Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 1:09 pm  

Our chairman thinks we can do it.
We have a new coach and half backs.
We have a settled squad.
The players know each other well. They have been together for a while now.
With Paul Royston(sp) the fitness of the players will be very good.

Now taking all of that into account, can we win promotion straight away?

Who do you think will be the strong teams in this division?

Where you place us in this league at the end of the year?

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:22 pm  

In the words of Bob the Builder and Barack Obama....

YES WE CAN!

In my opinion the division is far weaker than when we were last in it. No Dewsbury, Hunslet and York, they all beat us the last time we were here.

Whitehaven, Doncaster and Gateshead, with respect to their fans aren't as strong as the 3 that have gone up since we were here last.

That's why I think we'll win the league, with maybe a couple of defeats along the way.

I hope so anyway, my sister gets married at the end of September so I'll miss the end of the playoffs.

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 3:56 pm  

If we underestimate this division we might be in for a rude shock.

For me, its the distance teams will have to cover for away travel that gives an unknown. Some cope well, others don't.

We need to win our home games to bring back supporters, but we won't get promotion unless we can cope with the travel ourselves.

I think Swinton will be a major threat.

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 4:35 pm  

I think the hard games will be Oldham, Rochdale, Whitehaven and South Wales.

But they are all games we should be winning.

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 5:17 pm  

Swinton are your biggest threat imo

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 7:57 pm  

Yes of course we can, way I see it is apart from the fact the majority of squad have been together a while and JD the player/coach is new all players have to prove themselves all over again which can only be good. I see the biggest threats to be Workington as I think they have recruited well. Oldham and Swinton will be in the mix and on any given day from top to bottom any team can beat each other, a major factor will be fitness and it was clear last year we had a very fit team and this is in part due to Paul Royston and the players responded well. If we can play as I feel we must with same intensity as last year no team will relish playing the Cougars, just hope I am right.

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:08 pm  

Every game has to be a winner, we have never to take any of the teams for granted

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sun Jan 02, 2011 12:04 am  

I think Keighley can win it yes

Lets start on the positive, We have a great pack, last season it was good and could compete with most teams in that area and I think this season it might just be as strong if not stronger in a weaker divison and with Simpson signing Id say its possibly slightly stronger, so Id say by far our pack is the strongest in that league were in

However With Jones and Presley id have said wede be certainly easy faves as it would be the best half back partnership too but there gone and especialy in Jones we have lost our best player full stop. Andd with no dispect to the likes of Smith who has been brought in I think we are poor in this position and with the club chasing good players such as Hemmingway and Roden it shows it was felt we were week there. I also feel alough we have lots of depth in the outside backs we were exposed last season the back 3 making countless errors ect and centres without finess it levaes many questions

I hope JD has some leaway to bring in at least 1 player and if he can make it a decent back or half back then Id back us but we desperately need to replace Jones with a player of his quality

I think like some have said the divison on a whole is weaker now. Gateshead, Whitehaven n Donny are all still recoverring for near extinction so can see too much threats there. London are well still London so those 4 I dont see much threat in terms of the overall table but musnt be underestimated


South Wales impressed me last season and I feel given a years experince they will be a decent outfit

Rochdale and Workington are slowly improving and will be good sides, Workinton have signing up some of the cream of the Whitehaven team fromlast season who then were still a handy team

Then the main threats Oldham who have been a contender in this league for some time will be there abouts again without doubt and Swinton who if there new team can gel will be the biggest threat I feel with signings such as Smith & Dodd from Widnes, Young Ashall from Saints, Forber from Blackpool with players suhc as Watson, Gallagher, Joseph, Morrion they have a well balanced side and will be a big force

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sun Jan 02, 2011 8:58 am  

If the players have maintained last season's fitness, I can see us winning a number of our games in the last ten - fifteen minutes or so. If that's the case, there could be some exciting games down at Cougar Park!

Re: Promotion can we do it? : Sun Jan 02, 2011 10:01 am  

The half-Back problem will be solved if JD plays there. He played a couple of games at half-back for Wakefield last year, so he may decide that is where he wants to be to control the team.