To be honest on this board I think the expectation was a little more realistic. Fax strengthened significantly as did Leigh (despite the prospect of them dropping a division), Barrow added quality, Fev have added quality. We lost some decent players and added a few and balanced the side a little better but I think overall the consensus on this board was that we would go okay... anything more would be a pleasant surprise. I think we are where we expected. There certainly wasn't anyone claiming we would sweep all before us.
I still can't believe that people are willing to sweep aside the injury situation as irrelevant. It really isn't?
Lets see how well Barrow go without Rooney or Fax without Black or Leigh without Paul?
As for the discipline issue, I couldn't give you any figures just a general observation (with the exception of one incident in particular). Away fans now seem to think that we are favoured by refs due to the penalty counts for both sides in our games. I think it is noticeable that we have sharpened up in those areas.

It's a huge shame that many Widnes fans, and I suppose RL fans in general cannot see the bigger fixture and look at the last result.

The club is 100% stronger for having Cullen than McCormack. From bottom to top, those that can't see that obviously need to dig abit deeper into the work him and the people he's brought in have done.

I just don't think things are that bad. We've had one of the best starts we've had in the time we've been down here and a with the amount of injuries we have had we were going to lose some games. The squad has plenty of time to iron out the trouble we had in the patched side we had out against Toulouse.

Gerrard made one bad mistake so some people lay into to him. I think aj viking's post sums up the attitude of some Widnes fans.

we can actually apply for super league now, not for one minute do i think we could had ste mccomic stayed in charge

I think an area where Widnes have been smart, is to use the Loan system and Dual Reg system to the teams benefit. I can't recall many players coming into the club in that way under Ste McCormack? They no doubt make the difference and have bolstered the squad in key games.

Do you think we would have won last years NRC Final had the loanees not been there? I wouldn't have been confident in that!

I think the organisation off the field seems better. Previously we had players who couldn't make training, some turning up on some days and some on other days. We had players getting up at stupid O'Clock just to be able to get to training because they lived so far away. PC seems to have simplified everything and taken a no nonsense approach to the recruitment and training.

For whatever reason though, although the changes you would have thought should have made a difference haven't so far. Injuries obviously have had a major roll to play so far this season, but even last year Cullen's record in the league was something like 10 wins 9 losses. We've have played some good stuff at times this season, but for whatever reason the way the players start games is all wrong and its often 60 minutes into a game before we up our game.

IMO the jury is still out on Cullen. We've brought in James and Heckenburg, Ford and Webbo should be fit in the next few weeks, so there can't be any excuses if we don't perform. There are a few poor sides this year and you would think the bottom 3 will be Whitehaven, Dewsbury and Keighley. We only have to finish above one other team to get into the play-offs, which you would have thought is the very minimum we should be aiming for. IMO anything outside the top 3 would be a bad season for us. Its the perfect opportunity for Cullen really - he's got 3 attempts to show what he can do and i would have thought success by winning the GF or finishing top, in any season would be enough to earn him a shot at SL - if we get there. If he can't bring us success at this level however, there should be no way he should be given a contract to coach us in SL.

IMO we have a really good coach.
Considering what he took over last year and yet he still managed to win the NR Cup beating the two teams that would eventually finish top and second in the league on the way. Remember that early last season what a complete mess we were in in and how genuinely we were panicking. Just look at the structure in place now.
Admittedly he did bring in his loan players of Hall, Pickersgil, Penny and Grayshon but for me last season beat my early expectations and this season is looking to do just the same.
I agree that we have some important players returning and I think we will look back at this match as a temporary blip.

Plus we have to remember that he is doing this and at the same time looking after his wife. I can't imagine the strain he is being placed under and yet if no-one told you, you wouldn't know what a hard time he is having. He is still there at nearly every game and I am told that he is at nearly all of the training sessions plus putting in more hours in the office.

For all this I am firmly in the Cullen camp.

I was pleasently suprised with the start of the season and cup, as soon as the injuries came and the fact that we had so many out to begin with it is only to be expected that we had a slide in performances, this won't last for ever.


Remember, Widnes win when it matters

Just to make it clear, this man is not from the U.S.A.

Hmm. There seems to be one or two 'interesting' new posters lately

Cullen has been fantastic for Widnes. He got rid of the dead wood at the club on arrival, and littered any other lingering smells by the end of the year. He's had a horrible time at home in the off-season and he's done well this year in the circumstances.

Either way, he still led us to the NRC. Box ticked!

Ask yourself, how many times have we been beaten this year,

This squad is light years ahead of last years, but the injuries have taken their toll.

Better squad, better tactics, better organisation, worse injuries.

Opposition fans seem to think more highly of Widnes than some of the Widnes fans do.

There is a longer term strategy in place than the next match and it is working.

We will be in the top six when it matters, we are still in the cup and NRC.

Keep the faith WTID

I think Widnes are bloody fantastic. I particularly like Toa Kohe Love. His work rate puts a red ant to shame.