coach and player(s) will get plenty of time from the likes of me and Mrs B.
It'll be others, with history, that take part first, in the rush to judgement.