What are your thoughts on our new coach so far?

And does anyone know what position he played as I can't seem to find any reference to it anywhere.

Hard to say really, he doesn't make excuses, he got handed a tough gig and he seems to be slowly getting things on track

I'm massively more confident this year than last

I'm happy with him so far... My main issue is that everytime recruitment is mentioned to him he always brings up the salary cap and says that he's not sure if they have any room on it... He is obviously having to work with an extremely tight budget which to ke is very concerning for the club and shows a clear lack of ambition. Let's be honest, chucking money about doesn't work, koukash proved that. But this is professional sport, you need to find the right balance. Anyway, went slightly off topic, but what I'm saying is Rick must feel extremely limited with what he can work with. We 100% need a virtually fully fit team to be able to compete this year.
Crazy to think not long ago we were signing players like O'Donnell, faaologo, hodgson. Although we probably didn't get value for money out of faaologo and O'Donnell. But at least it shows ambition and gets the fans excited.

Happy with him, love listening to him talk as he speaks like a fan and not off a club given script.
He knows where, who and what are/were the problems and has made it clear things are going to change, he's been totally honest on things like why certain players left, his opinion on previous regimes etc and although some want instant success he said it would take him at least 2/3 gill years to clear the mess from before and get the club how he wants it. I'm 100% behind him, and although I want us to win every game too I understand that isn't possible, I am happy to lose a few, not win trophies etc while he does his job if we reap the benefits in the future.

Sometimes it's about looking at the bigger picture, the future, rather than the here and now.
Recruitment wise he is limited as is every coach wee have as we simply don't have the finances to attract world class stars, and it won't help as long as people choose not to go and help out in this department.

For Rick to be successful and improve this club we need to be patient, fans and board alike.

I like Rick and I'm more than happy to see where we are in 2/3 years as I genuinely believe he will do a great job here having met the bloke a few times and chatted to him.

Still very early days for Rick yet. I like his style and think he will improve us. My only concerns is our control of the ruck. We don't seem to be able to win the wrestle and control the ruck. I think this is why we are giving away metres and penalties. And ultimately why we are more tired and are dropping balls. I think our style of play is ok and if we start to control the speed of the game l with the majority of our first team back we should be able to push for top 8.

The sign of a good coach is when average players turn into good ones. It's a bit early to see that so far, but there have been a few improvements. One of the important things for me is that we improve the recruitment team around him, which to my mind has been poor for the last 3 years or so.

The mindset on field has changed I think, definitely more resolve and a willingness to fight all the way

Its just far to early to give a proper opinion yet, " though it does no harm " Myself i have not seen these big improvements that some people are hinting at, nor did i expect too. I am happy to give the guy a proper chance to get his own style going " whatever it is " He just hasn't had the chance yet with injuries and other things, There are a few things that concern me, like what has he in mind for Brierley for example, What does he think we should be doing about replacing Brough " who can't go on indefinitely, I'm not saying he needs replacing now but it's something that needs thinking about before it becomes a real problem.

We are in better order than last year ,for sure and i think if everything goes ok we could be a settled side for the second half of the season, We are not going to pull any root up but we may avoid the middle 8s, Not that i expect it to last beyond this year anyway.

I'm happy to give him some time.

Neither have I seen the massive changes hinted at. I would imagine the hope for a brough replacement is Isaac Farrell- if so he needs to be getting game time soon. Also Ellis is still to come back.
Wakeman and mamo are the only two that stone has signed. We haven't seen mamo yet, but wakeman doesnt look all that promising so far. I get he hasn't had a preseason etc but taai looked to have more promise when he came under similar circumstances even though he "looked like a Christmas turkey".
I think we could still struggle to make the 8 esp with the injuries we have, we need to be picking points up (at home especially) against Salford, and Leigh.

jo widdop coming to super league next year

All but the 1st 2 Bradford signings were made by Rick, Fergy was signed by him after the 4 nations.

That's funny cause it was common knowledge he'd signed before Stone did!

He had, then Rick managed to offload him but saw him in the 4 nations and liked what he saw so 're,re-signed' him.

just lol.

Well Rick was honest enough to admit what happened so fair play to him.

So he didn't want him, tried to offload him then saw him play three times and thought oh ok I'll change my mind. That's one way to get a player playing for you.....


Nathan brown for all his faults took the Giants from 10th to 3rd and the final of the challenge cup in his first season. Stone has had a preseason and enough time at the end of last season to get to know his squad- injuries apart they should now be playing his way.

I'm very unsure about him at the moment but with the pressures of last year, injuries and generally our drop away from being a top 4 team so quickly it's hard to ignore the negatives.

I'm not a fan of our attacking style and certainly unhappy with our defensive line speed which seems to be the stand still tactic.
Are we just playing safe and trying to win on percentages rather than just out score the opposition and play 'entertaining' rugby... I don't know?
We have class players who seem to be holding back.

I miss the Nathan Brown era. Teams play us they get battered, bruised and shed loads of knocks.
We end the games with energy to spare.
We throw it about fast and run amazing lines.

I know it's over and this is the Stone Age but nothing I witness now suggests that in 2-3 years time we will be any better.

I'll continue to support whoever is in charge. I always have.

i like stone, very honest and straight talking and he saw alot of issues with the playing group/style/staff and sorted it out during the off season.

but the stone age is also a rebuilding one for the giants dont forget.

Exactly this, already people are questioning him cos we aren't challenging at the top yet, that's not what his appointment was about - it was to rebuild the whole club from top to bottom, this cannot be done in 1 pre-season !!!

Well going by that first half I can't see that he's put any attacking structures in place. All the territory, all the possession and 12-0 down.
Hope they get a rocket up their bum at half time!

I'm questioning him but it certainly isn't because we aren't challenging at the top. I've never had such high expectations in any season. The league is getting closer.

The reason I question him is because our attack is boring and our defence stands still.
I pay to watch entertainment, not watch us win lose or draw.
I don't understand his two season comments. You seem more knowledgeable about why he was signed, so please tell me what he aims to achieve in two seasons?
Nathan Brown had less time than him to turn us into a fantastic team to watch.
I think personally he is just giving himself a season long excuse.
Our Players (some who were part of our league leaders season) aren't playing there best rugby, they seem to be on a leash, and I think it's down to Stones tactics.

No point getting frustrated. We just need to accept we are a poor team and will be bottom or there about come season end.

Think a chant of were S*** and we know we are, were s*** is due next week at Wigan.

Attack is worst in the league by a country mile. Panic every time and make stupid decisions.

Extremely worried for the coming weeks - think we will get 50 points + put past us against Wigan and Cas no matter who we have on the field.

Is Cudjoe really the answer for captain?

Utterly embarrassing.

Embarrassing recruitment over last few seasons. Club in utter turmoil.

1 - Average player in Hinchliffe on a 4 year deal (andersons doing)
2 - Sign a marquee full back with a broken foot who will miss more games than he will play
3 - 5 Bradford players - says it all
4 - Overweight small prop from 2nd tier Aussie league who is no bettter than what we already have.

Injuries no excuse.

Well no rocket.
I really can't see what stone has brought to our side apart from a poor out of condition prop who looks more disinterested than the rest.
Leigh had desire in spades. We had little - they beat us out of pure desire to win not from any great skill or creativity.
All that possession and no points shows - We can't create a fart-
so those that think he's so great eh, daz/brearley please give me the evidence of what coaching is he actually doing- cause it's not defence- and it's certainly not attack. Don't give me that "rebuilding" rubbish niether cause he's been here long enough to put in some attacking structure- but I can't see any. Being a nice honest guy isn't enough.

looks like a re run of last season after winning against wakey instead of going forward we going backwards. who is coaching are attack should go if its thorman or stone it looks just

Who is coaching us full stop? Attack and defence are totally embarrassing. Not sure what anyone expected with the amount of championship players we have brought in.