Doing what Leigh did this season will NOT be easy. But it has to be the target. Otherwise you're reliant on one of the weaker SL clubs having a financial implosion or a massive injury crisis, and still getting ahead of the other championship clubs - none of whom are going to wave us through on a triumphal march to the top of this league or the MPG.

If we did get up, 2018 would be about survival - most likely via the middle 8s again, if the system is still in place.

My hope is that we would banish the flakiness that Pickering refers too. Have a rugged, organised, energetic team. Cut out the Ulugia-type pratfall signings, and the sense that no matter how well placed we are in a game, we can find a way to lose.

Look not for correlates of success that confirm conventional wisdom, for these are weak associations, but identify independent predictors that show the path to glory and power, using regression analysis, Amen. The bloke who did Phil Clarke's much maligned predictometer, could do this.

One thing is for sure. The super league clubs will not want to be in the middle eighths next year, especially with us having momentum and hopefully decent super league players signed up at the seasons end to compliment the decent players that want to stay and play for the shirt.
I wouldn't want to be a Wakey, Widnes or Salford. There the ones who have all the pressure on them next year if they find themselves on that position.

My thoughts too.

Anyway, how many pieces of lego can you fit up your bum?

If a correct answer is the prerequisite to being selected in your Rovers select team, then I'll get my GP to re-examine my prostate later this week to accommodate room for an extra couple of bits, thereby increasing my personal capacity to an impressive 30.



Maybe Sheens could deploy this tactic with our squad in preseason. Might make us less injury prone.

"Look not for correlates of success that confirm conventional wisdom, for these are weak associations, but identify independent predictors that show the path to glory and power, using regression analysis, Amen"

The famous Greek philosopher Gaius Petronius wrote :-
"We trained hard, but it seemed that every time we were beginning
to form up into teams, we would be reorganized. I was to learn later
in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing;
and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress
while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization."

Maybe those teams who have benifactors with deep pockets should consider this before making wholesale changes to playing staff.
P.S.Mr Peacock,
Nero ordered him to commit suicide for been a trouble causer !!

Bingo. You could flog this to Jeremy Corbyn for 500k to use as his next election strategy. Then after your 10% spotters fee, donate the remaining 450k to the club for a marquee signing in the middle 8s. Sorted.

You see, this is the sort of imprecise thinking that has led to relegation. Twoers, fourers, sixers? Those little ones that you use as headlights on cars? Without this information, your question is meaningless.

My rectal Lego retention capacity needs to be reassessed now in the light of this.

Meccano is much less complicated.

Wishful thinking but wont happen

When the Lego,
Fits the arrsehole
And the Sun,
Shine's,
From the East.

Then,
As Sun Szu,
States,
Make the Lego arrse,

Your weakness,
For it shall be,
Your opponent's,
Downfall.

Edited to circumnavigate the software.

I seem to remember this issue being covered several times in off seasons gone by, wasn't it decided that the 2x2 was the iso standard, I hope so as that's what I've been practising with.

I know threads drift off from the original subject but this has gone from realistic aims to shoving Lego up you ar$e in 2 pages

After relegation lego is above our means. Stickle bricks up the trumper are probably more apt

Reading the League Express is interesting. There's an interview with Hudge and he's claiming that there's been some 'difficult conversations' along the way with one or two players that we expected a bit more from. I believe that if you get us into this mess, you need to get us out of it, but some of the lads have started to run for the hills and look for the biggest payday.
Walker me thinks. But Mantellato, sio, thornley and Greenwood rumoured to be on the way out.
So after the good news of Blair and Lunt, it seems we're left with the dross.....unfortunately.

If we fail to keep Walker and Greenwood, plus we don't know about Tilse and Algood, and with Green already gone the pack looks very light.
I think T. S. needs to find us 2 great big Aussie grunters and J.P. to unearth 2 young developing stars of the future.
No pressure then!!

But it's Hudgell & Co that have got you into this mess through pi$£ poor recruitment and cap management.

The five you mentioned all had good seasons. They're only really accountable for their own performances, why should they sacrifice earnings or playing at a higher level because other people failed to do their bit?

I admire those like Lunt & Blair who are staying on and prepared to battle next year to get Rovers back up, but I don't think those who decide to leave should be vilified for doing so.

Hessle Rover. I wouldn't call Thomas Minns dross, especially as it's rumoured we will keep him. However, if he goes to another club, James Greenwood will be a big loss IMO.

Reckon Cockayne, Clarkson, Donaldson, Marsh, Mulhern and Shaw will be retained. Ideally, we need Tilse and Mantellato to stay. Lunt, Lawler and Blair are reconfirmed along with last year's academy debutants.

Leavers:

Green's gone. Boudebza terminated. Sio, Thornley, Walker and Kelly all wanted elsewhere and if they can get a good gig and more money, then good luck to them. Campo should and will retire. Larroyer, Horne, Salter, Dixon and Allgood should also be leaving as none are really good enough on last year's showing.

Reckon 9 or 10 new faces are now required for next season.

That was a bit of a sweeping statement on the whole team. But I wasn't thinking of Minns when I wrote that. Now he is one id keep.
Looks like Lawler has penned a deal to. That's also one I'm happy to keep.

Aye, it is pretty simple.

Players that want to stay or join have to convince the club that they will provide value, relative to realistic alternatives.

Players that the clubs wants, it has to convince that it is an attractive employer, relative to realistic alternatives.

Demanding players stay on as penance might be a useful way for some people to vent, but as a retention tool it is a chocolate teapot (or sticklebrick dildo, or whatever).

What works is what matters. Moral indignation won't.

I think you will find the Championship more entertaining and a tougher division than perhaps you might imagine.
The consensus has been that inthe Qualifers SL teams have the advantage of playing more intense rugby over the season. But it seems that Championship teams can enter the 8s more refreshed and less busted...if they manage the season properly.
Despite my team Leigh winning promotion, I'm hoping the Ch continues to improve and really push the lower SL teams to improve as well

Promotion is a realistic, if not easy, aim. All depends on the squad now, and it's just doubled in size with Blair signing - Lunt can now play the ball to someone.

Another aim is a good cup run. Why? Not for the cup itself, lest it distract promotion hopes, but is the only way to test the teams ability against SL opposition mid way through the year.

Bang on. The cup shouldn't be dismissed next year. I'd hope and pray for a decent run, against lower tier superleague clubs. A good practice run before the main part of the year.

It's a bit disingenuous of hudge to bemoan players wanting to move on whilst at the same time using relegation as an opportunity to bin those he doesn't want and, no doubt, reduce contracts for those you want to keep who can't get a gig elsewhere. He does, of course, have previous for public petulance against players who are moving on to better clubs so it's to be expected but still poor IMO

I get where you are coming from Jake, but we all have people who have been employed with CV's that aren't backed up by their work ethic or ability, and by the same token we have those grafters who go under the radar and churn out good stuff constantly. Rovers are in a position where they can get rid of the bulk of the former, whilst struggling to retain the latter. Yes Hudge will use any means available to keep the better players and why not.

So basically, Hudge = good. Congratulations, you are blessed with Red & White genes and will go forth and prosper in later years. Or, Hudge = bad. Commiserations, you are a West Hull soap dodger who will consider dead rat a "treat".

Or something like that.