i think we have some really talented players coming into this season.

With some luck in regards injuries, and some good performances from key positions, we could have a decent start.

We could see greats starts from Hill, Cooper, Philbin, Akauola.... we be wondering what all the fuss was about.

Really hope so.

The fuss just depends on what fans expectations are.

Since about 2014 the strength of our squad has been around the same level. About 3rd to 5th strongest in the league. Some very good players, some fairly ordinary players who will be starters most weeks. It's a squad good enough to make the playoffs, compete for the Challenge Cup and be an outside shot to go all the way through playoffs and win a Grand Final.

That's where we are in 2020. Basically the same place.

So for fans who look in the context of Wire history and have seen years where we've nearly been relegated or gone bust, it's easy to be positive that we are likely to do pretty well.

The fans who have been complaining about recruitment and so on are the ones who aren't satisfied with another repeat of what we've done before. They now want to see us win the Grand Final and play a more exciting style of rugby. Those fans haven't seen anything to get optimistic this off season. They will just think, we're going to pick up where we left off last year, with the big signing Widdop injured, and lots of talk about how this is the strongest squad ever and so on, that's not really believable till they see it on the pitch.

So like you say, we have some talented players...with some luck on injuries...could have a decent start. The fans in that second group though, won't be satisfied with a decent start, they've already seen that happen recent seasons. They'll want to see something on the pitch that makes you feel we're credible Grand Final winners, not just be a team that's aiming to make it to the playoffs and cling to the hope that "anything can happen in the playoffs" (spoiler: Saints, Wigan or Leeds always win).

I’m not sure you’ve the hang of “positive spin”.

Knew season around the corner normally very optimistic about the season ahead..this time we go to Wigan then we have the cup runners up on our patch it doesn't fill me with hope for the season ahead especially on the back end of last seasons dross..hope I'm wrong and we blow these 2 clubs away with ease but won't be holding breath.

My own feeling is that this season will be somewhat the inverse of last season .

I think we will start weakly but finish strongly.

Our strong finish to start with our Challenge Cup victory at Wembley Stadium

Now that counts as positive!

That's not positive spin, thats just 'saying what you hope will happen'.

Warrington will be the 'invincibles', win the treble without dropping a point. Karl Fitzpatrick will react to the club's success with grace and dignity and respect for all opponents. To celebrate our win, SJM concerts will put on a gig at the HJ headlined by the Stone Roses, Inspiral Carpets, Charlatans, Happy Mondays, 808 state. Lee Briers will be knighted in the Queens honours.

After Brexit prices will fall, there will be more jobs. Boris will invest in the NHS and the train service will be the best in the developed world. Trump will get banned from Twitter.

When you get a bus, the teenagers sat at the back will sit quietly reading novels and respecting other passengers. All pies in Wigan will be plant-based. Tribal tattoos will no longer be a thing.

That's a good post.
This +1

At this moment we are equal on points with St Helens and, because the table is being drawn up alphabetically, we're above Wigan. How's that for positive spin?

:

Were also unbeaten since 19th September 2019.

So, with a quick name change to "Athletico Warrington RL" our perfect start to the season will be complete.

Widdop hasn't missed a game.

Positives:
Our front row is international class and as good as anything else in the league.
If BMM plays like he does for Tonga and Currie returns to pre injury form then our back row is probably the best in the league.
Our 2 half backs are proven top class nrl players.
We have 2 excellent finishers on the wings and a very good full back.
Negatives:
We are very weak in the centres.
We will struggle if we have crucial players injured(as will most clubs)
The impact off the bench, with the exception of Philbin, isnt great. Although i am hoping Price surprises us and gives Ashton a bench spot.

I think we are strong in the outside backs.

How is it we are very weak in the centres?
Gelling, King, Brand & Burrell isn’t a bad quarter!

Typo - quartet

We have depth no doubt, how many of them would opposition fans want in their 13?

Burrell was a good Union player, he hasn't looked SL quality YET in his time with us - still much to prove.
Brand gives us depth but is unproven at this level
Gelling for me is a step down from Goodwin and has proven inconsistent in all the teams he plays for.
King is running out of time to prove he is a top class SL centre.

There are definitely questions about our Centre, Loose (If Clark is played there) and 4th prop positions if we want to become Grand Final winners.

Toby King, at 23, is a year younger than Ryan Atkins was when he signed for us. Back then Atkins was far from the finished article so there is still chance for King to develop. This season, with a half back combination of Austin and Widdop, he will never get a better opportunity.

We know what Gelling can do. The key here is consistancy so we need other centres breathing down his neck.

Brand and Burrell are, each in their own way, more of a gamble (the sort that you have to make when you are limited by the salary cap). Brand has shown great promise but has yet to be tested in SL. Burrell has played Union at the highest level but can he adapt to League? (it's been many years since he played the one true code). Unfair to judge on limited appearances last year. Not only did he need to relearn the game, the biggest challenge was to achieve the correct type of fitness. Having seen the team photographs it looks as theough Mr Gardner and his team have virtually rebuilt him. He's in his 30's so it's this year or never.

Kings a fine SL centre, he may not be jamie lyon or keith senior, but he gets over the line at a decent rate, he defends pretty well and when given the ball he can put his centre away.

I honestly don't get why people have such a grudge against him. He's doing ok. Don't lump all the failings of the team last year on him.

Donn't get me wrong, I've always liked King, and I think he is a decent SL centre who came in to the side with much promise (as all Warrington youngsters who make it to first team do). I'm certainly not one of the ones who has been critical of him. But he has to prove to me he is good enough to walk in to another 'top 4' side. At the moment I feel Oliver Gildart and Mark Percival are far better players, that's the standard i want him at. I'm not writing him off - far from it - I want him to prove to me that he is good enough to fight for international selection. That's the level I want him at.

Edit: Just to add, my first post wasn't really meant to be overly critical of any of our centres, I just feel as a pairing they don't offer a massive amount of threat. If we had King as one centre and a Jamie Lyon in his hayday as the other, I'd be more than happy with King in the centre, its about squad balance, at the minute I just dont think our centre pairing offer a great enough threat.

I have no grudge against Toby King but my thoughts are the polar opposite. I can't understand why a team with your aspirations still persists with him! I know he was a big young hope at the Wire but the promising youngster tag hasn't in my opinion been removed or upgraded. A potential champion team can't afford places to be filled with sentiment!

Explains why his winger doesn't get put away.

They are.