The lack of competitive games should not be to the detriment of the squad. Tim Sheens challenge is to keep players on their game by regularly rotating the first 17. With so many young players on the fringes the competition for a starting place should keep things sharp and help with development.
If we are professional in our aproach to every game, come the money end of the season the team should be focused.
Plus the opportunity to earn a super league contract in 2018 should act as a very good carrot to every squad member.

I agree I think there maybe a bit of a gap opening in super league with the bottom 4 been away off you could well be very competitive against these teams barring injuries it could even work in your favour playing easy teams you maybe a lot fresher than the super league teams which I think was the difference with Leigh you will have best coach for sure

What are the chances of the RFL changing the rules next year and changing the format again? Perhaps scrapping the mid 8's and allowing 2 champion teams to come up for a 14 team comp?

I will give you 12-1 if you want to send me a fiver.

The first and last issue will be! Where's the video ref? Will be very interesting to see how Sheens deals with it all.For me this is outside his CV.

I'm pretty sure he's coached in a time before video refs

What a pointless post. To think a coach like Sheens will be affected in any way by the presence or non presence of a video ref is laughable.

They're only used in televised games in SL even now, aren't they? Tbf, that may be all atomic has seen of SL.

Jukes hadn't been a head coach in the pro game, afaik, before last season and he got the job done. I think things being outside Sheens experience is an item of low concern.

Announced on Twitter that the 5000 barrier has been broken. Well done to the fans and let's get back to where we belong. Roll on 2017.

Well done..Hopefully no one has to touch their pockets come £650k time..

Got my pass tried to do it online wouldn't work so rang the number it said the shop was closed so rang another number finally got sorted they really need to sort out the online department and I decided not to take the discount in the end

I think that Neil Hudgell and Rob Crossland are well aware that they may have to dip into their pockets during 2017. Fortunately for us they have the inclination and ability to do so.

The early signs are that things may not be as bad as we all feared. Membership sales are going to be up on 2016. Craven Park hosting events such as Oktoberfest, Paul Heaton concert and Pantomine is bringing in upwards of 300k apparently. Rovers have brought back the running of the bars and catering back "in house" which the Club tell us will give us more profit, though will mean more work. All of last seasons sponsors have stuck with the club and there are plenty of articles on our website of individual sponsors actually increasing their financial support.
Initially we will be running with a squad that is costing circa 600k less than 2016 so in the short term it looks like the sums add up.

The crunch is obviously going to come with walk up support on a weekly basis which is going to hinge heavily I would think on our on field performances/results.

I reckon we will be more than ok.

I had a simular problem, tried to renew on line, it didn't recognise my email address so wouldn't let me. Tried ringing the shop for about 2 hours but to no avail. Finally drove into town and was told by the girl in the shop " there's only 3 of use so we ignore the phone"
Not very professional and certainly not what any new supporters want to hear.
Anyway joined the Rovers forever scheme, so committed for another 2 years.

The club has confirmed it has surpassed last years 5200 pass holders. 6000 may be possible?!

6000 pass holders may be possible but I wonder what sort of opposition team we all might be watching come Feb 5th and how this will affect the atmosphere and the occasion.