Jukes has done a fantastic job to be thrown in at the deep end 2 weeks before the season started, to contend with a massive list of injuries, constant attempts to poach our players and unsettle our team. With a team of difficult players who hadn't steeled at their previous club. To have to recruit so many players mid season and integrate them into the team. To manage it all with 1 defeat & 1 draw winning the league with 2 games to spare and coming to the key stage of the season with many players coming back from injury is a phenomenal achievement for any coach, & I doubt many would have managed it as well, let a lone one in his first season as head coach who had no idea that's what he'd be doing 2 weeks before the season began.

However saying that if Kear can get Batley from avoiding relegation on the last day of the season last year into the Qualifier Super 8 this year you can't really look beyond that.

All the other coaches hated Rowley's cocky attitude which is why they never voted for him but I really do think they'd vote for Jukesy because despite all the adversity at the beginning of the season, he quietly took over and went about his business. I think they'd respect him for that.

Don't know if Higson has picked up an injury or just getting a week off, but we could be going into the play offs with last season's 1-6 available for selection, with Drinkwater for Brierley at 7. While that means less pace, Rowley kept talking about poor kicking game and game management after middle 8 games last year, so maybe a trade off that works for us?

I agree. Drinkwater & Reynolds are, in my opinion, much more 'rounded' half backs. Hopefully, Gregg will be able to bring some much needed pace back into the side.

AJ rested

Aside from the voting, Neil Jukes has been fantastic this season if you look at what he's had to deal with; and the fella has grown into the role throughout the season. He's confident and likeable and obviously has a lot of RL knowledge. I think he's got a big future as a coach. I just hope the early part of his journey will be in SL with Leigh.