@vikingfox71 I'd probably add Sheffield to that....and almost certainly Oldham ...while I'm not unhappy with our recruitment I think there's a few that have more than trumped us .....how we didn't go in for Jaime Pye that's rocked up at Rochdale I'll never know.....young prop that was at Salford ... outstanding in his loan at barrow and a massive unit ....ticked all the boxes for me and perfectly fit into the profile the club looks to sign ....oh yeah I forgot we've got benty to play there  😳

@cumbria-viking I agree. Unless we sign at least one more  very good prop at this level I fear for us. In my eyes we have 3 specialist props at present which is not enough. We need to have a similar quality of prop replacing those that are substituted. In most games last year when Murray went off the opposition became more prominent.

With our current squad we will struggle to finish in the top 4 or 5 especially with us playing harder fixtures compared to useful sides like Crusaders, Barrow  Sheffield & London. I see Doncaster & Oldham are recruiting stronger than us too. 

How many years do we say same things ? Recruitment average and Doncaster beat us with 11 yet they strengthen much stronger than ourselves 

London 

oldham

sheff

doncaster 

so are we already playing for 5/6 in a league where the best teams have gone? 
that's not progress 

The prop situation year in year out is one that baffles me. The Championship is a slower more physical game. Props are absolutely essential to win the territory battle. Why don't we talk to them in December with a view to signing next season. I'm sure we will get 1 or 2 on board. But starting pre-season with 3 props in a 25 man squad, what was it they say about doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result 

Although you never know ...truth is you generally end up where you set your ambition levels ....I would say 5th is an achievable target anything above that I very much doubt ,and even that's on the proviso that a Goole or midlands don't finish above us because they'll predominantly be playing weak opposition....another season of play off bottom dwelling looks the most likely scenario...but then again this bunch could gel, get lucky with injuries and could hit that 4th ISH area 

That pye one aside, you do realise the players doncaster Sheff etc are signing are all YORKSHIRE based players. You know those ones that hate travelling over here for training.

@scouseviking55 wasn't saying we should have signed any that have gone to sheff or Donny just highlighting "on paper" there business is far more impressive ....we all know the ins and outs of money men but it is frustrating seeing teams with far less attendances year on year out totally out muscle us in the market

it's just unfortunate that some of these players want paying with actual cash instead of jelly babies and tracksuits that we must offer

this was a year that we could push win some games gain some interest but I actually believe we lack ambition another year of 5/6 th in this division and I dread how many fans we ll lose

Posted by: @vikingfox71

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so are we already playing for 5/6 in a league where the best teams have gone? 
that's not progress 

We simply have to finish top 4. Last season was poor in 7th, but take away York, Toulouse and Bradford and we finish 4th. Add to that Featherstone who finished above us have imploded with players not paid/signed for Sheffield, Donny and Bradford. Then Salford coming down are on the verge of being wound up and only have 5 players. 4th would actually be disappointing and a step backwards on that basis. 

We are Widnes with more fans than any other team in the league now Bradford are up. We need to shape up big time. 

Well we definitely need a big prop on our next signing and if not we are short in the prop department again. Does Coleman have a plan on loan for the prop position? I really do not want to see Lawton, Bent or Mcwhirter playing here. Bent a hard worker but hardly punches holes down the middle. We have Murray, Chapelhow and Bibby as established props. There is teams who may struggle already due to winding up orders such as Salford and Featherstone. Also what position are Halifax in financially too? Halifax squad is not very big and last year very lucky they did not have an injury crisis. I presume Sheffield have a money man, so once he gets fed up like the North Wales Crusaders Middle east man, who pulled the plug seeing small crowds? Possibly this is the person we are in contact with for Widnes? 

@dan1 yes Dan but London and Doncaster and sheff all finished below us and all have/are recruiting well

plus all those teams finished below us do have easier fixtures 

@begg Halifax will be a hard one to call ..made some decent signings in Myles Lawford..Darius carter ....but lost alot of players ...Brandon Douglas will be a huge miss ....also lost likes of woodburn hall , jouffret, tangata ..not sure they'll be as strong as last season

Is that dean lawfords son ?

@vikingfox71 it is mate