batleyrhino wrote:
Compete in every game, no quitting like we’ve seen in the last couple of years.
Blood more youngsters, to prepare them for the future.
Play to a structure, with attacking options, for a brand of rugby that excites the fans.
Prepare for 2020 much earlier than we have prepared for the next seasons in the last few years.
Thing is, it's hard to do all these things in a side that's regularly getting spanked. Blooding youngsters works best when they're joining a confident and winning core side I think. Otherwise they have suffocating pressure put upon them.
The club will talk about rebuilding etc. but don't buy it: the squad they're putting together won't be fully fledged for 2019, but they will absolutely be aiming to win silverware again. Crosby is a 50:50 "new" signing: but Lolohea, Hurrell, Merrin, McLelland (less so admittedly) will have a big bearing on performances. We're pretty much changing 1/3 of the starting team and have a new coach - everything is up in the air. Also expecting better input from Ward, Ferres, Peteru, (Watkins) and Oledzki, Walker and Smith are another year developed.
The squad was shot to sh|t from halfway through last season, a full pre-season will do everyone the world of good. I also think if we can put a pack together that goes forward consistently, we'll see much more from the hookers and halves.