As we can all probably agree 2017 is def one to forget as expected before it started, what do we have to look forward to in 2018?

the following are signed on for next year..

Willie Tonga
Ashley Gibson
Lee Smith

Can anyone else draw some positives to look forward to next year??

Pre-season
Our own squad
New teams coming to Odsal
More chance of victories
No playing HKR three times
More endless whining about being 'no longer a big club'
Assuming those three stay in L1 - constant controversy about who's funding the club

Another interesting year all in all.

No positives. This year has been totally wasted, if we'd started it in C1 like everyone wanted and knew we should, we'd have had a passably pleasant season.

The damage done by this debacle of a season will instead inevitably hit us hard.

Even if they did change the league structure so we stayed in the Champ., we are simply not equipped for it, and won't be next season either.

Starting in C1 next season will be a hard road but sadly that is the level we are, not for lack of effort, and not because of lack of potential, some very promising players, but because as a team with shortages and injuries everywhere we are simply not equipped to cope at this level. Maybe with a proper pack leader and a proper enforcer things would be different, but as it is, we are easy meat. We are frankly unlikely to win another game now, having lost Oledzki & Co., and the sooner this shambolic season ends, the better. But it will be very hard next year, and it had absolutely no need to be, had we done it this year the vide would be positive.

So yet again, shafted by the RFL for their own convenience. They have NO excuse for not allowing what was a brand new club to start as a brand new club in C1. Shame on them.

looking on twitter Mr Lamb is wanting to come on board?
maybe this should be another new thread as to what people think of that?
His mate Damien has been working with us a bit this year...

The ultimate question is in 2018 are we going to be told what is going on by the new owners?
This imho has been the single most frustrating thing about 2017.

Why is that chancer piping up again?

The bloke is all mouth. Pipes up every time things aren't going well for Bradford, then never seems to do anything about it. Just attention seeking, much like the person he often gets to do his publicity work on social media for him.

I thought Sam Hallas was signed for next year as well

He is pal

That's 4 good players then..

Yeah if they are fit

and a good chance of still being involved in the Summer Bash... by getting to the iPro cup final (or whatever its called these days)

I think the two biggest positives that we need for 2018 are

1. A definitive statement from the RFL about what the structure is going to be over the next five years. Is it going to be another restructure? Is it going to be franchising or P&R? Will there be 12, 14, 16 clubs in SL? In other words, what 'world' are we dealing with, not just for the next few months, but over the next 3-5 years minimum.

[i...And then, off the back of that[/i

2. Some sort of definitive statement from our owners about how they intend to address that world in which we find ourselves. Are we looking to progress up through the ranks, and - if so - how? Will we be f/t or p/t? What will be the role of the Academy, if any? Are we simply going to be a feeder club?

I can 'buy in' to a vision that sets out, clearly and without 'spin', what we are looking to do over a 3-5 year period, with realistic and achievable targets along the way. What I can do anymore is blindly go along with slogans like 'We don't quit' or be expected to tag along and pay my money when I've got no idea what the hell is going on. I just can't do that anymore. I'm weary and tired of all the constant kicks to the gut that seem to come with being a Bulls fan.

TLicon_biggrin.gifR Give me something to believe in, and I'm on board

2018? Well...can it be any worse than 2017? (I almost don't want to ask that, as everytime in the last 10 years when I think we've hit bottom, we seem to find a way to delve even deeper!)

Paul is correct above, we need two things before we can hope for anything in 2018.
Clarity from the RFL/SL what the plan is for the league structure over the next 3-5 years. Then clarity and honesty from our owners about how we're finally going to move forward and build within whatever that structure is including how we're funded and whats happening (if anything) with Odsal.

Full time, with Odsal, in league 1 doesn't add up for very long. Part time and unsuccessful in League 1 doesn't keep enough fans for very long.

If I really try to be positive, I'm hopeful at least we might be able to look forward to a proper preseason and a squad built to meet the demands of whichever league we are in (assuming we continue to water our magic money tree and wear our cloth that has been cut just so...)

Assuming we do start 2018 in L1, we might be able to finally look forward to a year without people constantly calling us out for being RFL favourites/pet etc.

oh, and I'm looking forward to starting on zero points, that'll be a right bonus.

If we drop down a division those contracts will probably be void, just like when a team drops from SL to Champ. There's also no guarantee we'll stay full time, right now I can't see any feasible way of us doing it financially.

So no, there is nothing to look forward to in 2018.

Afraid not. The clubs voted to scrap that for next season.

I did wonder about that myself. I don't know at all what the situation is but I'd guess you're correct.

I also wonder if Geoff Toovey is the right man to guide us through this period, though. We need a coach who can develop and bring through young players and this isn't anywhere on Geoff's CV. His success in the NRL came with a top level side in which he had just retired as a player, but was still a very potent force. The reason he left (looking from afar) was because he couldn't bring in new players to improve the side and it went downhill. Geoff was a top player, no doubts, but I don't buy the idea he is a 'great' coach.

Oh did they? I wasn't aware of that. Suppose it's one less distraction for next season.

I don't agree, it was plain to see about 8 weeks ago we were going down if there isn't a restructure.
It would have been a very pointless charade to sign Hallas, Tonga and Gibson on longer term contracts than the end of 2017.

it begs the question again is there a master plan? but if I am honest I don't care whether there is or not.
It would just be nice to turn up at Odsal and not be disappointed, if we are in league 1 who cares as long as we have players that want to be there and have a dig.

That's the only way we are going to attract people to come back to watch games, even with Green and ferret's super squad there were players there that clearly didn't want to be.
Look at Swinton yesterday they were truly terrible but celebrated every Bull's mistake or penalty like they had won the Grand final.

Full time or part time doesn't matter either, some of the Full timers we have like Thomas, Macanni, Halafhi, and Mendeika wouldn't get into Siddal or West Bowlings starting line ups.
A hybrid system to cherry pick the best on offer is the best for us,

Forget where the initial report of it was (may have just been a journo on twitter or in one of the papers), but this article mentions it:

[urlhttp://www.nwemail.co.uk/darwin-nwe-mail/Money-worries-behind-vote-to-scrap-League-One-Cup-says-Barrow-Raiders-chairman-4b5fcd4d-a39f-4fd8-a77f-ab446bc9d093-ds[/url

As is often the case, top class players don't always make top class coaches.

The Keighley derby games

Do you think you could have done a better job with the players he has had to work with this season?

No, I don't but I made the comment with a view to NEXT season

So let's go back to Beatie and Dunning then? If any thing Toovey doesn't hide away and if he has the resources and non of the pretty boys who just want to wear a Rugby shirt rather than playing in one then I'm sure that success will come

Cheers HC. Although that article says "A final decision has yet to be taken..." do we know if that final decision has since been made? or are we just assuming that because it was voted for, it will be implemented?

I think that's one of those "The RFL can overrule this". But if the clubs have heavily voted to scrap it, I can't see the RFL doing that. I would think it was only brought in for their benefit in the first place so if they feel they're not getting anything out of it, then it's a bit of a waste of time and effort.

I've certainly not seen anything since that vote though, so I suppose it isn't technically official after all.