We don't retain the Challenge Cup, finish somewhere between 3rd and 5th in the league, win a playoff game but don't make the Grand Final?

Will it be seen as an anti-climax after the two Wembley triumphs of the past two years or will we see it as a positive step that we at least won a playoff game.

What about if we finished 3rd-5th in the league and lost our first playoff game?

We would view it as a disappointment......which I think is a testament for how far we have come from the days of "OMG, we might just make the play-offs this year"

We know only a maximum of 2 teams can finish with a cup and only 2 teams can finish 1st and 2nd.

If we not one of them then so be it BUT what we do want is to be in with a shout.
If the team comes close and fails but put the effort in over the season i can't see people being too disappointed (they shouldn't be anyway).
We have seen some right poo over the years at Wire in every aspect, lets not forget that.

I expect at least a Semi final in the CC
and at least 5th in the league anything more will be a bonus.

Mixed feelings. Good too see an improvement in the league and play offs, but depending on who we lose to and how in the cup then disappointment.



Failure.

It all depends. Does your scenario include a guaranteed league double (and maybe even an additional early-round cup victory) over the mighty Saints? If so, then yes, it'd be a great season and we could all throw a massive street party because it'd be like winning a trophy all on its own.

Wouldn't it? Have I got that right?

Alternatively, how would it feel, if we won he lot!!!!!(it CAN be done)
Let's not be so negative. We've just won our first game of the season, and It's back to doom and gloom posts

With regards to the Challenge Cup i would be perfectly happy to see us get knocked out in the 1st match we play. With so many teams so closely matched in superleague, the chance to have 4 weekends off, in particular at the beginning and end of August , means a reasonably rested squad going into the play offs.

I would be happy going into the playoffs after finishing 4th or 5th at the end of the regular season providing we are entering the play offs with virtually a fully fit squad and with a team in form. Its no use finishing 2nd or 3rd and entering the play offs with an out of form team carrying a number of injured players.

For me anything other than a Grand Final appearance this season will be a disappointment.

I had a dream we got knocked out first round of the Challenge Cup but we went to Old Trafford, then I woke up

You know i still think that is a massive ask!!!Like a earlier poster says it was nt that long ago wire fans were asking can we finnish 8th??Do you think we can sneak into 6th??.
Dont get me wrong i would love several of our players to walk out at old trafford in a grand final,Moz,Briers ,Woody,King Monas etc that is why these guys play the game!!
We have come along way in a short time under Tony Smith i just dont know if we have the right to a grand final appearance this season!!

anything other than a grand final appearance a failure? high expectations. as long as we put a 100% every time we play ill be happy.

I would be happy pending the method in which we achieved (or didn't achieve).

I'm of the ethos that if we play well and are beaten by a better team, I cannot argue. It's if the performance of the team has lead to our own demise that will annoy me. It's strange as a fan who isn't invovled in the team every day, that you can spot a fatigued or dis-interested player a mile off.

Not that we can constantly harp back, but as a nipper i was watching us fight relegation with about 4 coaches in one season and around 2,500 on show at Wilderspool, i like to think those memories keep me grounded and refrain get caught up in any hyseteria.

I'm made up the club now has a solid fan base and are developing and challenging for trophies. To re-iterate my point, if the effort is there, I cannot complain about a result

Cant really argue with that. I don't think we will win a trophy this season (hope I am wrong). Back to back challenge cups was lovely.... I think the next few seasons could well be a bit of a transitional phase for this team.... good young players coming through.. key players at the ends of their careers... with a few nice Smith signings thrown in for good measure..

As long as we have a good play off run and hopefully a day out to Wembley or OT thatl do me. A final, one or the other, id settle for. A trophy is a bonus.

Also, the biggest factor for all teams this year is going to be injuries. Between us, Leeds, Saints, Wigan and possibly Huddersfield theres not much to choose from. Keeping the key men on the field will be the deciding point. Saints without Roby and Wellens, Wigan without the Tomkins' brothers and Leeds without Sinfield/Buderus will struggle.

Us without Monas / Briers IMO were knackered. If all teams keep those key players fit, then all have a shout at winning it.

See my sig - give the effort and I'm happy.

Most fans would class a season without silverware as a failure, but as long as we compete well in SL
and defend the Challenge Cup to the best of the sides ability we can't ask for much more. Think we could well reach Wembley again and I'd be happy with a top 4 finish into the play offs. TS will undoubtably have the players better prepared then last year come the play offs.

Agreed, the first paragraph I've mentioned before and wouldn't mind if the latter happened.

Semi Final of the CC and a Top 4 finish, ill be happy with.

Well it is crazy not to care about the Challenge Cup. There are only two trophies on offer and a maximum of two teams that will win them. The moment you are out of the CC it becomes very difficult to win a trophy and I don't think it enhances your chances of winning Super League.

If you hedge everything on the playoffs and have one bad day then thats it, season wasted. Back to the old days of "always next year"

For me my no.1 hope for us this season is that we win the Challenge Cup again - 3 in a row would be a special achievement. A Grand Final appearance doesn't really mean anything if we don't win it, it's not like we can say ooh look now we know how to make major finals, we've been in two the last two years anyway.

But overall I think there's a fair chance that our season will end up trophyless but as long as we look credible, play some good rugby along the way I will still be happy, it will be a lot better than we had under Cullen and Van de Velde. Regarding the league with us having injuries I can see us losing ground early in the season so don't think we will be credible contenders for the minor premiership, but we should make the playoffs, so if we do end up getting knocked out of the Challenge Cup we might slip under the radar a bit, everyone will do their mid season analysis on how we are getting old and past our best and need to go into a rebuilding phase, so we might sneak quietly into the playoffs with everyone talking about Wigan and Saints and then be an awkward team to face once in there.

I would be happy if we just managed to beat Saint Helens this year!

Every effort should be put into us winning the Challenge cup again.

Just as a matter of interest, who were United playing, Sorry but I coudn't resist. Good luck for the season ahead.

We should be finishing in the top four challenging for 1st place and we need to put a good showing in the playoffs this year then next season i think we will have a good chance of winning the grand final.

As far as the Challenge Cup is concerned, just as long as we are knocked off our throne by a worthy opponent, then I'm not bothered what round we go out in, though a 3rd win would be even better!!

As for the league, I just want us to remain competitive with the Wigan's & Leeds's of this world and by the time the play offs come around, we manage to mount a proper challenge, unlike last year, when we ran out of steam.

I just hope that if things don't go as well as last year, that the fickle among the crowd don't forget just how bad times were before Tony Smith arrived....Its always a worry that a few people will start to expect a trophy a year and if it doesn't happen, will start to make muppets of themselves and the sensible majority.

Personally, only a Grand Final appearance would be a good season for me.
I know how mad that seems considering 2 years ago a CC semi appearance and top six finish would have been a good season.
But with the squad and Coach we now have only OT will suffice.

So if we fail to reach your target, would you then question TS's position at the club?