Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:09 pm  

I gotta admit I do scratch my head a little at some of these recent posts about Steve Price being shown the door, the negativity and dismissive nature of what we’ve achieved, and the the overall expectations.

When you realise where we’ve come from, and that someone like myself waited the best part of 30 yeas to see Warrington win major silverware, for us to have now had the privilege of watching Warrington win the Challenge Cup 4 times and get to 4 Grand Finals in recent years.

I’m mystified at how some supporters are so dismissive of the incredible win at Wembley this season by saying it is in the past.

We really should be cherishing every moment, as we never know if and when we will win another. Yes, the league form has been woeful, and there is a lot of money being invested in the club. However, we have no devine right to expect silverware that always, always has to be earned.

Support in my view also goes beyond what happens on the pitch. Look at the amazing players we’ve seen wear the primrose and blue over the years, how people’s faces light up when they get to meet them, how hard and physical the game is, that you can visit the stadium, the youth investment, the womens and girls teams, and all the charity work.

Even if we lose in the playoffs Steve Price stays for me. Just look at the passion the man showed after winning at Wembley. The fact that under his tenure we got to every final, that we won at Wembley when no one gave us a cat in hells chance - even our own supporters (kudos to Duckie though!). That we’ve not had an effective half back partnership this season.

Give him a chance for what he’s achieved, get behind him and the team and see what the future holds - without demands or expectations.

Please, enjoy what we have, treasure what we have achieved, have faith in what we hope to achieve, and no matter what always follow the team you love with pride - and be so bloody appreciative.

As many clubs are still waiting for a glimpse of what we’ve had!

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:20 pm  

It’s a good post, do you work at the club. Everything you say is pretty true and we should be grateful for what we have done since 09 BUT the thing is now we are a bunch of fans that have now come to expect the Crown Jewels.

I’m of the era that knew we were crap and never expected anything when we won it was the best day ever especially against Wigan. But times have changed and people want it all now.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 1:42 pm  

I'm sorry but I find that attitude is half the problem with our club. Correct, we have no divine right to win things but it's not asking the earth to be able to compete for GFs in the same way our provincial town neighbours in Wigan and Saints do.

Just because we were poor for 30 years doesn't mean we should lower our ambition now we are on equal footing financially with the real top clubs.

The 2nd half of the league season form has been nothing short of a disgrace (relegation form) and Price will count himself lucky that the cup win will buy him some time. The attitude among the players stinks - turning it on for big games.

But the problem is more than Price. The fact is that with the investment this club has had and the resources are at it's disposal Warrington should have won a GF in the last 10 years. It's been the stated objective for 10 years and so far the clubs custodians have failed to have the correct team (coaching and players) in place to deliver it. Our rivals in Saints, Wigan and Leeds have all won in that time frame - and surely you've got to ask "Why haven't we?" instead of "When will we?".

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 4:02 pm  

Regardless of the trophies the performances this year have been atrocious except for a handful of games earlier in the season and the cup games. I don't expect us to reach finals and wi trophies but I expect more entertainment than we have been served up this season. We have looked absolutely clueless so often and our discipline has been a massive problem.

At the start of the season (and all last season) I felt that we were building something and the team was getting stronger, this year I feel that all of that has fallen to pieces. Yes I'm absolutely delighted with the cup win, it was unexpected to say the least given how terrible we have been. That's part of my problem though, we shouldn't have been going in to that game against saints as such massive underdogs with the squad we have at our disposal. We were massive underdogs because of our atrocious, ineffective playing the style and the worst form in the league. If we had lost I think price would have gone. Even if we win the grand final, lose the first few games next season, coupled with a drop in season tickets, which I would expect after this rubbish and price will be gone early. I just can't understand the reluctance to play any other way than what is currently seeing us look uncompetitive most weeks.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 4:35 pm  

We have not been that convincing all season in games we have won but,luckily, many of our rivals were even worse which made our results & early performances look better than they really were ,but we did manage to create a big gap between 2nd & 3rd league positions ,although lagging ever further behind Saints. The problems seem to have been highlighted by other clubs improving as the season went on whereas we have seemed to get worse or at least not improve as the season has marched on.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 4:53 pm  

ninearches wrote:

We have not been that convincing all season in games we have won but,luckily, many of our rivals were even worse which made our results & early performances look better than they really were ,but we did manage to create a big gap between 2nd & 3rd league positions ,although lagging ever further behind Saints. The problems seem to have been highlighted by other clubs improving as the season went on whereas we have seemed to get worse or at least not improve as the season has marched on.

I said pretty much this in an earlier post. I’m not sure if people are choosing to ignore it or just don’t see it.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 5:05 pm  

I don't agree with either of you.
Perhaps it's a mental thing with the Challenge Cup....but you don't forget how to ride a bike!

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 5:14 pm  

We shouldn't be playing like we have been the last couple of months with the players we have.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 5:21 pm  

TF and the wire wrote:

We shouldn't be playing like we have been the last couple of months with the players we have.

Someone gets it.
Yes I agree. And as I keep 'shooting my mouth off' about...is that we have the ability...we are better than any team in SL.
The only question to me...is why?
Why are we getting beaten by teams that aren't as strong as ourselves.
It's not cocksure....it's a bonified fact...when it mattered...we didn't just beat our nearest league rivals...we smashed them. So why...and for any one who want's to reply, don't be giving me that 'form' bollox as an excuse.

Re: Support isn’t just about winning : Sun Sep 15, 2019 5:26 pm  

Last year Steve Price said he wanted a resilient team and, after a slow start, our defence and teamwork did improve and we thought progress was happening. Like everyone else have to agree our play for most of this year has been pretty boring lacking in breaks, no runners, poor discipline and more errors than the opposition.
Losing Ratchford and Austin for a sizeable slice is partially responsible but it highlights the shortcomings we have in the rest of the squad to dictate and control play.
Having said all that, when it comes to big games, we have largely been successful ie Wigan in the Cup, Wigan at Magic, Hull in the semi and, of course, Saints on the final which surprised most of us.
While again I am not expecting it to happen, but if Price really does pull of a Grand Final win from this position, it will be a remarkable feat. Not that it excuses a lack of commitment in too many games this year.
Wane was criticised for boring rugby during the season and quite a few heavy losses but came up with the goods when it mattered. We have obvious weaknesses in the team so I am hoping for another coaching ‘masterclass’...or more likely my glass is just half full.