Start to the season will be crucial.
If we aren't looking good for Top 6 around Easter then they may have a decision to make.
I get the comments about us not having a God given right to be anywhere, but given the fact we will have higher crowds than most and the VIQI £120k, poor recruitment/coaching would be the reason why we fail more than anything.
Start to the season will be crucial. If we aren’t looking good for Top 6 around Easter then they may have a decision to make. I get the comments about us not having a God given right to be anywhere, but given the fact we will have higher crowds than most and the VIQI £120k, poor recruitment/coaching would be the reason why we fail more than anything.
You're right about the god given right comments, but don't think there is a problem in the expectation levels being higher at Widnes than at some other clubs in the league. The financial outlay at Widnes will surely be higher than most and no-one questions the expectations at certain clubs in the round ball game (although again it never guarantees success)
Start to the season will be crucial. If we aren’t looking good for Top 6 around Easter then they may have a decision to make. I get the comments about us not having a God given right to be anywhere, but given the fact we will have higher crowds than most and the VIQI £120k, poor recruitment/coaching would be the reason why we fail more than anything.
You’re right about the god given right comments, but don’t think there is a problem in the expectation levels being higher at Widnes than at some other clubs in the league. The financial outlay at Widnes will surely be higher than most and no-one questions the expectations at certain clubs in the round ball game (although again it never guarantees success)
Thr financial outlay will be higher at Leigh, and Newcastle and Bradford and probably Featherstone. We need to be smart - a whole lot smarter than we were last year - and in particular we need to be careful about buying players who are injury prone - just like the lad from Bradford ;(
We should stop looking at the past - those days are long gone. We need to look at where we are now, where we want to be in 2 or 3 years and what we need (as opposed to wish for) to get to our goals.
For me - top 6 and the play-offs will give us a lift and a base to build on for the next season.
Well, so far we have three energetic and promising young props, four if you include Will. The injury, I hope, has been checked out and should be just a time/recovery rate thing.
Looking at the ages of the props I hope that we will have a couple of seasoned (not over the hill) additions to steady the ship.
Next has to be concentration on fitness and conditioning to be ready for the kick off.
Whatever, we are in better shape than we were last year at the same time. If we can establish a high and consistent performance level that would be a bonus.
Props, or middles, as they are now called, do not appear from nowhere. Our heroes, Jim Mills, Kurt, Joe Grima, Bill Ramsey etc didn't arrive until they were around the 30+ mark. Different game now but resiliant old heads and young guns is the way forward.
Props, or middles, as they are now called, do not appear from nowhere. Our heroes, Jim Mills, Kurt, Joe Grima, Bill Ramsey etc didn’t arrive until they were around the 30+ mark. Different game now but resiliant old heads and young guns is the way forward.
Absolutely Steely, we were certainly a better looking outfit with Clough on the field and a couple of similar replacements, with energetic youngsters alongside, should give us a pretty good base.
Just finding the older heads is the trick - Kear is still hanging on to his!!!
I’d say move for John Duffy or Richard Marshall if they’re still available next year if Simon fails to reach 6th place+
I’d say move for John Duffy or Richard Marshall if they’re still available next year if Simon fails to reach 6th place+
What has Duffy got to offer? He did nothing at Leigh, with all the money spent by Beaumont. Halifax have played better since Marshall left and he has not pulled up any trees at Salford.
A bit early anyway to be talking about Finnegan's replacement.
You never know, this time next year we may be bemoaning the fact that we didn't tie Finnegan down to a three year contract, as he leaves to join a SL club!!!