Since 2011 there has been much discussion on here about what constitutes a 'successful' season. For some, last year was our best in a long time, whilst for others it was a miserable failure.

So as pre-season approaches, what is the minimum requirement for Warrington to have a successful season next year? Will we be happy to play the role of Bridesmaid again, or does 2017 have to be the year we finally win the league?

Improvement should be the target every season.

Therefore a either the challenge cup or grand final win is a must....... preferably the grand final.

for me winning the league should be the ultimate a pro should aim for..proves you are the best over a period of time..followed by the cup at wemberlee..this comp that the rfl and sky love at the end of season is a knock out comp which we won in 1986 was crowned champion..NO..

I've gone for a GF win. This last season was fantastic for us, we won the League and got to both Finals.
For next year to be an improvement on this year we must win the Grand Final.

I'm going for league leaders shield. I still believe that to be the best team over 30 weeks of rugby is the true measure of success. The challenge cup is a fantastic money spinner for the club and great for the fans. For me the grand final has now been devalued even more. It's now become just a 2 round cup competition

This isn't a debate about one's personal opinion of how the league [ishould[/i be decided - it is about how we (and other people in the sport) will define the level of success next season. Like it or not, the Championship is decided by a play-off format which is here to stay.

Well Ganson I don't really see the point of the debate/vote if when someone expresses a view (which is not what you like) you pooh pooh their view. You may as well have given them just one option. Your defining success vote is a bit of a waste of time.

Outsiders view - surely getting the monkey off your back and winning a Grand Final has to be the main aim?

Not a popular view but I think it's harder to win the Grand Final than the League Leaders. The deciding factor between which of the top sides wins the League Leaders is which managed to beat the worst teams. We could have won it had we beat two of Widnes(x2)/Wakefield/Castleford during the regular season. The Grand Final is about beating the best teams, obviously we had to be consistent to get into the top four, but then we had to beat Hull FC and Warrington back-to-back in all-or-nothing games to win. The Challenge Cup is variable really, it lost a bit of kudos in my eyes when we managed to fluke it in 2013 without having to beat any of the best sides.

Decent post but the question posed by the OP (he's getting grumpy isn't he) is what is the "minimum" requirement for a successful season, not the aim, not the be all and end all, well that's how I read it?

Sure I'd love to win the GF, but, if we don't, but say win the CC and get beat in the GF in a close fought game v Cas will I be chalking it off as an unsuccessful season? I don't think so.

My minimum which I hope we surpass is top 4 so that we are in with a shout for the big one come season's end

Ah yeah I suppose in terms of a minimum it's top 4. I'm not sure you guys would call it a successful season if you finished 4th and got knocked out in the semis though unless it was tempered with a Cup Final. Perhaps either final and top 4 is the minimum. Leeds are no longer the dominant force they were and Saints don't look much of a threat so I think both Wigan and Wire can afford to raise expectations. The jury is out on Hull FC as to whether they can back up last season.

I'm sure that the scenario of top 4 (scraping 4th), but, beaten semi finalists and no CC Final wouldn't be deemed as a success (so I'm kind of arguing against myself here) as it might be viewed as a backward step based on last year's efforts.

I think that Hull FC will be in with a shout again the Kelly effect could be a master stroke, but, what's the worst that could happen if he plays up I'm not so sure he'd be allowed to be a disruptive influence they look pretty solid to me along with you guys and ourselves

With the news on Sandow. Getting in the top 4 will be a success.

Shoot for the stars.

Grand Final winners, what else!!

treat gansons drivel with how it should be treated..to be honest couldnt give a hoot what he says..sense of humour op would do him the world of good

For you guys it must be the grand final. You play so well every season but annoyingly the league leaders get forgotten and winning the CC isn't that important to many fans these days.
It's a monkey you need off your backs to earn the respect from any doubters from the media, pundits or fans from any club.

Getting the monkey off our backs is the ultimate goal.

Not sure how Sandow leaving means top 4 is the goal now? Lets be honest he did next to nothing of value since he came back from injury, we looked much more steady with Gidley and Patton in the halves.

Success for me would be winning a trophy - well, Challenge Cup or Grand Final. League Leaders would be nice, but that without either of the other two would not be success. Making a final or the top 4 is NOT success.

Last year was a much better season than most expected, but to lose both finals is not success.

I'm staggered that 1 in 12 of us think making the top 4 is success.

Yeah, nearly as staggering as the 60% that have voted for winning the Grand Final as a MINIMUM definition of a successful season

It does not state minimum in the poll. But yes anything other than a GF win now is not going to satisfy the newcomer or those long term fans who have never seen it in their life time. e.g.) I was not comforted walking away at Old Trafford thinking "thank goodness we made the CC Final". The GF is the aim, it's been an actual and realistic ambition for the last 6-7 years.

The LLS would be a fine achievement if I was convinced that it is coveted by the other clubs as much as the retrospective coveting it gets from the club that wins it.

The OP stated " Since 2011 there has been much discussion on here about what constitutes a 'successful' season. For some, last year was our best in a long time, whilst for others it was a miserable failure.

So as pre-season approaches, what is the minimum requirement for Warrington to have a successful season next year? Will we be happy to play the role of Bridesmaid again, or does 2017 have to be the year we finally win the league?"

An interesting question, so close last season was it a success and what is the minimum as far as this season is concerned....winning the GF would be fantastic but it can't be the minimum surely?

I voted top 4 as a minimum. I hope that we obviously exceed my minimum benchmark as it doesn't match my expectations, a bit like a TOP Premier League Football Club looking to get to a 40pt safety target

Ah yes I didn't read the OP message. Ergo you are saying that success is top 4.

As a minimum ha ha

No worries, I'm with the majority and hope we do better than that, real success will be finally winning the GF. BTW the off season is already too long as far as I'm concerned, looking forward to next season

Entertaining RL, and not the turgid dross we've had served up, post Easter.

How can it be anything BUT a grand final win?