If anyone at Headingley was under any illusions as to how far off the pace this squad is, finishing eighth should remedy that. That's including loop games against London and Hull, one of which we managed to lose which at least saw the end of Rohan's time as coach. We won one game against the top three all year (against a tired Wigan) and even in a bad year for them Sts did us comfortably three times.
A tough off season, some good signings and change in approach will make a big enough difference for us to get into the play offs, but we have so much dead wood in the squad I can't see us really challenging next season. I know lots of people like to defend certain players, but based on this season's performances there are only about half a dozen players who are of the right quality or who couldn't be easily upgraded. I'm excluding the kids from that, I'm thinking first 17 when everyone's fit.
Frankly it doesn't help making signings like Ryan Hall. That was pre Blease and Arthur and was clearly a GH 'captain's call' based on some rationale other than playing ability. Nothing against Ryan, but it simply shouldn't have happened, and if anything signalled the need to bring in Blease that did.
