2019 : Sun Sep 30, 2018 8:24 am  

Well last years ‘old news’ a new season to come, season tickets on sale Matagi here, Hinchcliffe gone and Ikahihifo offered to other clubs.

Great comeback to avoid the qualifying lottery but even with a positive glow still around despite five defeats on the bounce will I get my season ticket?

Probably, I have done for more years than I can remember but this year I’m going to wait and see what the squad will be as it’s all a bit strange our best forward is on offer, a quality winger we are supposed to have signed months ago not announced and players like the useless Walne to return.

Rumours of a marque signing, Bumper signed though a big positive but you need quality to work with and we have some better youngsters than some of the ‘tail end Charlies’ in the Senior squad.

Not been negative but now the season is finished it would be nice to see plans taking shape as we are still three senior decent players short of having a squad that will offer a chance of improving on this years 6th place.

Re: 2019 : Sun Sep 30, 2018 9:59 am  

already bought my season ticket for 2019, £139 bargain!

a good pre season under woolford and a decent start this time , been chasing our tails and been under too much pressure last few season with bad starts/injuries

some really good youngsters coming through

we do need to sort out our half back and full back combos though, not really nailed them yet

hopefully the ikahihifo rumour is rubbish as we lack size as it is!!

also hope uate signing announced soon, be great to see such a star player down at the john smiths along with mcgillvary

Re: 2019 : Sun Sep 30, 2018 1:46 pm  

Im very much looking forward to next season.

The addition of Uate and full pre seasons for Jake Wardle and the Senior twins will mean we have great depth in the back line. Mamo wont be a miss.

Another pre season for Matty English and Colton Roche will see them improve.

Possibly see Jordan Turner move into the LF role.

We need to get rid of the likes of Adam Walne, Possibly Colton Roche (although was impressed with him v Wigan) and 1 of Ferguson(injury prone) or Smith to allow us to bring in a quality 2nd row forward.

The following players need to go out on loan:

Sam Hewitt - League 1
Jon Luke Kirby - League 1
Tyler Dickinson - Championship season long loan similar to Sam Wood or possibly move on permanently.
Izaac Farrell - Championship loan if true that we have re signed him or move him on permanently.

Rumors of potentially losing Seb and bringing in a marquee signing.

I still think we need:

A new half like Jackson Hastings, A 2nd rower with some size and a new prop (if seb leaves)

I do feel a top 4 finish is definitely possible with another couple of additions to the squad. If we get a new half and another 2nd row, providing Seb stays then we can definitely challenge.

Re: 2019 : Sun Sep 30, 2018 4:24 pm  

To me £139 for a season card is an absolute no brainer and I cannot understand why anyone who bought a season card for last season would not renew for 2019.
Admittedly at the start of last season the results and quality of rugby under Rick Stone was awful.... I appreciate that we had more than our fair share of injuries, but I believe if we had continued with Stone we would have been relegated!
The change around in fortunes since Woolford has been incredible (despite losing our last 5 games) when 4th place was realistically gone. When we had our 1st choice team playing we were looking good, as results proved we beat Saints and Cas away and Wigan at home!
With a full pre-season under Woolford and a few possible new recruits (although there will be some departures - a big gap left by Hinchliffes retirement and a few others that I wouldn't be too concerned about) I am pretty optimistic that we will have a decent season and a top 5 finish a real possibility!