Re: So...... 2020 B&W predictions : Tue Nov 05, 2019 7:35 pm
There have been 22 Grand Finals in the SL era I think. Of the 44 participants, 41 (93%) have been clubs of a size that means they don't get accounts exemptions like we do, ie they have greater resources - turnover/assets/employees - specifically Leeds, Saints, Wigan, Warrington and Bradford. The other 3 are us, Cas and Salford who are all "small" companies. To reach a GF for a club like ours is exceptional, hence the media fairytale narrative of Salford this year. To "expect" us to do so? Well, you can understand how accusations of arrogance from other clubs' fans would arise. There are 4 clubs justifiably ahead of us in the queue from an expectations perspective, and all have benefactors of considerable personal wealth. We have a good fanbase but this is disproportionately important to us, as we have neither their size, nor the benefactor model of Huddersfield or Rovers.
I am looking forward to this season - we have a good squad particularly in the back row, and 3 decent halves. We are missing a Walmsley type prop however and I am concerned about Kelly's fitness with his concussion challenges. I see us as the bookies do - in the pack with Leeds, Catalans and Castleford but not in the top banding with Saints, Wigan and Warrington.
