Its an internet forum not an A level English exam. The odd typo doesnt really matter does it.

Nothing wrong with giving it a go. But if your going to do something do it right. Instead of it being seen as a good marketing push to get a big crowd, its just made us a laughing stock again. Oh and we need an extra 1300 people though the gates now to break the record that the club hadnt previously accounted for. Not a chance we get close to 9000 on Sunday.

Having watched both our trial games and noting the generally upbeat feel about the place, I am going with a 14-10 loss and a crowd of just over 3k.

I'm mildly optimistic that we will improve on last year but let's not get carried away with ourselves. There is still some gaps in the squad and we will be reliant on Leeds to pad the squad out when injuries hit.

I'll admit I'm very much a fair weather supporter nowadays and to be honest visiting Odsal in Feb after an expensive winter isn't high on my to-do list. I assume the club must be confident of a high percentage of the free kids tickets being used. I'd be very surprised if some folk aren't also waiting to see whether genuine changes in attitude and style of rugby have occurred before shelling out.

Conceeding from a looping pass intercepted by Whitehaven winger with 2 minutes on the clock.

In all seriousness, I understand the club have worked hard to engage with local schools and handed out a lot of free season tickets to kids. This is to be applauded in terms of trying to grow the supporter base.

But does that mean we face a season of social media ridicule when we announce crowds of 6 or 7k when there will quite likely be nowhere near that many in the ground?

Well they have suggested 15,000 free kids season tickets have been given out.

A lot of clubs count season ticket holders regardless of whether they turn up or not. I look forward to 18,500 being announced on Sunday… I might get there earlier so I don’t lose my regular standing spot.

Going for a record crowd in January at Odsal is certainly a bold move. At the moment the forecast doesn't look so bad but we all know about the micro-climate.

Dunning is now saying it's likely Lawrence will play which is good news. No sign of Appo's visa yet. The word "phoenix" keeps springing to mind for some reason

One thing I will say is that section in the TnA is taken from an interview last week so take with a pinch of salt

Don't worry, I've taken many pinches of salt in the last 10+ years.

If we're expecting a big crowd on Sunday I hope the club will open a few more turnstiles than they usually do. It's really frustrating to turn up to massive queues and only 2 turnstiles open. That's a great way to p*ss people off before the season has even started.

Agree 100%. Thankfully the club have decided to go for it February instead

I was just going to enter pedant mode too!

Yes, I have since seen the 15k figure - I had 5k in my head for some reason. Well it remains to be seen how many actually use the ticket but I would guess the majority won't. So to count those would be farcical.

I did actually ask this of the club when I got my season ticket this morning. They can only count those season tickets who’ve booked on, apparently that figure is around 2000 from the 15000

2000 season tickets after all the poop over the last ten years is still some feat. Looking forward to freezing mi thruppennies off on Sunday. First time in ages I've looked forward to the opening game!

Don't forget your floor wipes and kitchen roll if you are in the stands! Don't want those shiny new white jerseys stained red so soon...

I've been to the last two home games against Haven and came away either disgusted or dejected both times. So I'm afraid I won't be coming to this one. They are entitled to think they've got us sussed out, but I sincerely hope a cultural change will see us send them back home with nowt this time.

Agree Pumpety I went to last years Haven game and came away at Halftime.. The first time since 1993 I have left early.
Took turd to a new level. hopefully we give them one in the eye for that as their supporters infront of us were very vocal rubbing salt in the wounds.

Well, last season we stank the place out, week after week, so you’d have to hope this year will be better. I’m predicting that we will scrape into the playoffs.
However, I should point out that some of my previous predictions have included John Selwyn Gummer would become Prime Minister and Blazing Squad would be bigger than the Beatles. So…..

That final game against them we had no spine in the side in more ways than one. I've a feeling that's changed but we've had good pre-seasons before that have come to nothing (last year was one). I want to see how we go on a freezing wet day at Odsal before making any bold predictions. Remember last year we smashed Dewsbury away and all looked good only to follow it up with an awful performance at home to Sheffield. It was the Sheffield game that set the standard unfortunately.

Agreed. Whilst not taking Whitehaven likely, I think it will be the York game where we truly see if anythings changed. If we beat Haven then stink the place out against York then its exactly the same as last year with Dewsbury/Sheffield.

First let's start with Whitehaven and see how we go when the going gets tough.

My team would be:

Walker
Blackmore
Arundel
Gill
Foggin-Johnston
Patton
Holmes
Lawrence
Lilley
Foster
Wallace
Butler
Thompson

Flanagan Sr.
Baldwinson
Johnson
Rodgers

Tough call on Flanagan Sr or Roby. Either would do for me but picked Flanagan based on the energy he brings when he comes on from the bench.

I'd go with that 17 as well. I would like to see Lawford given a chance but Patton will most likely start ahead of him. GF Sr gets the nod ahead of Roby as well as he'll bring a spark from the bench. I'm really looking forward to the game!

Think I would have England on bench rather than 3 props bit apart from that a pretty much spot on.

I believe that England is carrying a slight rib injury and MD mentioned he would be assessed closer to Sunday. No point risking him this early in the season.