I think the title should be really be "The end of the era trying to create an Era" you really need to win the big one.
Warrington for most of the season have been the best in the comp and I felt confident they would do it this year.
Most teams will be weaker next year in quality players so I think those long standing era.s created by Bradford, St Helens and Leeds will not be repeated.........no harm in trying though.

The league isn't massively strong at the moment so even with a few losses Wigan and Wire will still compete at the top end if the table. Leeds will be strong again, Huddersfield keep signing solid players and Saints have recruited well. Other then those 3 though there isn't a team capable of breaking the top 4 or 5 IMO.

The one thing I would say about you guys is you should have given more youngsters a chance by now when things have been good. It's easy for young players (well easier) to come in to a team full of experience then it is to come in to a side that has lost a lot of old heads. The depth of your squad has held them back a little IMO.

It is the end of one era for Wire but that's also an exciting time. The resource you have via Simon Moran will ensure you stay in the top 4 for a very long time IMO.

Your forgetting Salford!

That would be Blake Green Harry Sunderland man of the match and double winner that's the Blake Green your referring to is it.

I'm not.

The have signed a couple if good players, a couple of nutcases and a few has beens. They will be strong enough to make the 8 but they'll be nowhere near the top 4.

Let's agree to differ then.
After witnessing that stunt plane yesterday....MK as he now likes to be known hasn't finished there...there will be more to come in.

I can't see the Red Devils challenge for a few seasons yet.

Will be interesting to see who Wigan play at fullback next year to replace Tomkins. I hope they have a young lad coming through their Academy and don't take the approach of signing some 30 odd year old Aussie for a season or two to finish his career.

I think Salford will make Wembley if they avoid us.
A grand final in 2

He'll be a fast, elusive pair of legs to slot in and do the same job tomkins does, so i don't see it weakening wigan. He also has so much experience it'll allow them to ease the young lad in gradually and he'll learn from bowen. Then when bowen retires they'll have a ready made tomkins mark II. It's just very smart management and sucession planning by wigan.

In terms of the question, it is the end of an era for warrington. Transition looms. This will remembered as an era of the cup kings - an experienced team that won some CC's but never quite managed to win the big prize. It will be probably be 3 or 4 years before warrington can come back around again after all the experienced heads have departed, at which the point there will be even more pressure to win the grand final.

fair enough on both Points I'm a big fan of Bowen I think Wigan fans Will finally realise Tomkins actually wasnt the second Best full back in the World....... Bowen Will do a very good job....

and yes I do believe there will be a bit of transition for us, especially If we are finished with new signinigs then I think we may finish 3rd or fourth...........but i'll take that, as Ive been around to see previous seasons of transition which was us avoiding the bottom four...

its not the end of an era, or the end of the world..we are getting rid of some old players and replacing with younger........

We will still be a good team but not a top team. I doubt we will be anywhere near the final again for the foreseeable future.

I do...
we have like for like in props.
A back from Leeds.
we have been over run with 2nd rowers last season and this, we've shifted a few on to make room.
Still, there a surprise is in store after releasing Hodgson from the quota!!

we did that last year, people said we were belittling the league.

We've also been trying to manage our 20s from last year by utilizing swinton, again, people said we've been making a mockery of the situation, but its allowed us to get decent game time for the likes of Glenn Riley and Danny Bridge and a few others who aren't as close to the first team, those two will definitely be int eh first team squad next season along with laithwaite and brad dwyer, rhys evans and GOB.

You cant teach talent. you can advise what you should do in situations but whether they will do it is a different story. If you think by having someone learn from Tomkins and Bowen then you'll have created another Tomkins then I feel sorry for you.

You'll have a steady fullback who will no doubt have good positional play but in terms of flare you have no chance. Players like Sam come round almost never.

Sadly I think out chance of GF glory has now ended. We will be a 5th/6th team for the next few seasons and alas Smith will move on. We've had our chances and fell at the last hurdle. At least we can look back at the fantastic CC wins in 09, 10 and 12.

There's hope...i remember everyone including myself saying that about the pies after they let leuleui leave last season!!

And it's not like you to be off the mark!!

''You'' - I'm a leeds fan, so in reality i couldn't care less how it works out. But i've seen the young lad they have and he looks like he has alot of ptential. With experience he could be a quality player.

I think we will be much stronger next year without a doubt. Lets see who we bring in. I am waiting to be pleasantly surprised. I would like to see evans in next year ahead of bridge and hopefully with penny and any new signings speed up our back line and give us a threat from anywhere on the pitch. The warrington board have said that they aim to improve year on year. I have been impressed with glenn riley and think he will get better. Not seen much of asotasi or england. Dwyer has looked good in spells also. If we can get a couple of quality signings on board we will be back at old trafford next year. We were getting to old and a shake up will be good for the club.

I think we are pretty well covered but another prop and a top class half back would be on my shopping list

Why will Smith move on, surely the chances of Smith moving on would have been increased had we won, a case of mission accomplished? The defeat for me means unfinished business for Smith and of course the club why would he leave now?

Smith will go after next season, when the Red Devils sack Nobby. Also I think he will have taken us as far as a can.

Now, ladies and gents, here we have that very rare commodity on RLFANS,......................

................common sense

well done, biscuit!

As I've said previously, on other threads.
Morley. A SHADOW of where he was only a year ago. Adrian should have announced his forthcoming retirement (end of this season) in June. Unfortunately, he's prolonging it by another season. The fella is a legend. But, it's time to stop, now. But, I fear the "good" Doctor's cash me just be too much of a temptation.

Hodgson. Never let us down, despite his 9 stone frame. The guy epitomises commitment, and it's been a pleasure to see him in P&B for 3 seasons. Again, I think it's time he hung his boots up for a well earned retirement, but "Uncle" Marwan's cash might have swayed him.

Carvell. Now, I'll contradict myself (not for the first time), but I think he should have stayed. He's STILL devastating. A sad loss to our team. He's well capable of STILL doing a job for us.

Cooper. Ta for your efforts , lad. No complaints from me, bar you never really "kicked on" from an increadibly good start to your Wire career. I wish you good luck in your new career. I hope you haven't made a HUGE mistake, Aussie is tough.

Now, the "treachery" bit.
I think Briers and MonaghanM should have joined them

Briers is the same as Morley. It's been a season too far. His great games this season are few and far between. Likewise MonaghanM. His performance v Leeds in the play-offs was huge, but, like Briers, it's the exception rather than the rule.

This would've freed a ton of room on the salary cap. I think we've missed a trick.

To all those who are leaving........................THANK YOU.

You can't seriously think Simon Moran will let that happen do you?

Whilst he's around you'll be competing in finals because he'll back you.