Never heard of Leigh and Batley ??????
Try to get out more

I wouldn't even know which direction to set off in.

Aww bless. So you dont do away games

That penalty goal that supposedly never was, isn't conclusive on TV even trying the stop start it looks close to being inside the post, so it could look as if it missed from some angles if standing to the left of the posts from behind. None the Bulls players have said it was a wrong call by the Linesmen have they?
Jimmy I thought talked some sense for a change and though his thinking that whether you finish first or fourth is a bit contentious, he was part of the Bulls that started poorly finished 3rd then went on to win the 2005 GF, so he feels it can be done and also is taking pressure off the Team by not focusing solely on finishing 1st.

He does do top notch wind-ups

The penalty goal is a load of irrelevant balls, they have dwarf posts, the kick sailed a mile over them, the ref and touchies were happy it was legal so not even close to an issue.

What is an issue is when fans have become so downgraded that their issue with not beating Batley (no disrespect etc) is about whether a marginal kick was in, and not at the fact that we were unable to comfortably go on to beat a team like Batley in the first place. Yes I know it ain't the playoffs yet and no we don't want to peak too soon, but privately Lowes knows as well as we do that if we are to have any chance at all against SL teams then we need to look like a team a couple of classes above the likes of Batley. We didn't, we're not, and we NEED A FSCKING SCRUM HALF or we're done.

Steady on F A your starting to sound like M E, don't let the incessant frustration get to you!

⬆ What he said!!

There are coaches out there with a better tactical understanding of the game and game and man management. Lowes is lacking in those areas as well as lacking an ability to handle pressure or things not going his way

If it doesn't matter finishing 1st of 4th why am I bothering to spend the time and money turning up each week Mr Lowes? For the worlds longest preseason??? Its that kind of logic coupled with the current structure that will kill us if we stay in this league with the current structure. Fans wont stay with it in enough numbers for enough time to keep us full time.

Whilst I said at the time I wasn't convinced by appointing Jimmy, and hes done nothing yet to change my mind (getting to the mpg was, imho, the absolute minimum requirement last year and his squad management hamstrung us before a ball was kicked in that game)
I don't think its the right time to think about sacking Jimmy, we are unbeaten and the squad is better than last year, but Jimmy and Ferris need to get us a 7 in before the 8's. As I and others have been banging on about since last summer, and none of this waiting for the 8's cr@p. We need an actual 7 in early enough to get into the groove and comfortable with the combinations required, which would also help us to finish games like sunday and secure the top 1 or 2 position that does make a difference when the season starts.

If we don't go up this season Jimmy will need to be let go as we cant sustain FT in this league for too long.

Top 4 is important, but top 2 gives you an additional home game - so a clear benefit there
I also think human nature is to want to finish top - and if not you shouldn't be involved in competitive (I sulk if I lose at Ludo)
Then there's the confidence and momentum thing of finishing top and taking that into the 8's



Agreed, we need to stick with him now for the season - I'm sure we'll get better.

Also agree we need a 7 and I think Jimmy knows that too - he's not going to publicly say so though is he as suggested in a previous post

If it's true that we approached Saints about getting Burns on loan then it at least means that the club are aware of the issue. Unfortunately what it probably also means is that, at this minute, it's pretty slim pickings for available halfbacks.

Travis Burns as a permanent signing or season long loan would be fantastic but a short term deal would be a pointless exercise. Can't see it happening though.

Cunningham has already stated that he is not letting Burns out on loan which was reported... also quoting that super league clubs had enquired

Quality halfbacks are in very short supply.

Of course Lowes is going to say he’s got faith in Addy at the moment because he’s the only option we have. It’s not a good signal to Addy or good business to say “we know we need a halfback and are looking high and low” since Addy will feel unappreciated and clubs with players we want will think we’re desperate and ask for huge money.

Anyone with half a brain knows we need a halfback in time for the 8s. We have no chance at all of promotion without one. I just hope we get someone. I’d even back the club if they signed a known flake or loose cannon like Tim Smith if it got us promoted.

I’ve no idea what Cunningham is up to at Saints as they seem to be playing Turner at stand off and ignoring Burns and Fages.

Someone like Declan Patton at Warrington could be good for us.

Either of the Batley halfbacks would improve us I think. Ironic since both are ex-Bradford players at some level.

:316spsra

It's impossible to know just what Jimmy actually believes as he's clearly constrained in what he can say. Constrained by both RFL rules, and the obvious point that somethings just [i:316spsracan't[/i since he'd be fired and probably banned by the RFL for not taking the company line.

At the very least, Patton is 4th in the pecking order, behind Sandow, Gidley & Ratchford. Potentially 5th if Gary Wheeler wasn't made of biscuit.

I would think it would benefit us and Wire, as their player is getting some regular quality first team rugby, and they're unlikely to need him without a couple of injuries/suspensions.

Perhaps Richie Mathers could have a word. He works at Warrington!

Only reason I could see us not enquiring is if we maybe already had a 7 in the works with the initials of RB...

Last year I thought what was wrong with having Harrison and Lowes as a coaching team was that both of them are absolutely perfect as assistant coaches but found lacking when promoted.

I think Jimmy would be the perfect foil to a more thoughtful Brian Noble, Brian Smith type of coach. It's too late to ask Jimmy to do that role now because his pride wouldn't allow the demotion, so unfortunately he'd have to leave the club completely.

I also don't buy in to this "we only need top 4" bullcrap. In my opinion, having sucked it up in 2015, realistically promotion via the MPG is pie-in-the-sky, no Championship team has any hope in that game, and so if the target is promotion, then finishing in the automatic promotion spot is the ONLY way to even think about doing it.

Finishing down the table and thus having to play all your fixtures away at Wigan isn't the best way to dream of that route.

Does anyone seriously believe that even if we (or Leigh, or indeed Batley) make the MPG, they will be in for anything other than a flogging? Give your head a shake if you do.

I know you're right FA but I keep thinking we could do what Sheffield did in the cup final in 98 or Fev in 83 or something along those lines.

It'd take an upset of those proportions.

Bit harsh FA, we didn't get flogged last year. A bit more rub of the green that game could have quite easily gone the other way. Whilst I don't agree with the system, it is a one of game that anything could happen... that I have accepted.

I do however agree with you that an automatic promotion spot is obviously the best route... But to get to that we need to start showing consistency with performances. Whitehaven game aside I don't believe any of the other games have been convincing in the slightest albeit we are still undefeated. So as for Jimmy saying ''lets be right, we only need to peak at the back end'' is total BS! A flat/below par performance resulting in a loss, draw or scrappy win would be easier take if we had a good run of performances prior.

Right now I haven't a clue who will end up in the bottom 4 in SL. Wakefield and KR seem like certain candidates, but the other two spots? No idea at this stage.

The great sadness is that when a coach and a team believe that what is a level playing field for all, is and has never been on the cards to achieve! Particularly when it's very early in the season for this so called quest for promotion.

All the championship teams who are in with a shout for a top 4 finish, realise that the opposition who are the bottom 4 from SL will have known for some considerable time in the season, that that is where they will finish, and have geared themselves with the sole reason of keeping themselves in the SL competition! Therefore the team that is currently playing in the bottom 4 of this league will be far stronger against less opposition in the championship.
We have at least to thank Wakefield for exposing that particular foible, and of course their sacked coach, Webster, for saying it well before the season ended.

The problem is expectations and hope which every club should have, frankly I think at least 8 clubs in either division realise that P&R is not an option.
I should imagine the RFL also know this, but what a disgraceful way of maintaining the status quo?

Oh dear that old chestnut, our player recruitment at the back end of last season had nothing to do with your club, did you hear us complain when you started recruiting yourself or doesn't that count.
You can't have it both ways even though you weren't good enough to win the championship, if anything Leigh should have gone up automatically and us come down, but hypocritically you chose to ignore that and were happy to accept a place in the final going to do this that and other to us despite us embarrassing you earlier in the play off's. Of course we celebrated as would you have done had you been good enough in fact we're still dining out on it, the difference is if I may remind is that despite you having 4 home games we only had 3 and still finished above you' I'd like to say good luck for this season but your bitterness towards us is still in abundance, who knows if your lucky enough you might get another chance if you improve.
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