Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:00 pm  

I don't understand people sing we won't win anything, it's not like we're Cas or Salford. Our starting 13 should be competing every week, and we've actually got some decent squad depth. Granted, not players you'd want to have to rely on for a chunk of the season. But inherit injuries will play a huge part, and Wigan have the WCC of course, which could knock them off the pace for a while. Our signings are as good as anyone's and we have the strongest spine for a long time. If lady luck has decided to smile on us, we should be in thr mix. And it's not like SL is the highest quality it's ever been. Hopefully last season taught Rohan a lot, and he uses that this season. He's still a young coach, but has shown signs of having the attributes to be successful. There's chinks in all the teams, so I'm pretty optimistic

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:04 pm  

Manheim wrote:

Top 4 and enjoy watching the game and all players trying all the time.
Don’t mind drop balls or brain explosions.
Want to be jumping out of my seat and having fun rather than going and getting bored.

We not guaranteed to win any match, but we should this year be a lot more competitive and entertaining.
Like you i want to be excited by the brand of rugby we play and yes i do want us to win every game, but that isn't going to happen.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:46 pm  

D4mo78 wrote:

I don't understand people sing we won't win anything, it's not like we're Cas or Salford. Our starting 13 should be competing every week, and we've actually got some decent squad depth. Granted, not players you'd want to have to rely on for a chunk of the season. But inherit injuries will play a huge part, and Wigan have the WCC of course, which could knock them off the pace for a while. Our signings are as good as anyone's and we have the strongest spine for a long time. If lady luck has decided to smile on us, we should be in thr mix. And it's not like SL is the highest quality it's ever been. Hopefully last season taught Rohan a lot, and he uses that this season. He's still a young coach, but has shown signs of having the attributes to be successful. There's chinks in all the teams, so I'm pretty optimistic

We definitely need some luck with injuries, and let's be honest we are due some. If the spine can avoid long term absence and the pack can perform well as a unit I think we can finish as high as third. Realistically I think 5th is more likely.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:05 pm  

We lost a fair few narrow games last year before dummies got spit by some players and the wheels fell off.

At this level the small margins make a big difference. Even beating HKR in that friendly - could have seen us losing that last year.

We should be in the mix for finals and trophies this season. Wigan do look quality and with a good coach. I do think we can rattle their cage with this team though.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Mon Feb 12, 2024 9:07 pm  

Given the spend and revamp we should be aiming for top four with room to spare. We were competitive with sts and Wigan for most of last year with an awful spine. But we lost a lot of other games. That needs to change.
Injuries may intervene but that's true for everyone.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Feb 13, 2024 12:37 am  

Think it’s wide open this year. I don’t think Wigan as good as people reckon. Saints not as strong either as recent years. We should be right in the mix. Anything else would be a poor season imho….

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Feb 13, 2024 7:54 am  

Wigan have a significant advantage squad wise in the pack over the other teams. Any long term injuries to Bevan French or Jai Field would negate that advantage.
Every team needs some luck with injuries and hopefully Leeds are due some.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Feb 13, 2024 9:46 am  

Loiner at large wrote:

Wigan have a significant advantage squad wise in the pack over the other teams. Any long term injuries to Bevan French or Jai Field would negate that advantage.
Every team needs some luck with injuries and hopefully Leeds are due some.

Don’t think it works like that!

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Feb 13, 2024 10:08 am  

Wigan appear to have no reserve backs and will be relying heavily on their academy (which I suspect is good) for any back injuries. If Wigan lost their 1, 6 and 7 like Leeds have in the past, then they will struggle.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Tue Feb 13, 2024 3:56 pm  

rugbyleague88 wrote:

Wigan appear to have no reserve backs and will be relying heavily on their academy (which I suspect is good) for any back injuries. If Wigan lost their 1, 6 and 7 like Leeds have in the past, then they will struggle.

Avoiding injuries to the half backs and full back is a massive factor in any season. French and Smith didn’t miss a game last year and Field missed very few. At Saints Welsby, Lomax and (I think) Dodd were ever present. I wouldn’t wish them bad luck because the sport desperately needs the stars to play. I just wish some of that luck could come our way.