Shifty Cat wrote:
It's funny this year that a couple of teams like Feath and Leigh in the past have splashed the cash and given it at crack but obviously IMG has changed a few owner's minds on whether it's worth it or if they can afford it again. Toulouse has a new owner making a bit of noise, so I don't know what they're spending atm. Anyway from my point of view and everyone on this board hopefully with the new owner, coach, and experienced backing staff, plus the clear-out, and as you say more money spent than other teams,(can't say I've said that before) hopefully come to the end of the season it's all paid off.
But as you know and other sides have found out over the years, both in the Championship and also SL, splashing the cash isn't the be-all and end-all. Like what you did last year when you won the season easily but just didn't turn up in the one that mattered, that's all it takes for your money to have gone down the drain. With IMG coming in though it isn't everything that we win the comp, although the points would be a bonus, we just have to be up there in the league and the Cup.
The club officials at Fev knew last season it was now or never in terms of SL, and if promotion had been based on the regular season it would have paid off, but as you say in knockout games anything can happen. The IMG system is so unfavourable towards Fev that there's little point in making such a big financial push this year as even winning the Grand Final and the 1895 Cup would still leave us with zero chance of making SL.
Toulouse are not spending either, they lost their best player from last season Josh Ralph for financial reasons and still haven't replaced him at half back, they're a shadow of the side they were in 2021 when they were very good.
I'm not really sure where any opposition to Wakefield could come from this season, Bradford at least have the benefit of some continuity this year and might finish second by default unless York, who have made some good signings, finally come good. At the moment it looks like the weakest Championship since the pre-Toronto days and of course unlike previous years it's unlikely the play-offs will have much impact on who gets promoted.
