If the rumours about the reorganisation are correct there will be plenty to play for. Top six finish or effectively relegated to the third tier for 2023!
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If the rumours about the reorganisation are correct there will be plenty to play for. Top six finish or effectively relegated to the third tier for 2023!
Good for that I say.No going through the motions and settling for lower table but just high enough.
I’ve got no problem with it all as long as the rules are clearly set in place at the beginning of the season and we don’t kick off in a state of confusion because the authorities are still dithering about what to do.
I’m not a fan of the prospect of 10-team leagues but that’s a separate issue.
Does anyone actually trust the RFL and the top 4 clubs to do anything but look after themselves - or perhaps be led by the nose by Sky?
If they truly want a competitive SL - please change the name and re-brand - they need to ensure that there is a fairer distribution of funds between the two leagues. It is no good promoting clubs from an underfunded second division - why not call it the Championship as a competition in its own right - and then giving them the off-season to effectively re-build the squad.
I suspect that the end result will be a larger proportion of central funding for fewer clubs in the top division, with continuing underfunding in the lower divisions.
You would expect Widnes to be aiming for a top six finish anyway in 2022 and presumably this will be made clear in their planning for 2022.
We can all see that the situation is bad and that apart from a spell of about 3 or. 4 games mid-season we have been poor. We know we have a small squad and that we have been hampered by two or three players either not playing at all or having missed quite a bit of the season.
So, rather than saying it over and over again, what three things would people like to see done at the club between now and the start of next season. What three things would do most towards encouraging people to turn up next season ?
1) Recruit a balanced squad with more forwards, fewer outside backs and adequate cover for injuries in all positions.
2) Have a good pre-season so the players are ready to hit the ground running.
3) Build or strengthen relations with local amateur clubs to provide a pathway for players at local amateur clubs who may be good enough to transition to this level of RL.
I think the problem with 3 is there aren't really any local amateur clubs playing at a decent standard; which then lessens the possibility of getting any Championship/League 1 standard players from them.
Our street-cred is not high atm and we may well have to pay over the odds for players. If we have to that's what we have to do, but we need to get on with it!
Wakefield have already set out their stall with four new signings and thus set their benchmark. That is easier because they are assured of some SL cash.
As ever the RFL will be late with their decisions and funding will be the major factor. Of course from the LE the SL clubs aren't too happy with a 14 team league and will probably insist on their full cash allocation!
1. A clear plan and direction for 2022 in the implementation of the "4-year" plan to get back into SL, announced by Finney in 2018 - effectively, 2022 will be year-3 of the Plan.
2. A commitment to have a squad of at least 30 players; with early announcements of those leaving/retiring and, particularly whether or not Tomkins will be likely (defintitely) fit enough to play in 2022; and new signings, including a couple of experienced (and fit) props, a hooker, a scrum half and a centre and more as replacements for any that leave.
3. In the light of performances this year, to review the coaching set up to consider whether additional coaching support/fitness trainer is required. Finnegan to be retained, but any extension of his contract beyond 2022, be dependent on improvements on the field.
All of this depends on finances, but if the club re-builds the contact with the fans following the disruption of covid there is every hope that the hard core of fans will return for the 2022 season and beyond.
Perception is a big thing in terms of crowds.
I heard at least 3 different people last week describe this team as the worst they have ever seen when I was walking out of the ground at full time.
Whether or not that is true is immaterial, if that kind of message is going round town then people will need real convincing to come back.
So 1) Signings need to be made, we all know which positions are needed, ideally a 'name' amongst them although admittedly 'names' haven't necessarily worked well to date.
2) Is there scope for a more experienced Assistant Coach to work with SF?
3) Difficult on limited funds but try to have a good promotion/marketing impact in the run up to the new season.
Slightly unfair to hold him to account on a four-year plan that was determined prior to administration, a global pandemic and a cancelled season! Perhaps a more realistic question is about a new 2/3/4/5 year plan or whatever that might be.
While I understand people have question marks over Finnigan, I think it would be counter productive for the club to change coach again - given we have had five coaches in little over three years.
1) recruitment has to be more balanced we need to be carrying 6/7 able props and cut down on the amount of wingers and players back end of the squad who just don’t cut it as semi pro rugby players, I agree with what you say James the amateur game in the town isn’t great however hulme for me is a perfect example of a squad player from the amateur game who is more than suitable to make up the numbers in the squad I’m not saying there are loads out there but I’m sure there are a couple more than hulme even in the warrington or st Helen’s area which ain’t too far away who could make the step up to pad out the squad.
2)release some of these players who for a few years ain’t earned deals just been handed out cause they are young and from the town, the academy going is a shame and we all like home grown players making it however it does have a feel more often than not just cause you come through the system you automatically get a renewed deal without really doing anything to earn it.
3) a professional look to a pre season looking back last year it did have an unorganised feel to it looking in from the outside, corners cut none more so than pre season games, for me it’s no coincidence that the pre season looked poor and we look unfit and fall off a cliff in numerous second halfs not to mention how slow we started the season and it hasn’t really got much better.
for me if all 3 are done we will be much better off next year however as we all know if it happens that’s another matter.
I think the problem with 3 is there aren’t really any local amateur clubs playing at a decent standard; which then lessens the possibility of getting any Championship/League 1 standard players from them.
That's unfair.
Widnes Amateur Clubs are producing players maybe not as many as 30 years ago but they are producing players. The issue is that a lot of the outstanding young players chose to join our local rivals when we had an Academy and now that we don't have an Academy they will all join our local rivals. For example Widnes Amateur Clubs have the following Half Backs presently playing in Super League - Harry Smith, Lewis Dodd, Danny Richardson, Richie Myler, Chris Atkin, Gareth O'Brien. This matches anywhere in the country. The Local Academies and Scholarships have a heavy prescence of players produced by Widnes Amateur Clubs. This is without considering players produced by Amateur Clubs in surrounding towns for which Widnes is easily accesible.
The Club and its pathways has completely changed in the very recent past. The issue is adapting to that and going into 2021 we adapted poorly looking at our 2021 squad.
Slightly unfair to hold him to account on a four-year plan that was determined prior to administration, a global pandemic and a cancelled season! Perhaps a more realistic question is about a new 2/3/4/5 year plan or whatever that might be. While I understand people have question marks over Finnigan, I think it would be counter productive for the club to change coach again – given we have had five coaches in little over three years.
It was Finney who talked about a 4-year Plan from 2019 (not 2018) ie ignoring 2020, we will be going into the 3rd year of the Plan next year, but you are right, an update on any Forward Plan for the Club would be useful.
Widnes like everyone else has had to react to Covid and the mess that it has made. I think we may be forgetting that when Sheens signed up our 'experienced' forwards we thought that it was a pretty good start. Even if he had stayed they would have been awol just the same. To me it sends a message that old lags are sometimes just that and should be treated with caution (its long time since Amor was ripping up trees!)
TS would almost certainly have demanded replacements. Whether he would have got them is in doubt!
I guess most of us understood the careful approach that the board has taken. The spectre of Administration makes an impression, but at some point decisions have to be made, some of which may be a leap into the dark. It may be trusting the VIQI backing as support in case of problems and I could go with that, pending the SL eventually telling us just how much we might get.