I see. Possibly like the Karl Fitzpatrick appointment. Did you believe the Lee to be an obvious choice?

Neither obvious nor necessarily the right one as I don’t know anything about his coaching ability. Presumably the club have seen enough in his previous role to think he may be capable of the next step up.
I have to say I’m in the Fitzpatrick seems to be doing a decent job camp. Interestingly for the strength and conditioning role they went outside the club and I did wonder last season if they had got it wrong but this season looks like a step up has been made.
I think our differences stem from the fact that I err on the side of optimism, so am always looking for a positive.

I didn't see all the matches and it's only round 1 but initial thoughts -

Saints - as said elsewhere, they've continued how they finished last year. Fast, strong and a settled team.

Hull - very useful. Very strong. Conditions helped them in some respects so that it was more of a forward battle. Only 1 winner.

Wigan - will get better as the season progresses

Wire - very fit, strong desire and work ethic. Jury is still out.

Leeds - in trouble

Salford - need time to gel and they'll not be facing a red hot Saints every week.

Toronto - improved in the 2nd half but need time to get up to speed. With only 23 players things could implode.

Cas - half backs looked good and I can see them being mid table. Too early to talk about top 5 just yet.

I understand. In this case however, I don't think it is necessarily indicative of a negative mindset to pose a question on a forum on the appointment of Lee Mitchell to a position where he influences the academy kids.

Nor, in my mind, is it a specifically negative mindset to have the opinion that KF baiting opposition teams through social media is undesirable behaviour.

Ade Gardner left a successful Saints set up to join us and so I think this was a great appointment. I'm all for having staff from our more successful rivals join us in the hope that some of the approach and practices rub off (optimism). An internal appointment will always run the risk of appearing nepotistic and continuing the status quo.

Although you are right, I do have a pessimistic outcome in the main when it comes to Wire. I think it's years of having hopes raised then dashed and feeling dejected. It's a defence mechanism probably, a weakness in character. I should start the season refreshed believing everything is possible.

Paul Anderson an ex GB and England RL International Player is the Wire Academy coach.

The key attribute is man management.
Knowledge is secondary.

Ah OK. I have obviously got confused with the role Lee has been appointed to. Thanks for clarifying.

I just take the view that I don’t hold my breath every time a Wire player passes the ball, a big step forward for me as a Wire fan. Remember when our only planned move was passing the ball to Lee Penny from every scrum? When you look at it like that you can see how far we have progressed!

"Finesse" is Jake Connor's middle name.

Remember it well and yes we have!

Agree with the poster to some extent, but think I'd be enjoying the sport allot more if I were a Saints fan!

I hope you feel dirty...

Yeah filthy.
I'm actually a whino but am so dissolutioned with my own team, I'm serving what's going on with the other forums!

Well at least you didn’t say Wig...

It rings a bell......

Where have you been the last few years, if we tried you out now it mayf fool the current generation of opposition players (Did it ever result in anything other than an immediate tackle TPM?)

Ade also got a promotion from moving to Warrington didn't he? I believe he's very ambitious in his field and looking to progress. Quite where that would take him I have no idea. NRL/Union/Premier League even?

Ade was working under Matt Daniels at Saints. Matt's been at Saints for a decade or so, so I guess that Ade had to move on in order to progress.

Last season we looked to have taken a step backwards in fitness following John Clarke's departure but the signs from the Wigan game were that Ade's learned from his first year in charge so hopefully a good year ahead.

In this day and age the role of Head of Strength and Conditioning is of equal importance to any position on the field of play.