So what's everyone's view on the squad for next year. Have the new signings improved us and any rumours on further additions

. What's the latest on Robbo, still an option or anything concrete been agreed?

Hard to answer this really.The recruitment is hardly
spectacular but could prove to be better than last
years squad in time.First thing i want to see is the
level of fitness to improve.Dont want to see pot bellies
in our first friendley like we saw at Dewsbury last Jan.

Very excited about next year,
But then I'm very excited about every season.

Last weeks press said we were always interested in recruiting good players and we were still looking but there was not a great deal available at the moment.

It's also good sense to keep some funds available in case we get a few an injuries in one particular area and have to try and bring someone in.

Quite like are squad this year recruitment has been good but i dont think it has been great IMO

I am reliably informed that Liam Finn is not in Bastians plans and has been told he is second choice over Gareth Moore, he has told Bastian he is contracted and will fight for his place but is really miffed at the whole scenario and how it's panned out after his loyal service. Obviously clubs have already recruited which leaves him a little shafted, lets hope he still takes a wedge of FR salary cap.

I think we have recruited well on paper. now to see how the coaching staff can take us to the next level. Heard Ambler saying the squad have been told we MUST come 1st or 2nd next year

The pre season friendlies will be interesting to see how the new squad and playing style mentioned is shaping up.

No pressure there then


At this stage with our squad and the competition we have it does look
a very big ask.

Wouldn't say he is shafted as he doesn't want to go anywhere else in the Championship as Fax found out when they tried to sign him as for his replacement don't think he's too much to worry about do you

Don't know your full squad but Ben won't let you down and there will be no problem of you finishing in the top 4 Obviously the aim is to finish first but does anyone think Fax will do that next year and if not where will you finish and how many new players have you signed so far

Everyone's in the same boat. Expect the top 4 to be the closest it has been in years.

I've bit my lip on this one for a while. Nothing spectacular and a half back pairing from York.... RL Press Harrison stated we'd made a couple of "significant" signings but they've not materialised. In a potentially pivotal season for our league I don't see us challenging Fev or Sheffield and think Leigh have signed better. Personally not set my world on fire nor a few people I know who we're waiting to see the signings before deciding whether to go next season or not.... So far they're not bothering... For me the jury is out.

No big name signings true but Karl has taken on-board where our weaknesses were last year and signed players who can by all accounts:-

a) Pass the blooming ball faster
b) Better kicking game
and lastly
c) shipped out our weak links in Tiger, Thacks and the Ashall brothers.

So whilst I think Fev and Sheffield are in front of us from their current squads especially Sheffield they have kept all their best players and Leigh on paper have signed big we have a good squad and if they gell we should be okay but maybe not top but 2nd hopefully!
Surely our luck will change with injuries and Sheffield and Fev will cop for it for once, they seem to have all their main players all season whilst we lost some key players at certain times of last and the season before which has cost us big time. Surely Finn or Brambani are due time out???

The first six games are make or break, for Karl.

Yes Jon they were weaknesses that he replaced but we've signed an unproven half and they played at York together.... The minute Harrison announced Thackeray and Handforth as his dream team I worried and I'm not convinced this pairing will stand up to a top 2 side. Let's not forget those "weaknesses" were all his signings too so its of his own making.....

Potentially a huge year for us and I'm not convinced, so much so that I won't be getting a season ticket this year....

A big part of last years problem was the crap 5 and kick and that's down to the coach. Will he change it?
Only time will tell but the signings aren't anything that will kick start season ticket sales that I can see.

Yer I see what you mean Chris but we have to stick by our club and if we only bought our season tickets on the feeling of how they will go in the next season then the club would suffer as who really knows?
While the guys played at York they did play at better clubs before that but moved for whatever reason so can't be that bad, York lacked punch up front mostly last season too.
Thing is how can we expect the club to go for top players if we won't back them by buying season tickets? It has to be a joint effort the Board, fans and sponsors.

As a single man with disposable income it wasn't so much of an issue back in the day to purchase a season ticket.... However in a climate where everyone has been struggling and me with 4 kids to pay for everything I buy outside of the essentials has to be a considered purchase. Taking into account the crap style we played last year, Harrison's signings so far this year and the fact I sat at 80% of last years games bored stiff, this close season for me was the chance to weigh up if I could be persuaded to part with my hard earned. Nothing has convinced me so far and looking at the start to the fixtures we could be out of it by April!! Not a case anymore of blind loyalty where I just pay for a season ticket regardless.

What was the deal we got from Leigh for Barlow ?
at the time the club seemed excited,i thought we were getting
a good Leigh player in exchange.Was it just a bit of cash ?

Got mine and upgraded to East Stand.
I will miss the chip van, but, he will miss me more.

I am struggling with the negativity - you haven't even seen a single pass with the new setup which will take time to settle and gel. They have started to train together and even "bonded" with the recent walk.

I personally think next season will be very exciting with new halfs and hookers. I don't think Fev will be all that - Bastin will change how they play unless Campbell or Poskitt is picking the team.

Leigh will be strong I feel and Sheffield will be there or there abouts - new home make a difference? I doubt it.

I can't make a judgement on Batley yet.

Similar thoughts to me T and there maybe a few surprises from the likes of the Rams.

did you go to the home game against York? those two half backs ripped us to bits last year behind a pretty ordinary pack. love to see what they could do with a bit of go-forward

I can see both sides of the debate this thread has developed into.
Personally I would buy a season ticket at the end of a nil point season, but HRLFC is not my hobby it is my passion.
I don't believe any of the posts are negative, I just think people are wary, every year as I said earlier I am full of excitement and anticipation and some seasons at some point I feel let down, last year being one.
I believe that some of the rugby played over the last two years has helped to drive people away.
I am fortunate in that I can afford my season ticket and afford to attend every game, (Can't afford to go to New York, Bentleyman and therefore I hope it snows and you are stuck in your hotel all holiday

)but as Chris Smith said earlier on, many people have to balance the cost of supporting Fax against the entertainment value.
The persons on this forum who some describe as negative will still be at the games, possibly without season tickets, they are entitled to their views and hopefully a good season of open attractive rugby with at least one great final weekend will tempt them to buy a season ticket for 2015.
Lets accept varying opinions, unless they come from Luddites.



Sermon over,
ps Bentleyman, only joking, have a great time and have a photo taken in Central Squar in your Fax shirt.
Nothing else on, just your Fax shirt.

Don't see it as negativity Pete, see it as people being straight & honest about the potential of the new season. I totally agree with Chris Smith, although my kids are all self sufficient earning-wise nowadays, the whole professional RL thing has got me unexcited these last few years, i've gone off the game generally & it was an effort for me to attend games especially this last season. The style of play that we've exhibited & the failure to beat the sides above or around us in the league table ( other than the 60 pointer home to Leigh ) more than alarms me. I hope we play a different way this coming season 'cos it appeared to me that the other sides had us worked out. The NRC final win in 2012 was a great trump card to pull with the positional selection, similar to Brannighan playing at centre when we won the GF in 2011. The whole game feels short of magical moments, it's too robotic, too gameplan orientated, too bland. The challenge cup very rarely throws up a shock result, all these things add up to the SL clubs having the big share of the money & dictating the terms for example the dual reg farce because they scrapped their reserves set up.
Other hobbies such as going to the footy now & again or last saturday night for example, £15 for the boxing on tv was outstanding entertainment and of course i'm still out & about gigging following some of my favourite bands. You can only spend your coin once, that's why i'll probably not contribute to this years player sponsorship or not bother with the new shirt. I'm not fussed if people don't like it, it's how i feel & i haven't attended a single world cup game either, i subscribed to premiersports for the last couple of years, now that HAS been excellent value in my opinion. If only you knew the reason why the BBC only got to screen a few of the live games, why SKY got none & why the RU's Heineken cup got five live broadcasts every weekend instead of the three games per round in previous years.