The majority of these away games have been against ‘better’ opposition yes agreed, but the blow out score-lines have been terrible. Where do we go from here, feels like a real motivational, pride problem, has the dressing room given up? I just don’t know……

What felt like a really bright start from a ridiculous run of home games due to the pitch situation it’s turned into an awful few months….i got shot down earlier in the season for voicing concerns but my fears are being realised….. Fully accept it was always going to be a learning curve, yes I get other teams have bigger budgets…..but the margins of defeat are something we can’t just shrug our shoulders about……no more excuses, the coach always says the right things win or lose but actions speak louder than words…..show some fight, commitment lads. Look at the teams around us like Swinton, Haven (who almost went bump preseason)  have had some big set backs but still seem to put in more than respectable performances and are picking up wins here and there…..feels like we are a mile off week in week out. 

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For this week’s opposition view, we spoke to Midlands Hurricanes fan Tom (HurricanesSC) to get the lowdown on his side, their season so far and what to expect from today’s encounter.

How has the season gone so far? What have been the main highlights and low points and how do you see your remaining fixtures after this weekend?

We're very happy with where we currently are - besides Newcastle we're the highest placed of the former League One sides and to do that we've had to claim a few scalps such as Doncaster at home and Batley both home and away. 

That is not to say there hasn't been moments of disappointment. All four of our games against Swinton and Whitehaven have seen us pick up a total of one point, and in truth I expect Mark and the boys would have had those games down as ones we could win if we got the basics right. 

The remaining games are a mixed bag. London at home - as well as Doncaster and Newcastle away - are going to be extremely difficult and require us to be at our very best to get anything out of each game. To that end, we need to be aiming for four wins out of four against Rochdale, Keighley, Workington and Crusaders. 

After a run of three successive defeats, you've bounced back to win your last two, how important is it to keep this run of form going in to the most important part of the season and for the confidence in the camp?

Hugely! Prior to Goole a few weeks ago we'd hit a tough run of form with one win in six, although in context (i.e. facing Broncos and Oldham) it was perhaps unsurprising. As above, it is key that we win at least four of our seven remaining games to ensure a first ever playoff place in the Championship.

Who have been your standout players this season? Who can produce that moment of magic and who has impressed you?

It's hard to pick a standout because we've had so many exceptional efforts across the squad. Whilst it would be easy to point to Lewis Else for his speed and try-scoring ability, our special mention would have to be for his halfback partner Sully Medforth, who has once again stepped up to the plate following Danny Craven's season-ending injury.

A second special mention would be Brandon Moore, who consistently does 80 minutes and seems to have a never-ending supply of energy. He was a fantastic find. 

As an expansion club in a "non-heartland" area, how important is it to showcase Rugby League in this part of the world and how important is it to have a successful team on and off the pitch? How is the club progressing, on and off the field?

For our Chairman (Mike Lomas), this was his whole reason for investing in the club back in late 2021. He wants to see rugby league flourish in a non-traditional area, and he recognises that to do this you need to give people a reason to invest their time in something they otherwise wouldn't know existed. A good a reason as any is to have a winning squad dazzling you at Avery Fields! 

Off the field, the club is making slow but steady strides in terms of generating commercial revenue. The fanbase is also slowly but surely growing, with season tickets increasing year on year. Having not missed a home game so far, it is great seeing new faces in the stands or leaning on the fencing surrounding the pitch. For those of us "regulars", we hope they become part of the furniture just like us and part of the "Canes family" that Mark Dunning always references. 

Games between these two sides are usually closely contested, with only a six point margin between the two sides last time they met at Spotland in March. What are you expecting from Sunday's clash?

Exactly the same; Rochdale are never easy to play. With the mini-rivalry between our respective Chairmen still bubbling away both sets of players know there's a lot of pride on the line and it shows on the pitch. 

Rochdale have steadily recruited well during the course of this season, so the earlier fixture at the Crown Oil Arena will have no bearing on how Sunday will go. We're particularly looking forward to seeing former Cane/Coventry Bears forward Chris Barratt, who at one point had the record for most appearances for the club! 

This will be Rochdale's first visit to your new home at Avery Fields after last season's trip to the Alexander Stadium, how have the club adapted to their new home and what can the travelling fans and players expect from the facilities, stadium and playing surface? Is there anywhere worth visiting nearby? Where are the best places to eat and drink pre match?

Avery Fields has a very different feel to The Alex, but it's probably the most commercially sensible the decision the club has ever made.

The Alex is an impressive venue and would perhaps have been perfect if the club were ready for Super League, but that's some way away yet and financially must have been very expensive for the club to rent. Being an athletics stadium it also lacked permanent facilities that rugby fans would expect (such as draught beer!).

Instead, we can now boast a fantastic clubhouse bar and the best hospitality offering we've ever had, which is reflected in how popular it is amongst our fans. More importantly, we're no longer several metres away from the pitch because of a huge running track!

That does not mean Avery Fields does not have its limits. We have c. 350 temporary seats in place with no cover other than the balcony at the clubhouse, so the earlier months of the season presented a challenge in terms of encouraging fans to risk it with bad weather. The club recognise this however, and part of taking a 20 year lease was so that the club could work on slowly constructing a sustainable stadium that it's fans can be proud of.

In terms of places outside the ground, there are a number of pubs on Bearwood high street which is only five minutes away. The Craft Inn and The Midland are probably the ones we would recommend travelling fans give a try! 

Finally, and possibly most importantly, what's your prediction for Sunday's game? (I would guess a Hurricanes win!)

I think it will be a close contest once again, but if the Canes come out of the blocks we should be able to get the job done. I'm calling it 26-16 for Midlands. 

Thanks again to Tom for his time and insight, here’s hoping for another hard-fought battle between the two sides and hopefully the two points coming back to Rochdale, see you there if you're travelling! 

If its a home draw where will it be played with Spotland unavailable?

Just watched the try highlights on Facebook.

The forwards were great and there is some real talent in the backs at Hornets. Hansen, Flannagan, Nixon, Paga, Boyd, Hickey, and two great warhorses in Sau and Ashton. 

I know we lost a lot of talent to other clubs splashing the cash, (One of them went out of business) but the board deserve massive wraps for sticking to their plans.

We should appreciate the talent whilst its here and encourage everyone we know, to get down and support the club and the graft that the management team are putting in.

But the real difference maker was the ref, Its been a long time since I have seen such bad calls. Lots of high tackles and swinging arms were overlooked.   Dewsbury scored from obvious offside positions. As well as dropping the ball in front of the ref, picking it back up and passing it to a player who scores. He's refereed other games for us and its been poor I wonder if Gary will be speaking to anyone behind the scenes about the quality of officials this year.