Sorry Daz I meant Rapira, Can't argue with any of your post by the way.

I was avoiding the forum today to let some of the initial emotions subside before posting. And there was no need as this pretty much sums up everything for me.

Thought we had a cracking season.

Things I could change!

1. Having friendlies
2. The ability to play in big games.

Really don't know what else we can do. Anderson has given the youth a good go. We got the best defence again. Made good signings for next season.

I think Wigan pipped us for best defence in the end.

plenty of positives, of course there is.

all in all it's been a good season again with the same old ending, the important thing now is that we find that way to go to the next level, although its not going to be easy!

Still can boast one of the best. Seems Wigan like taking things from us.

As long as you are happy to settle for mediocrity that is fine.

Certainly wouldn't put us down as having a cracking season, consistent yes. Top four again and out with a whimper at the business end. If you look at the performances throughout the season they've shown nothing to say we could win anything, certainly not attack wise, on the whole defence has been as good as I've seen it. The last 3-4 8s games attack wise performances, gave us optimism l think. I don't think it's a far away as some think, just a bit more nouce on the pitch (hinchcliffe) and bite up front ( hopefully Rapira) although another player or two wouldn't go amiss to dilute the big game defeatist attitude. I certainly think Anderson is still the right coach too and has probably learned a couple of valuable lessons this year. Still think the the cups the best chance though unless the new recruits make an impact on the squad as a whole.

not a fan of anderson the 2 props we had who could do damage on left before the season started the outer shipped out we also kicked out the only hooker we had .the only man with pace never used. grix robbo crabtree new contracts why all passed there sell by dates. smith looks no better than the young guns.ellis hit and miss our recruitment over the passed 3 years has been very poor .

don't agree with that
Lunt wanted out, he didn't want to play for us, he wasn't kicked out, and i don't care who they are, if they don't want to play for us then i don't want them at our club.
did you see the game at Hull? if you did then you would have seen how much we missed both robbo and Eorl in that game?
Ellis has been good IMO, not hit and miss.
which 2 props who could do damage left?

i respect your opinion but i don't agree

As far as the regular rounds went yes it was cracking. Don't know a fan during the 8's who were complaining.

It just went downhill which isn't exactly a surprise of the century.
Knocked out of the CC by a team who are on for the treble
And beaten in a semi final by a team who haven't lost at home and have made the last 3 (I think) finals.

Thought we played better rugby in attack and did well with our youth.
You base the entire season on them two big losses.
I thought we made strides forward.

anderson saying we werent physical enough and wont happen again in today paper

said the exact same thing when we lost to hull fc away in play off few seasons ago..................

Settling for mediocrity is inbuilt in most Giants fans.

Our season is not defined by what we won but what we lost. 30 rounds are a pre-qualifier for the 2 games that mattered. We blew the 1 game we had. We blew it big time. The worry is that we will have mostly the same team next year but some of those will be a year older. The bigger worry is that despite bottling every big match for the last 5 years we are still offering cream-puffs like Kopczak contract extensions.

Our attack is too slow, by the time the ball gets out of dummy half the defence is in our face. Our defence is too slow. 2 steps forward and then stand still. If someone comes out of the line and tries to make a tackle then the other 12 players stand around watching while the tackled player has an eternity to offload. Finally our forwards aren't, as a group, aggressive enough. In the example above someone should come across and put their shoulders right in the players kidneys, even if he offloads he's gonna be pretty ill. We should be hurting players in the tackle not cuddling them to the ground so they don't chip their fingbernails. We don't have any support runners. Our players take the ball up in ones. Watch Leeds, every ball carry there's 4 or 5 options following up. That gives us no second phase.

We don't bust tackles, the lowest in the top 8. 310 less than Leeds and 100 less than Catalans who are the 7th placed team. The lowest average gain of any team in Superleague. Only Salford made fewer clean breaks than us. That's 100 less than Leeds (which given we only made 111 is pretty bloody woeful). Those stats paint a picture of what's wrong with the club.

I'm glad you think that that is "cracking". For me it's a miracle we finished 3rd cos they aren't the stats of a top 3 side.

Strange I'm not really a stats person, I tend to judge games , players, by what I see them doing but I find myself agreeing with just about all of this post.

I think Steve May and others have said it really, There is a small club mentality that starts at the top, People with jobs for life, and that kind of attitude is bound to filter down to the terrace eventually, I suppose those who can't stand it are the one's who no longer support.

Boomer read yer PM`s pal!!

I thought as a whole we had a very solid season, finishing 3rd after only winning 4 of our first 10 games and still having a chance of finishing top was impressive.

As for this current team I don't think it's good enough to get too the grand final mentally or practically, we played Leeds and Wigan 4 time each this season and came out with 1 draw so that shows it their

I do feel we are over achieving as a club but I do feel the standard of super league is not as good as it was 5 years ago saying that you still have to perform even if other side ain't n we did that after a slow start

I think if we are to challenge Leeds and Wigan next year we need more than just Hinchcliffe and rapira, I would say we deffo need another prop smith doesn't fill me with confidence that his good enough for a top 4 side, robbo and grix are at the end of the road now for this team we have replacements for robbo but there isn't many top full back knocking about and I feel it's a season or 2 early for Simpson to be playing every week

I hope to see wardle back full time in the next year as we have a good selection of second rowers n I feel Connor isn't a , he did a good job when ferres was out but showed he was out of his depth at Wigan , as for jake Connor i would suggest moving him back to full back, he is more comfortable in that position and has played well there in the past

Half backs I was happy with Ellis changed games on his own this season and took a lot of pressure off brough but your half backs can only play off good go forward which let us down v Wigan

Anderson - taking over from Nathan brown was a big job with the improvement he made to us, so I feel Anderson has done a fantastic job and I feel he should stay as he has earned the right to do so

As a whole it's been a good season some big wins,heartbreaking losses,lots of fun, and it's our job now to back the team again next season

meast kuffesy went back to aus the other one was playing for wakey before moving to Leeds as for lunt hes not the only player to fall out and go but when he is the only hooker we have he should have been replaced before we let him go.

We have had a solid season if you judge it by where we finished in the league, If you judge it on the quality of Rugby played , it has been a lot less successful, In the regular season 80% of the games were distinctly poor with a good performance in and amongst.
Our best form came in the 8s and we played some nice football, It got everyone exited that maybe this was our year, Where we really blew it was the home game against Leeds, We were really up for that game, yet somehow contrived to throw it away, I believe we could have won the semi had we won that one, I think the manner in which we lost it destroyed our chance at Wigan.

I think you are probably right about us over achieving, so although I'm not a big P Anderson fan he is due credit for getting more out of the team than we have a right to expect, End of the day It's not a bit of good punching above your weight if you keep getting knocked out .

I agree we need more than Hinchcliffe and Rapira, also that Grix and Robbo need to go, I could live with Conner at Fullback till such times as Simpson is ready, provided we get a quality halfback, I know most people think Ellis OK and he is , but OK is not good enough if we are going to the next level, There are players available If some body will get off their A**se and make an attempt. I don't think it will happen because the noises already coming out of the club are that Hinchcliffe and Rapira are going to work Miracles for us , Just like all the others before them. It is a recipe for more of the same.

I don't think there is any doubt Mr Anderson will be staying, and I am fine with that because although I am more often than not disappointed with the style of football we play, He has as we have said probably got more out of them than we have a right to expect with the limited talent he has in key places, That said I would have thought he could get more out of the forwards, where we have no shortage of power on paper, and to be fair in some games they have shown they can do the business, in others they have had a good hiding.

With Huddersfield's history over the last 50 odd years It's easy to see why they are so ready to celebrate winning nothing, Yes we did finish third, and to teams who have more money to spend, But we have to find ways to get up to their level by whatever means, More money ,Better coaching, Better scouting, all three maybe, if we don't we will remain the nearly there team, and the crowds which I'm told have fallen about 2,000 in the last 3 years will remain stagnant.

8 out of 10 for me overall, based against on paper our squad against others in the comp and resources etc.

Progression from last year, where I thought we were powder puff for huge parts. We've had more steel about us this year. Some promising youngsters have had some great experience. Signings from last pre season have pretty much worked out as hoped.

Ellis - no coincidence that broughs upturn in form over the season coincided with Ellis settling in with a proper run in the team. Takes the line on, good step, relishes turning teams around and a righty. Good balance for the team.

Huby - solid. Great beard.

Hughes - great engine. Class in defence. Got better with the ball as the season went on. Shame he's off to wire

Roberts is an ongoing project, so we'll wait and see.

I saw the 8s almost as the 1st part of playoffs and had a nagging fear that we would implode as we did last year, but we kicked on. Until that fateful Friday night against Leeds. And gutting as it was, I can live with that defeat as we went toe to toe with a top team and got pipped at the post. That last minute took a lot from the team and led directly into last week, where we never got started. But overall, an improvement from last year.

I'm positive so far about the incoming guys for next year. If rapira is fit and motivated he is a great addition and hinchcliffe is gravy. Top, top signing. I also think Patrick returning after a year in Wigan environment will be a good +1.

No lack of effort this year, sometimes misguided application and inconsistent but I think we made small strides again.

Plus, off the field, the atmosphere has been much improved home and away. Wire away will stay with me for a long time.

hinchcliffe

rapira

connor to full back

but even then we may get to the semi and lose again. deep down felt we would lose at wigan as been let down so many times before

Expect a big announcement on Jermaine's future tomorrow.

Generally agree with the majority on here. I agree about Connor at fullback. Lots of creativity, not sure about Wardle back to centre, would rather have Murph with Jodie on the wing but that ship has sailed unfortunately.

Plus it's about time a decision was made on Connors position. Whether he eventually replaces Grix, Brough or Wardle he needs a specialist position to flourish and reach his potential, I'd let him choose where he prefers.

It worries me how much of a turnover we have had in players this year, much more so than in the recent past.

Another centre/winger whereever they come from would be great for competition. Wardle starting to look more and more a second row, as he seems to be more suited to crashing over than supplying a killer pass when theres someone in space.

thought it was sorted weeks ago and signed for five years like he said got to look after my young family