I didn’t get to see the game last night, so won’t comment on it. The 2024 season overall was one that began with much optimism for improvement on the back of some improvement in the squad and a genuine good quality player in Brodie Croft. The rest of the recruitment was a mixed bag, but to RS credit, he did manage to shift a number of contracted players off the SC. This will need doing again for the 2025 season for us to make a significant step forwards.
As he season progressed, the style of play, and in particular the number of errors we made, meant it was going to be another long hard slog with little return. The lack of leadership, both on the field and in the dressing room condemned us to a death loop of same old same old, and rightly we removed the coach from his role. Putting him in charge was described at the time as the biggest decision in the clubs recent history and frankly it was one that GH got badly wrong. Again.
Bringing in Ian Blease, who then recruited BA however, was one that GH finally got right. We now have a coach that has the knowledge and experience to win the competition, but not with the squad he has at his disposal today. Highlights were difficult to find, the first half of the home game against Saints, the game against a tired Wigan at home, and running in points against probably the least committed Hull FC side I can ever remember. The emergence of some younger players, particularly Riley Lumb who has a big future ahead of him, has also been a positive.
Negatives are obvious, the lack of ability in the playing squad, which I cannot believe for a second represents good value for money (another one at GH’s door), and the lack of mental strength to play when tired without mistakes, along with a lack of leadership amongst the playing group. Together this means we will have to replace most of the current players over the next year or two.
With Blease and Arthur in charge, there is hope for the future, but the board must back them heavily with new playing blood of the right quality, or we will only advance a place or two on the table and miss a golden opportunity to jump forwards. My biggest doubt is if the board will do this, or if they will constrain the spend, repeat the cycle (but with a better coach) and we spend more years hanging around in this dead zone or 7/8/9th place.
It’s up to the board to show the fans that we should trust them again after a revolving door of 10 years or so of decline. Will they?
