Now it's over I think we did better than was expected but still there was the usual battering by the Saints at home and the close losses at home to about 5 teams. Hopefully in 2010 we'll be even better.....especially at home.

Next...

Fantastic season. 8 lads who were with us in NL1 played last night and even though we over played and dropped too much ball as a result the effort was there.

Look at the facts, TM nearly kept us up with minimal prep, got us up, consolidated and took longer term views and we have just finished above halfway, in the play offs and competing. I just dont understand the TM bashers.

The best thing is that there is every sign of more improvement. We are above Bradford, Warrington, Hull and Quins.

A brilliant season, well done. Just a shame we havent yet got the new stadium. Now would be the perfect time to move into it, but hey ho.

i think we had an amazing season considering we finished bottom last season, we got twice as many wins as last season,,

however i think the signing of faumuina was a shocking decision considering we didn't keep hold of lupton or catic, who i feel are both MUCH better players than he is. and a few managerial errors throughout the season cost us e.g. last night tieing up our most dangerous player at hooker (rangi chase) and the way he has handled the hole ryan boyle saga.

At the start of the season I though the team should have finished higher then 7th, and I stand by that.

Good points are the vast improvements of Richard Owen & Craig Huby, the signing of Rangi Chase is looking to be one of the best of recent times.

The u18s have been really impressive which can only be good for the future of the club - look for these lads to further improve next season and some breaking into the first team.

Another exciting thing to look forward to is the next stadium announcement - which I expect to arrive within the next 2 weeks.

A couple of reffing decisions at key moments (double movement v Catalan and the farce that was the Magic weekend) and the team would have been higher in the league, lets hope we get some decisions next season.

Craig Poskitt has been fantastic for the club, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he has lined up for next season, opening more revenue streams for the club. Hopefully with what many people think was a successful season, the attendances will be up next season too.

Bad points are Sherwin's continual injury problems, Ryan McGoldrick continuing to be a liability and Terry Matterson getting a new contract - the players don't respect him and do things when he tells them not to, some coach eh?

A further bad point is what seems to be an increase in the number of incidents within the stadium, which eventually led to the club getting a hefty fine - this needs to be stamped out ASAP.

For next season we need to sign a winger, at least 1 more prop and another second rower. Matterson needs to get tough with the players and a bit of luck wont go a miss - anything below 5th will be a disappointment for me next season tbh. A far better points difference is also a must.

Wanted 10th or higher - a massive over achievement for me.

For grumbles, our points difference and the amount of points we leak is simply unacceptable. We play amazing attacking rugby but need to toughen up massively if we're to retain a play off spot. Next year I'd expect much better seasons from Warrington and Catalans, so we need to stay ahead of the game.

a good season which has seen huge improvment in reslults still not sure we played any better than last year just that we scraped home in more games than the previous season.

delighted to have made the play off but it may bight us on the backside next year has it looks as though we are going to settle for more of the same signings instead of grasping the nettle and trying to bring in a few class players to complement our working class side.

Our league position was better than some thought at the start of the season. Getting into the play-offs was a plus even though we got knocked out in the first game. I think TM needs to learn some lessons though. It's a good job we haven't got a bigger squad (doh!) or his out of the hat team selection could throw up some even worse combinations.

As long as Mcgoldrick is the first name on the team sheet it seems Matterson just builds it round that.............

I wanted to see us competing for 8th spot in the play offs this year, we did slightly better. Would like to see us get into the top 4 next year.

Would like to see where our next Owen / Shenton / Huby / Westerman is coming from.

Need to increase the playing squad. It's no good saying we have a squad of 27/28, when only 20 of those will actually play. I make it that we have a squad of 20 now. With the arrivals of Snitch and Jackson - up to 22. With the anticipated loss of Clayton/Feather/Netherton/Boyle, we have a mere 18. I exclude Massey here, as he is another that never plays. 18 is a shambolic squad size.

I would like to see all the squad bulk up. Conditioning and fitness is a worry.

I would like to see Mitchell Sargent given a contract extension.

I would like to see stability in playing structure and players playing in their correct positions.

We have to improve the defence.

Over the last 3 years, the team that finished top of SL have conceded - 453 pts (17pts per game avge), 457 pts, (17pts per game) and 422 (16pts per game).

In our last 2 years in SL, we conceded 702pts this yr (26pts) and 869pts (32pts), the previous year. We have to make significant progress in a consistently strong defence.

And finally (and probably the most unlikely of all my wish list), is that fans at home games actually support the team when the going gets tough, rather than boo them if they concede a try. The Wheldon Road end is becoming an embarrassment to our own club, rather than the backbone of the fortress that we should make it.

A great result in the table, much better than most expected.

Summary

Best player...a tough call between Rangi and Owen.

Most shocking perfomance of the year...Sherwin against Wigan in play off.

Most enjoyable game....away against Warrington.

Most enjoyable atmosphere.....last 10 mins at home against Bradford.

Biggest nail biter...Halifax cup tie at home.

Most deserved win....away against Bradford.

Gut wrenching moment....Westerman injury at home to saints.

Biggest robbery by ref....too many to name...perhaps Hull in Edinburgh.

Least favourite ref of year...Ian 'What high tackle?' Smith a clear winner.


What I'd like to see next year.....6th spot...a never surrender attitude ...less sideways running and a bit more team spirit and passion by the boys. C'mon Cas!!!!!!!!!Summary

Fully agree with this really. Can't understand why anyone would knock TM as that would just show a complete lack of understanding IMO.

I'm just glad that we are enjoying a good period of stability (in terms of coach and players) as well as ongoing development. We have a good coach, a good core of young players and we are building on that core each year. Our young players are becoming top class players and we are constantly adding new exciting young players while also bringing in the odd tallented and experienced over seas player where required.

Signings like Widders, Sarge, Sherwin (when fit and on form), Hudson (when fit) and Chase have been superb and youngsters like Westerman, Owen and Boyle are really developing well into class Superleague players. We also have the last generation of youngsters (the likes of Shenton & Huby) who really are now superb SL quality players.

If we can build further, add a few more quality players and some more tallented youngsters to the squad, then along with the experience the players have gained during this great year we should improve further next year.




Not sure what's happened to Goldie though as sadly he is more a liability than anything else these days. His passing has been terrible and everytime he gets the ball I just cross everything and hope that we can somehow keep possession!

As a fan, but now on the outside, we did better than I expected. From the games I attended & saw on the tele there seems to be widespread ill-discipline & a lack of professionalism. Keighley & Hudds in the cup & WIgan last week spring to mind. When I see TM & his 2 henchmen wandering aimlessly around the Cougars clubhouse with bottles of Bud in their hands I cannot help but wonder where the lack of professionalism comes from.

I thought you did really well this year and I enjoyed watching Cas on the occasions that I saw you, other than at our place, god that was frustrating.
I think however it would be a bit ambitious for you to think you'll be top 4 or anything next year. I think you'll build on this year but ultimately end up in or around the same place as I expect the league to be even closer next year. If you could tighten up your ship a little you'll maybe turn a couple of losses from this year into wins and if I were Cas i'd be looking at maybe two or three years ahead with your squad.
The final point is sometimes you have a game where you ship a shedload, can't be happening at this level, i bet your points difference was one of the worst in the league although I havent checked, could be wrong.
Overall a good season imo and I think Matterson has it to take you to the next level, stick with him.

2009 Season has for me, been a missed opportunity.

We've come 7th, this is not just a measure of how well we we are doing, its also about how well the other teams in the league are doing.

Lets look at who finished below us this year.

Bulls, Cats, Wire and Cods for example. Does anyone really think those teams will be as bad next year?

Then look at the teams around us, Giants, KR, Wakie, Wigan-all decent teams but have been very beatable-I can see them all improving next season.

Loiners and Saints I'll leave alone-they are on another level to the rest of us.

I can't see us improving on 7th next year, in fact we'll struggle for the top ten. We had a golden opportunity to sneak into the top 5 this year, but failed.

With regards to defence, well we don't look to be making the changes necessary to improve. I can see us shipping lots more points in next year.

Sack the coach, clearly has no idea of how to manage/coach this group of players, should be at least in the semi's of the play-offs and have the CC in the trophy cabinet. Don't even get me started on the overseas players who have let us down massively whilst world-beating academy players were cruelly denied their chance.

Nothing less than world domination will suffice next season.

You sound like a Wigan fan.

So PA, you have no opinion on the season?

I have but it is the complete antithesis of yours, guess I'm just a 'glass is half-full' type of guy

Are you not capable of stringing more than one sentence together

Back on topic...

On reflection my thoughts of a top 4 finish next year are extremely optimistic. Leeds and Saints will be top 4, with the other 6 places up for grabs.

In this years Play Offs Catalans have impressed me. These are a team, that when we play them at home, some of our supporters say ' We should be beating the likes of these'. Disrespectful.

Unfortunately I've got a bad feeling that this might happen.

Yes we've strengthened the team for next year but so have a lot of other teams.

Think your team have done extremely well,you should be proud of them.Next season could be difficult for us all,it really is hard to see what's gonna happen,Cats have come good,Wire will get better,Hull i'm not too sure about and Salford and Celtic will have to improve heaps just to get away from this years finishes.
As for the referee's discissions(sp),I think all fans think they're hard done by but some you win and some you lose.
Enjoy it,the boys done good!

No surprises here.. I think it's been a hell of a season. Undoubtedly aided by the fact that Hull, Bradford, Wire and (to an extent) Quins have all crashed and burned in 2009, but we're not the only ones to have benefited from that and to me this is something we'll have to get used to as fans - the franchise system will throw up surprises.

I know there are those who think this and think that about the board, about the coach, etc, and that's fine - we all have opinions. I'm often left speechless at the wide range of differing views and I happily concede that those with them probably know a lot more about this great game than I do. I do have to laugh though at those who seem to think they somehow know better than the ones who actually have a coaching badge or the ones who've actually put [itheir own money [/iinto furthering the club and its aims.

For me I can't see us improving on our league position much in 2010 - worst case is we'll slip a few spots - but I have to say that (assuming one or two of the aforementioned 'big names' are likely return to some kind of form), i'll be very happy if we can manage to stand still (ie: just about make the playoffs again). Worse than that will be a tad disappointing - albeit understandable. Any better than that (6th or better perhaps) would be f**king astonishing.

The trouble with you mate is that you talk sense. believe me its lost on some of the posters on here