Sheens stated he didn't want to bring in players with doubts over fitness, which immediately ruled out Hala, and then said (subject to rehab) he has spoken to 'Shillo' who is keen to come over. Its a wait and see scenario, and if he does come it will be after Easter earliest.

TBH I would rather Rovers recruited a squad from the off but leave 'cap' for any quality that comes available during the season. Much is made of the Leigh 'model' but it was really a hit-and-miss affair with the right players becoming available. However, what Leigh did do was to trim the under-performers in a ruthless manner. It will be interesting to see how Rovers deal with this issue. Sheens is a hard task master who doesn't hold back, something that we haven't had at Rovers since Roger.

I spoke to a sponsor over Xmas who said there are a couple of loan signings in the pipeline from SL clubs - he mentioned Wigan and Cas but wouldn't name names except to say they would be short-term loans.

Thanks for that squire I wasn't aware of that although I did read hala had been plagued by knee injuries? Last thing we need is crocked quota players, also wasn't aware that Clark is an impact player so shillington would be a better fit

Always better to use others,is it not?

Please explain yourself.

What HKR dont want to do is waste money on becoming 1st in the League.

You will walk it, but will need to improve the squad at the business end of the season.

Leigh lost just the 1 last season, and even though you will have some close games with the top 4 clubs, It would not surprise me if you go 23/23.

"We have Blair, Tilse, Clark, Heffernan, Quinlan and Butler-Fleming. There's been rumours of an antipodean prop as well, which'd fill the quota up.*"

Unsure on Clark's status but believe he was born over here in Pontefract

[uIn theory[/u it shouldn't matter much, as it is where you trained rather than where you where born, as far as the non-fed rule goes. It is on somewhat shaky legal ground though. IIRC Simon Finnigan and the Henderson brothers who were born in the UK, but grew up and learned the game in in Australia got exemptions.

While there is precedent, Clark would need an exemption.

Gotcha. Didn't know that detail, thanks.

One decision that seems to have not been underlined on this thread, was the suspension of Albert Kelly on the morning of the qualifier against Leigh. I remember Jukesy saying what a lift it gave the team. Surely he could have been disciplined after such a vital match?

I question your moral judgement.

In any case you do not know Kelly's mental state and whether he would have been fit to play anyway.

Much as he was very, very good in 2015, by this point it is his initial signing that (with hindsight) seems the more questionable decision.

He was done at Rovers by the Leigh game, and didn't play for us again.

Because we went down by such a fine margin, there are any number of decisions you can look back at and say that could have been the difference. Lessons from Hull KR, 2016 could have its own thread. If we win promotion, I expect it will. In the short-term though the focus has to be on adapting to the Championship, trying to emulate what Leigh did last year and avoid what has befallen Bradford.

Correct,well said.

a few things fell into place for leigh last year ie players available at the right time, run of the ball , while their offence was enough their defence was shocking at times but they got away with it just

Then it shows what you will be up against.

Also remember that when new players come in,it can take time to get used to set plays and structure and to gel,not easy when you've got the middle 8s to contend with as well.

I'll tell you now, if you don't rotate your squad properly, and if you have any injuries to key players come the middle 8s, you've no chance of promotion.

If you think Leigh was lucky to get promoted, you need to pay a visit to specsavers.

I said their defence was shocking at times things fell into place for them that's my opinion just did enough in attack cannot see the word lucky in my last post

Quite, but the job was done in the games you're alluding to(which i assume was them on tv) before our defense went poor.

When you say things fell into place, other than the Salford game when yes i thought we rode our luck a bit in that one,but our defense was pretty good as well,what else are you alluding to?

Leigh learnt the lesson of 2015 and peaked at the right time when it mattered in 2016. They also made sure they had cash available and cap space available at the business end of the season too.

we will not learn a lesson from leigh if we concede 193 points and have a points difference of 30 our attack is unproven so we need a better defence than you had that's my point good luck to you in superleague

Remember pal, If you score more than your opponents you win,and that's what Leigh did.

Good luck to you guys in your quest for promotion,but if you think there are no lessons to be learnt from Leigh,then think again.

BTW - If your attack is unproven,how do you know if you need a better defense?

I am sort of dreading the first game, with Bradford just look what happened when Salford lost points they played us first and beat us to prove a point

I agree with this, if only the lesson that the owner shouldn't predict an unbeaten season until at least waiting to see if they manage to win the first game

Yeah but in 2015 Leigh were all about the attack. It served them well until stiffer opposition came around, and then they completely folded. *Completely*.

2016 it was a similar theory on the back of a defensive structure and they structured the season, deliberately, around peaking at the 8s. And it came off *completely*

There are different routes to the same goal.

Good luck to both sides this year!

That's right,and that's why there are lesson's to be learnt,as 2016 opposed to 2015 was evident.

We didn't ' fold ' as such , just crucial decisions and bounces of the ball slowly eroded our confidence , last season everything just seemed to go our way

I was much more confident going into the 8s in 2015 than last year

I don't believe you can manufacture ' peaking ' , we did however have a much fitter as in less players carrying injuries and fatigue last year , we recruited several players who had spent the season on the fringes at their previous clubs , so we were fresh going into the 8 s

Best of luck this year , expect to be playing you in the 8s , but hope not to