Expectations for 2025

I like your optimism but I think we will do well to match last years position of 5th. Bradford look very strong, Featherstone, York, Oldham & Doncaster are not far behind with very strong recruitment better than us.

Although they have reduced funding of an unknown amount I suspect Toulouse will not be that far off. London are hard to predict as are Sheffield without Aston at the helm.

I expect Hunslet to really struggle with Barrow & Halifax not far behind.

The final placings will be subject to which sides cope best with injuries which cannot be predicted but favours those with larger squads.

So around 5th or 6th looks realistic to me.

I just hope we win more games at home to help boost the home gates which is most important. We cannot hope to sustain improvement year on year with only 1,900 average attendance that we got last year. As discussed many times it is unlikely we can ever attract a big financial backer due to not owning our own ground.

I am expecting the same commitment as last year from the players with Coleman behind them. So I am very much looking forward to the new season  but tempering it with a dose of realism. 

Come On You Vikings!

The new season could become something of a test between teams like ours with established Championship players with talent and flexibility testing themselves against ex SL specialist more costly options.

The big test is just how promotion/demotion can be decided (or rejected!). Clubs may have committed big budgets to chase a non-achievable dream.

I will be happy if we go another stage better than last year and play good rugby tbh!!!

I think 5th/6th is still the target at this stage. As mentioned others have recruited better with greater financial backing

if I’m right, from listening to James and Mike on the podcast, this year the championship moves to NRL like top 8 playoffs where there’s ‘elimination finals’ etc. i hope this won’t be a ‘as long as we scrape into the top 8’ type of thing as we should be aiming for a regular top 4/5 finish in my opinion.

I’d like to enjoy going games as I did last year. No blow out losses, good competitive exciting rugby, winning more than we lose will do me

My expectations top 6 looking at the other clubs squads. It will also depend how we fair with injuries and a decent partnership with Warrington and Leigh for dual and loan players when required. If other clubs suffer injuries it could change there season too.Fingers crossed we get luckier than last season with injuries as I can not see it being as bad this time. Plus I feel depends on the fitness of our players, which could make a difference too. Top 4 is possible though with good team spirit.

Expectations should always be higher than last years performance otherwise pack it in

i am hopeful for a top 3/4 finish, we have a capable squad and the fixture list may help - one of the hardest games for us has been Toulouse away, but we play them early doors when they are susceptible to being beaten due to lack of games

we will have had 2 warm up games and a competitive game against the hornets under our belt by then - weather dependant of course (you can’t beat this summer rugby )

Noticed an announcement on YouTube about NRL clubs taking over SL clubs next year! Not read it yet but I suppose that it could widen the NRL talent pool with SL clubs being used like they used the Championship!!!

That rumour has been going for ages, don't think there's anything in it. The NRL couldn't care less for SL apart from a few elite players.

As for 2025, I think top 6 is the aim again. I think the middle of the league will be stronger this year so, likely, more tough games. It's a competitive league this, most teams can beat the others.

The aim is to 'better' last season. The end.

Paulie xx

The aim is. But it isn't always realistic, or achievable. And not achieving it doesn't indicate failure because other factors change.

There are more teams this year recruiting more heavily than us. If it works for them, they'll be challengers. And there'll be more of them.

Based on recruitment in terms of our own and other teams I would be happy with the same as last season. 5th or 6th place. I don't think we will make the top 3.

It would be different if we could bring in 2 or 3 players of real quality to both enhance the first choice 17 and give the squad more depth. But that comes down to finances and with no chance of promotion, it's better to operate within your means.

As long as we are competitive like last season and don't suffer any blow out scores, that's the main thing. In terms of building the fan base we obviously need to win as many home games as possible. 

Well our pack is stronger at the start of the season and we should have carried over the defensive system, so that might count in our favour. Generally our tries come from good passing moves, well known but pretty slick.

Wayne Bennet always argues that you can't carry over what you have achieved from year to year - you have to start again and re-learn. But what does he know!!!!????

Not conceding blow out scorelines is quite a low bar to set and certainly not the main thing.I think the first choice 17 should be good enough for at least 5th place again but it's the strength in reserve that is a concern,once the usual injuries kick in.

So we are all competing harder for a share of a reducing Championship prize!

Priority for us atm is to strengthen the club's financial base and crowd figures while competing hard for honours.