16 replies to this topic

[andyram]

What are we hoping for in the coming season,where in the table will we finish,i think the team should be good enough to be near around the play off places,if everyone is fit.Will we be taking the Northern Rail games as warm up matches this season.Just something to think about,won't be long now until it all kicks off.

[Piggy's mate]

Will we be taking the Northern Rail games as warm up matches this season.

Only if you lose!

[S.T.R]

Only if you lose!

Like Batley did up to your flukey win last season

[Daniel]

What are we hoping for in the coming season,where in the table will we finish,i think the team should be good enough to be near around the play off places,if everyone is fit.Will we be taking the Northern Rail games as warm up matches this season.Just something to think about,won't be long now until it all kicks off.

I'm expecting nothing less than a second place finish, Grand Final victory, Northern Rail Cup win and a Challenge Cup semi-final. I've had a premonition!

[Ossy]

Sorry to hear that Daniel - hope you get better soon...

Ossy.

[Eddie_Rombo]

As long as we finish higher up than batley that will do me

[Blind side johnny]

This may be an unusual season specifically due to the franchise bids that will be underway. Added to that the potential uncertainties concerning the structure of SL going forward and some of the "bigger" clubs may be in a state of confusion.

Widnes for example will be quite confident of being awarded a franchise, having ticked all of the requisite boxes, and their energies will probably be devoted to achieving this as well as building for a SL year. Hence they have already started unloading some of their more costly players who would have no SL future and will continue with their youth development programme. This means that their final league position will be slightly less important to them than in recent years.

Halifax have ticked boxes previously but have admitted that they can hold no realistic expectations of SL for the immediate future, so they should be expected to push strongly for honours once more, finances permitting. Fev will be equally strong this year; they continue to hold SL ambitions but have no unrealistic expectations. They have also recruited well. Barrow will be a bit of a joker in the pack, having released a number of players and still without a coach for next season (or as long a part of the season that the next coach lasts). Batley will be a shoe-in for the play-offs as anyone who reads their forum will realise, in fact the Championship must be a reasonable expectation for them.

How will Leigh perform this year, given the financial constraints that we will all be working under? Still flattering to deceive I believe. Sheffield will be Sheffield, inconsistent but still strong, and still our bogey side I hazard. Toulouse seem to be in freefall as far as the side is concerned and, assuming that they do start the season, will be battling to avoid the wooden spoon. York will struggle badly and I can't see them avoiding bottom spot. Hunslet fans are very confident that their title winning side plus a few useful additions will see them into mid-table; I believe that they will be in for some early surprises.

Dewsbury will be the major unknowns for me. A good start to the league season will be imperative this year and we cannot leave it so long before our first win. In theory we now have the experience in this division to avoiud the silly slips that were evident last year. On the other hand we have lost a few important players and i don't yet know sufficient about our new recruits to predict with confidence that we will be stronger this year. What we do have, however, is a coach who is now more experienced in this league and its demands, whcih should put us in good stead.

So, I predict:

1. Featherstone
2. Halifax
3. Sheffield
4. Batley
5. Leigh
6. Widnes
7. Dewsbury
8. Barrow
9. Hunslet
10. Toulouse
11. York

All forecasts are subject to the usual caveat that I don't know which club might go belly-up this season and provide respite for those struggling above them.

A Challenge Cup run would always be nice but this isn't one of our club traditions, also resting upon the luck of the draw. The NRC is an irrelevance, as everone with any sense of realism would admit. (Unless we win it, of course.)

Bring it on!!

[grumpyoldram]

This may be an unusual season specifically due to the franchise bids that will be underway. Added to that the potential uncertainties concerning the structure of SL going forward and some of the "bigger" clubs may be in a state of confusion.

Widnes for example will be quite confident of being awarded a franchise, having ticked all of the requisite boxes, and their energies will probably be devoted to achieving this as well as building for a SL year. Hence they have already started unloading some of their more costly players who would have no SL future and will continue with their youth development programme. This means that their final league position will be slightly less important to them than in recent years.

Halifax have ticked boxes previously but have admitted that they can hold no realistic expectations of SL for the immediate future, so they should be expected to push strongly for honours once more, finances permitting. Fev will be equally strong this year; they continue to hold SL ambitions but have no unrealistic expectations. They have also recruited well. Barrow will be a bit of a joker in the pack, having released a number of players and still without a coach for next season (or as long a part of the season that the next coach lasts). Batley will be a shoe-in for the play-offs as anyone who reads their forum will realise, in fact the Championship must be a reasonable expectation for them.

How will Leigh perform this year, given the financial constraints that we will all be working under? Still flattering to deceive I believe. Sheffield will be Sheffield, inconsistent but still strong, and still our bogey side I hazard. Toulouse seem to be in freefall as far as the side is concerned and, assuming that they do start the season, will be battling to avoid the wooden spoon. York will struggle badly and I can't see them avoiding bottom spot. Hunslet fans are very confident that their title winning side plus a few useful additions will see them into mid-table; I believe that they will be in for some early surprises.

Dewsbury will be the major unknowns for me. A good start to the league season will be imperative this year and we cannot leave it so long before our first win. In theory we now have the experience in this division to avoiud the silly slips that were evident last year. On the other hand we have lost a few important players and i don't yet know sufficient about our new recruits to predict with confidence that we will be stronger this year. What we do have, however, is a coach who is now more experienced in this league and its demands, whcih should put us in good stead.

So, I predict:

1. Featherstone
2. Halifax
3. Sheffield
4. Batley
5. Leigh
6. Widnes
7. Dewsbury
8. Barrow
9. Hunslet
10. Toulouse
11. York

All forecasts are subject to the usual caveat that I don't know which club might go belly-up this season and provide respite for those struggling above them.

A Challenge Cup run would always be nice but this isn't one of our club traditions, also resting upon the luck of the draw. The NRC is an irrelevance, as everone with any sense of realism would admit. (Unless we win it, of course.)

Bring it on!!

Think you are pretty accurate in your assumptions there BSJ. I doubt Barrow will be in the relegation zone though. Sheffield don't seem to have strengthened from last season, and have lost one or two, but still seem to have some very talented south seas players (who I didn't think they'd manage to keep). Still think they will be outside the playoffs. Batley - hate to say it but on paper they have the strongest side they have had for years, especially if their dual reg's are as good as Giants fans profess. How did they manage to hang on to the hatful of players tipped for SL next season, like Walton,Hesketh,Brown and moore. I also reckon that the bottom four will be too close to call. I would say York, Hunslet, Dewsbury and Sheffield in no particular order. Hunslet and york because promoted sides without a sugardaddy always struggle, Dewsbury because we lost four of our better players and have recruited largely unknown quantities and journeymen as replacements. Whether we struggle or not might depend on those unknown quantities. Eagles,as I say have lost one or two important players and could be in the bottom mix this time. For better or for worse I can't wait for the season to start, so as the Assistant French RL coach would possibly say "Viennent sur les Rams"

[STEVE P]

I'm expecting nothing less than a second place finish, Grand Final victory, Northern Rail Cup win and a Challenge Cup semi-final. I've had a premonition!

About these tablets you're taking Daniel.

Are they Prescription Only, or can anybody buy them? If so, where can I get a box?

Bit disappointed about us going out of the CC at the semi final stage though. I could have fancied a trip to Wembley. The last time I was there Ginger Owen and Frank Collier were on the winning side. An easy one for some, but who knows when and who. Who was the Cornish Express who scored for the losers.

[Blind side johnny]

About these tablets you're taking Daniel.

Are they Prescription Only, or can anybody buy them? If so, where can I get a box?

Bit disappointed about us going out of the CC at the semi final stage though. I could have fancied a trip to Wembley. The last time I was there Ginger Owen and Frank Collier were on the winning side. An easy one for some, but who knows when and who. Who was the Cornish Express who scored for the losers.

Go on, I'll bite.

Would it be 1964 when Widnes beat Hull KR?

A(?) Burwell.

[FrankDrebin]

Think you are pretty accurate in your assumptions there BSJ. I doubt Barrow will be in the relegation zone though. Sheffield don't seem to have strengthened from last season, and have lost one or two, but still seem to have some very talented south seas players (who I didn't think they'd manage to keep). Still think they will be outside the playoffs. Batley - hate to say it but on paper they have the strongest side they have had for years, especially if their dual reg's are as good as Giants fans profess. How did they manage to hang on to the hatful of players tipped for SL next season, like Walton,Hesketh,Brown and moore. I also reckon that the bottom four will be too close to call. I would say York, Hunslet, Dewsbury and Sheffield in no particular order. Hunslet and york because promoted sides without a sugardaddy always struggle, Dewsbury because we lost four of our better players and have recruited largely unknown quantities and journeymen as replacements. Whether we struggle or not might depend on those unknown quantities. Eagles,as I say have lost one or two important players and could be in the bottom mix this time. For better or for worse I can't wait for the season to start, so as the Assistant French RL coach would possibly say "Viennent sur les Rams"

As good as the four players your mention are, I think a lot of the rumours about interest from SL clubs might have been something of a 'smokescreen' cooked up by agents to boost their players income (and their own). Its amazing what a few choice words in a journalists ear can do.
In relation to your other views, I agree about Sheffield to an extent. They'll miss Brendon Lindsay big time, but they always have the unstoppable force that is Menzie Yere up their sleeves, and they've signed Liam Higgins from Cas, which must give them the biggest front-row in the league.
I really don't know what to expect from Dewsbury this year. I wouldn't be too concerned about losing Bostock - he's never really proved that he's up to it at this level, and Matthew Fox looks like a more than adequate replacement. Powell is a bit of a loss, but Wainwright is more than capable replacement.
One position where I thought you would have strengthened would have been at half-back. Brambani is a good player, but you look to be lacking at stand-off. You could do with an experienced head at no.6, someone like Handforth, Holroyd or Branighan.

[Blind side johnny]

One position where I thought you would have strengthened would have been at half-back. Brambani is a good player, but you look to be lacking at stand-off.

You're not deliberately trying to wind me up are you Frank?

[STEVE P]

Go on, I'll bite.

Would it be 1964 when Widnes beat Hull KR?

A(?) Burwell.

Spot on BSJ. I think that the A was for Alan.

To go back to the original purpose of the thread. I would settle for the 7th spot which you predict. I would like to see the club gradually become an established team in the division by improving their position a little every season. Just like Sheffield have done, in a way that is less likely to bust the club.

[Crown Flatter]

For the little quiz, Burwell's first name is Alan.

To the thread:

Like others, I don't know what to make of Dewsbury's chances this year, but I would like to think relegation threats will not be an issue. With regard to players, I think Michael Wainwright might be an unknown quantity; he did okay for us last time round, went to SL, but has aged, perhaps slowed down - who knows?

As for BSJ's comments on Toulouse, I am unaware of their troubles (I must have been down that Chilean mine at the time) and using his comments my final league table looks like this:

Featherstone
Halifax
Widnes
Leigh
Batley
Dewsbury
Barrow
Toulouse
Hunslet
York

Dewbury and Barow could switch positions, depending on how the latter shapes up with a new coach and players. You never know what to make of Leigh these days, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them do well and Batley (on paper) should have their best season for years.

[grumpyoldram]

For the little quiz, Burwell's first name is Alan.

To the thread:

Like others, I don't know what to make of Dewsbury's chances this year, but I would like to think relegation threats will not be an issue. With regard to players, I think Michael Wainwright might be an unknown quantity; he did okay for us last time round, went to SL, but has aged, perhaps slowed down - who knows?

As for BSJ's comments on Toulouse, I am unaware of their troubles (I must have been down that Chilean mine at the time) and using his comments my final league table looks like this:

Featherstone
Halifax
Widnes
Leigh
Batley
Dewsbury
Barrow
Toulouse
Hunslet
York

Dewbury and Barow could switch positions, depending on how the latter shapes up with a new coach and players. You never know what to make of Leigh these days, so I wouldn't be surprised to see them do well and Batley (on paper) should have their best season for years.

Mick W was never very fast, but what you do get is 100% commitment and reliability. They were the qualities that kept him in the cas team - although playing outside Michael shenton might have helped his cause. In all likelihood he will be playing outside Faal this time,which might leave him a little light on try opportunities.

[grumpyoldram]

As good as the four players your mention are, I think a lot of the rumours about interest from SL clubs might have been something of a 'smokescreen' cooked up by agents to boost their players income (and their own). Its amazing what a few choice words in a journalists ear can do.
In relation to your other views, I agree about Sheffield to an extent. They'll miss Brendon Lindsay big time, but they always have the unstoppable force that is Menzie Yere up their sleeves, and they've signed Liam Higgins from Cas, which must give them the biggest front-row in the league.
I really don't know what to expect from Dewsbury this year. I wouldn't be too concerned about losing Bostock - he's never really proved that he's up to it at this level, and Matthew Fox looks like a more than adequate replacement. Powell is a bit of a loss, but Wainwright is more than capable replacement.
One position where I thought you would have strengthened would have been at half-back. Brambani is a good player, but you look to be lacking at stand-off. You could do with an experienced head at no.6, someone like Handforth, Holroyd or Branighan.

I reckon Horton might well be used as a scrum half come hooker in the sort of role Luke robinson has at fartown, with dom moving to stand off when that happens. Your'e right though, Wozza doen't seem to like halfbacks. One assumes he will use our plethora of looseforward/halfbacks to fill in. Will be interested to find out whether Fox plays in his international position or not.

[Blind side johnny]

In all likelihood he will be playing outside Faal this time,which might leave him a little light on try opportunities.

......but plenty of tackling to make up for it.