Maybe Franny`s offer was less than Mason wanted or maybe Platt`s rumoured proposed move to Salford falling thru because of Salford`s financial position scuppered any deal. But like Mat says Sidlow is preferable for the Bulls. Also think Masons onfield attitude could give the wrong signals to the younger players.

I'd have Mason over Sidlow every time but what's probably happened is Sidlow accepted what we have to spend and Mason didn't.

I'm encouraged it looks like we tried to sign both. Add one more prop and it's beginning to look like a squad - a thin squad but nevertheless a squad.

15 tries in 87 appearances (AS) against 8 tries in 203 appearances (KM)
Slightly less average mtrs gain last year but set against 2 errors, 12 penalties and 29 offloads (AS) as opposed to 13 errors,25 penalties and only 2 offloads (KM) for virtually same number of appearances
On his day mason can be great but we need a solid grafter and can't afford to be on back foot from errors and penalties so IMO sidlows the better fit for where we are as a team. If we could have got mason too then great but if its one or the other then the stats speak for themselves.

I suspect the collapse of the deal involving Platt heading to Salford has left us unable to bring in a 2nd Prop. I think Mason would have definitely improved our pack but we have a tight budget to stick to unfortunately.

I fear it could be a tough year for us once a few injuries to the pack inevitably happen.. but we have SL rugby and for that we should be very grateful.

Probably cos we didn't want to pay the silly money he was asking for?

Did the same thing when Fielden was asking for a wage that was laughable for someone who's not played 80 minutes of rugby in the last 2 years.

I doubt many teams have greatly strengthened next season with the exception of Hull FC.

We will finish above Widnes, London, Cas, Wakefield and Salford for starters.

I think atm Hull FC are looking like a serious contender now;

Wigan have lost some decent players and not replaced them
Hudds have strengthened but will most likely crumble come the end of the season
Leeds dont seem to have improved their pack a great deal but they are always around come the playoffs
Saints havent done much as of yet but usually come good
Wire dont need to get any more players they have keep the same squad and still look the strongest
KR are similar to us getting the odd player here and there

The season may be a long old slog but maybe thats what we need a hard fought campaign that shows we can battle the best. (keep injuries to a minimum of course)

Table prediction (i know its early)

1. Warrington
2. Hull FC
3. Catalan
4. Wigan
5. Leeds
6. Saints
7. Bradford
8. Huddersfield
9. Wakefield
10. Hull Kr
11. Widnes
12. Castleford
13. London
14. Salford

Dream on mystic dream on.

It's hardly an unlikely prediction now is it?

Our squad isn't a whole lot worse than it was last year and without the 6 point deduction we would have finished above all the aforementioned teams and Huddersfield to boot. Finishing in a similar position is by no means unattainable. If we finally learn to close out games we'll win more than we did last season too.

Agreed. Our back line looks better with Foster coming in and Blythe who can play centre. Purtell is back from a long time out. Gale and Sammut are more settled. Foster offers a kicking alternative. Whitehead is not starting with a five match ban. Evans and Sidlow offer more than Kopczak and Burgess IMO. Bateman another year older and Donaldson at full fitness is like a whole new signing. We won't concede as many penalties too now that Elima is away.

Add to the fact that the uncertainty is over then I would argue we are a bit stronger. Scruton returning also seems to have been overlooked too.

I wasn't too worried about the forthcoming season, but your unbounded optimism is a cause for concern, I put it down to your burgeoning friendships with TT &FA!

We're considerably weaker in the forwards. We lost 3 out of our best 4 props plus our biggest and best second rower.

We've recruited a kid who hasn't played Super League plus a lad they're happy to release at Salford. There are positives - Blythe and Purtell is potentially very strong on the right side but the pack is a shadow of last year.

you missed from your analysis the superior tackle and missed tackle rates of Sidlow compared to Mason, another reason for preferring him given the pack does look weak but FC commenting in the tna article about Sidlows offloads may be an indicator of his priorities, offence the best form of defence. His tackle bust rate is much much higher than Mason too.

Blotto, I have never waivered. I say it as I see it. Some agree, some don't. It is all about opinions TBF.

We have lost Burgess, Hargreaves and Kopczak, not Fielden, Peacock and Anderson in all fairness. Hardly irreplaceable. More game time from Scruton will more than make up for Kopczak, Sidlow should offer more than Burgess and we also have the addition of Evans too.

As for Elima best second row? Matter of opinion of course but I cannot agree. Penalty machine cost us more yards than he made last season. Bateman is a more than capable replacement.

I think a lot of this season will come down to luck on the injury front. We've got a decent starting 17 but a few injuries, particularly in the pack and we'll struggle. That said we're in a better position that I thought we would be in after last year, which is a credit to the efforts of the club.

Elima and Hargreaves will be big losses to our pack in my opinion. Overall the pack is weaker but we're probably slightly improved in the backline with Blythe and Foster replacing Ainscough/Pryce/Crookes. Get our strongest 17 out and we look well in the mix for the 8, but 3 or 4 injuries to the key players and we look in trouble. Lets not forget BJ either, he was in superb form for us at times during last season.

Ideally I'd love to see another Prop brought in and perhaps another option at halfback but I just don't think they quality is out there right now. Perhaps some players will unexpectedly become available but if not we'll just have to be patient and get through the season the best we can.

Tend to agree with that. Lets face it we're in a lot better shape than we could be given wht we've been through. Other thing that people are overlooking is likes of Bateman,whitehead,Olbison,addy etc being a year older and more experienced. IMO their all better players now than they were at start of last season and that can only help us.

I think that will be the crucial element to our campaign next season. Overall our starting seventeen is not [ithat[/i dissimilar in quality to last season but we do seem to have a thinner reserve strength.

In the argument about whether we're better with or without Elima, I agree he did give away more than his share of penalties but on the other hand he provided a lot of the 'mongrel' in the side, I feel we'll miss that, since looking down the side, I can't see where it's coming from next year.

Attitude wise I'd say Bateman will be main contender but he doesn't have the physical size to back it up yet.

We still may have the option to get a couple of players during the season, we also are twinned with dewsbury so the option is there if we are struggling for players.

Don't think that will be much of a help TBH. The players who would be available would be those who can't get into dewsburys team. No offence to dewsbury but they aren't likely to be much use at SL level.

Agree with that.

The system does work both ways but was clearly (and rightly, imo) expected to mainly benefit the lower league club and also to provide some games for SL contracted players who weren't getting a game under the new junior and A team set up in SL. Though, if we get our normal luck with injuries it probably won't bring much value to Dews either....

I thought we were Warrington's feeder club?