Heard a whisper that we will make another two signings, lets hope they are props.
If we did happen to add two (good) props to that squad we would be capable of finishing top 4-5 imo. Granted no worse than average luck with injuries.
we have assembled what I would call a very capable squad for next year , which could threaten for a playoff position, but we will not be able to take our foot off the pedal at any time.
I think that the fitness of our squad and the desire not to lose will play a significant part in our success or failure.
As mentioned, a bit more backup in the prop department will give our back rowers more freedom to play attacking rugby.
All in all, quietly confident .
Just reading about 4 West Banks Bears lads signing for Wigan Academies.
well done to them
such a shame that we have had to forego our Academy due to costs I believe.
that production line of local talent would really help in years to come IMO
heres hoping at some stage in the future it becomes viable again
Even when the club had an academy, the best Widnes lads ended up at Wigan and Saints anyway.
Would be interesting to know when Levy is likely to be in contention for our first team.
The lads look as if they are getting stuck in - best early start for years tbh!
Simon F has nowhere to hide, as of now. Last year was a bit of a free hit for him, and in my opinion he quite severely under achieved. He's been well backed financially by his board and us donating fans over the close season - if he doesn't look like getting top three or four after a few games then he is not fit for this job and should be changed sooner rather than later.
Admittedly we should be looking to win 4 of the first 5 games given the fixtures, we should have a good indication of how the season will pan out by the end of April but you can't just sack the coach after 3 games on a whim without anyone lined up. Who do you think Widnes can realistically attract who would be any better? People always talk up Marshall but he didn't do anything at Salford and only lasted a year.
The coach can only do so much. Once the players cross the whitewash it's down to them. Yes the signings and fresh blood are encouraging and we should expect a better season than last year but we aren't promotion material and Leigh and Featherstone will likely beat us by a 20 to 30 point margin. We've signed some promising youngsters and players more hardened from Championship rugby but we only made one signing from a direct rival who they released due to a big injury and the others were picked up from mid-table or relegated sides. When you look at the league and where we fit, we don't have a divine right to be third or fourth.
Looking at who finished above us last year plus Newcastle and York who you would class as "contenders" but that's 10 of the 14 clubs.
Leigh - Clearly better than us will finish 10 - 12 league points above us.
Fev - see above
Bradford - Bigger crowds, direct rivals
Halifax - Recruited well, would expect to win at home and lose away
Batley - Shouldn't be better than us, overachieved last year, benefit from big experienced forwards on a small sloping cabbage patch of a pitch, would expect them to be more like 8th or 9th this year.
Whitehaven - Walmesley and Jouffret gone. Expect they will revert to the relegation dogfight or just above it.
London - Declining, lost loads of players in going PT. We should finish above them as they'll be mid-table at best.
York - People might not like it given the history of the clubs but they're on our level now and direct rivals.
Newcastle - Ambitious, full time so will always pick up some decent players. Building from a low base, looking for year on year improvement.
Given our recruitment, it's reasonable to expect us to finish above Batley, London and Whitehaven plus the "bottom 4" that would not be expected to challenge anywhere near the top half. Neither will we be anywhere near the top 2 so 3rd at best and 7th worst, but there will be little to choose between ourselves, Bradford, Halifax, York and Newcastle and those sides could finish in any order and may only be covered by four or five league points or less. The Bradford home game last season will hopefully be useful learning for those still at the club because we're going to have to learn how to win close games because the outcome of two or three games could determine whether we're third/fourth and have a "good" season or whether we're down in sixth/seventh and "disappointing".
I've got it as 8 teams competing for the top six as well, I would include Batley as they acheived their position on merit last year, don't look to have a notably weaker squad and will still have a signifcant home advantage on "that" pitch.
Agree about Leigh and Fev being beyond our reach in all likelihood and think Halifax might well finish third given the quality of their recruitment. Also agree that Whitehaven and London should not be a threat. We should definitely be in the scrap for the playoffs and top six is not beyond our capabilities. As always injuries will play a big part for us and other similar teams in a tightly contested league. Looking forward to what should be a more absorbing season than last year. I don't expect to have written off the playoffs after a handful of games this time round.The early fixtures are quite favourable and we have to be ready to hit the ground running and I'd agree 4 wins out of 5 would be a realistic target.
That being said, last year we were thinking 2 or 3 from 3 at the start v Newcastle, Batley and Dewsbury!
I'm hopeful after the Halifax and Bradford games in the last 6 weeks of the season plus the signings we will be 5/6th which will be acceptable improvement.
Much will depend on just how our new recruits respond.
We have acquired players from sides that didn't achieve as teams. The individuals that we signed were recognised as the 'best' of those sides but they need to gel with our new squad and respond at a higher level, particularly in defence.
Last season we defended well, at times, but silly unaccountable lapses in concentration resulted in opposition tries and our defeat. Simon will no doubt aim to eradicate the lapses.
I think that we should be hopeful that the energy and determination of our new players will fill the gaps that we saw last season. Looks like Bob Beswick is pressing for real fitness and that will be a must, plus we have a much deeper squad than last season to cover injuries.
As it stands we have young coaches and players all wanting to impress and achieve and that has to be a good position to be in.
They will certainly have supporters hungry for success!!!!
I think we have only signed two players (Levy Nzoungou and Matty Fozard) from teams who finished above us in the Championship and none from SL but am cautiously optimistic that the approach of signing youngish players with something to prove from "lesser" club will be more effective than might be assumed from the names themselves. We have certainly got a lot more from the likes of Deon Cross (Barrow) and Kenny Baker (North Wales) than we have from some of the players dropping down from SL to join us recently. I guess by mid season we will know whether the squad has been shrewdly assembled or not.
Interesting that Simon's interview with the LE says that the squad and staff all agreed to up the ante by training four days per week and started earlier than ever before. Good indication of intent.
Also states that injuries carried over will all be fit for start of the season. That presumably includes Levy.
If the statement is taken literally it should also include Logan Tomkins! Can’t say I’m confident on that score mind.
@mt It's weird situation with us having a few hookers on the books it would suggest that Tompkins will not play but there is no clarity from the club yet that's what was promised from the start.
I am quietly confident given a good start and low injuries.
realistically the only lose should be away at fax in the first 5, but they were not that good last season
leigh and fev to me are the major dangers, but we give fev a good run last year so you never know