We've had an excellent season without playing particularly well at times. We finished a massive 1 point behind our position last year - top, for those with fickle memories.

If we've had a bad season, 11 other clubs have had a disastrous one, ie the ones we finished above.

If we'd have had a little more sense in the last minute at Widnes and then against Leeds, we'd have had 3 more points.

Yes, Catalans were faster, but some bad individual defensive errors let them score.

I've no answer to our lack of progression in the play-offs, but we have reached the Cup Final twice in the last 8 years, so it's not as though we can't cope with knock out rugby.

Slag the club and players off on this forum, it is a free speach forum.

Stop supporting this great club if you want [not speaking to any one person in particular, it is your choice.

But when your money stops going into the club, don't come back and moan that the club hasn't moved forward.

To be honest I stopped reading when you said we should have won Catalans . We don't have the right to win games especially in playoff rugby. Are we turning into Wigan fans? (No offense)

I'm not understanding why many had such high expectations. We are a building side and don't have the experience of winning playoff games yet.

A season as a whole we didn't play great but finished high.

It'll be interesting next season when the likes of Wigan will be wanting to win every game to make it easier in the final 8 league.
We'll get a lot of big game experience...
We'll see exactly what we are made of.

Becoming like football fans, wheres all the new signings!!!??



go on then who would you bring in and who you going to ship out of the team?

huby is a massive signing for us

ellis needs to be given a chance, been written off before he has even put a shirt on yet! mind you we did the same with brett ferres

We don't have experience of winning playoff games? You can say that again! But it's ridiculous to use that as excuse because we've played in enough. When it comes down to playoff rugby it's about who wants it more and who's prepared to put that extra effort in. Our players know they're a decent team and think that will get them through.

It's not about being like football fans. Rugby league is a business as well as a sport. Now if I had a business whereby it's very common to make 4/5 new recruits every year and all my competitors were doing that but we weren't I'm sure some people might be asking questions of me. I'm not saying it's doom and gloom we've got a decent team, we only need 2/3 more players and there's plenty of time but the question is, do we have confidence in the club to bring in those players who are going to take us to the next level? I'm not so sure.

In terms of actual players, I would pay a decent fee to take michael monaghan on a 1 year deal. Granted it probably isn't going to happen but that type of player who is a quality player would do wonders for our team. Compare him with Robinson who will be in that position next year, can Robinson make a difference like what someone like he could? No! Like I said that transfer won't happen but that's what we need, a couple of senior players who have been they're before and can make a difference in games. Our players are great when it's going they're way but who can really dig in and drag us out of a hole when it's not? michael Monaghan did that for warrington when we were hammering them.

Bang on there ....these fans who are upping and leaving cos we aren't winning trophies and signing world class superstars must presume players and their wages are free and that we're just chosing not to sign them. Without better players we probably won't win a major trophy, with less fans to help pay for these players we have no chance !!

I've been watching this club for over 25 years now and i've yet to see us win one of the 2 big trophies (i wont say major cos to me finish top of the league and getting an award for it is major) although we have been mighty close, it is frustrating that we haven't managed to make that next step up, like has been said we may not now and our chance may have gone, but if myself and the other few hundred fans of the time, not to mention various board members, coaches, and club stalwarts such as Ken Davy, Keith Burhouse etc had given up because we weren't sweeping all before us this club would have died many years before we ever got near to competing in the top league again, it nearly did - twice, thankfully some great people never gave in and it survived and it's growing...it will still be growing till we hit the jackpot, but if you haven't got the patience to wait for it then you will miss out when it does happen.

Thing is though there are plenty of people threatening to pull their support and it is quite worrying - not that these people want to go - but that no others are coming through to replace them. By all means be disappointed, voice your opinion etc but to withdraw your support when the club is desperate for more is a bit of a kick in the teeth for all the hard work that has gone into getting the club just to the point we are at now, why not stop and help take it that bit further then you will maybe get to see your wish of us lifting the big one !!!!

which teams are bringing in a shed load of players? not the top teams its the ones at the bottom.

leeds making 1 signing. we have made 2.

players have contracts you cant just replace the lot every season, robinson and lunt have another year left so you may have to wait for a monaghan type hooker.

the giants have gone with the policy of having a settled squad and handing in some cases long contracts, the question is it the right way to go about things? we most likely would have missed out on huby if we didnt offer a 4yr deal so its a hard one to get right

catlan and salford are going to be a major force next year as for us when we are playing a very average player like mason a 100k questions need to ask about our CEO again if money short why resign grix

you can't just bring in new players because you haven't won a major trophy, we aren't manchester city or chelsea who can just go and get another world class player.
for a start, these players simply aren't available! and if they were available then the likelihood is that they will go to a top/trophy winning team with a big fanbase, we are neither her nor there in all respects.

what we are is a club with a small but loyal fanbase who have been through more hard times than any other top flight club, a club that has worked our way to where we are now by sheer hard work, dedication and patience, where we are now compared to 10 years ago is astonishing, we haven't done it by splashing the cash on superstars, or by having a world class academy system (although we have done pretty well in that respect considering our standing in the game) we have got to where we are by coaching players well, players who were considered surplus to requirements at other clubs,players who have come through our system, and players who we brought in and made them decent players, we have also had the odd few who were top players, with a sprinkling of good overseas players.

as daz says, we are still building the club, we aren't far off in terms of winning trophies, which in itself it's a remarkable achievement considering only 4/5 other teams have ever been in that position in the super league era, teams with big support and established top flight credentials.
to be able to continue and to make that next step up we need people to get behind the club, to support the club, not walk away because we haven't won anything or aren't signing big stars!

without people supporting the club, there wouldn't be a club now! without people supporting the club we can't move it forward.

there is some ironic stuff kicking about!

I'm not saying we need a shed load of players, 2/3. The top teams may only make 1 or 2 signings because they already have those match winners or an academy that produces them. It's the quality of the signings not quantity. Huby is a good player but did we need another prop? I don't think we did unless we're letting one or two go.

I think we need a leader in the pack whether that would come from a top quality loose forward or a hooker and then someone to take the pressure off DB. Just a thought, who in our team has experience of being part of a successful team? (Lunts Grand Final win doesn't really count). We lack lack that experience.

I'm only saying all this because I want us to move forward and be successful. I've watched them for the last 20 years (I'm only 26) and I will still go to every game even if we sign god awful players. Can't blame me for wanting the club to be better.

P.s we do need a new managing director though!

According to league express your letting Kaufusi leave a year early to return to Australia?

I must admit to being stunned at the attitude of some 'supporters' on this forum.

Last season we were all happy to support the club and the team as we lifted our first silverware in over 80 years and came as close as we have ever done in the Super League era to a place in the Grand Final. We had 5 players in the Dream Team, Coach of the Year, Man of Steel and plenty of players representing us in the World Cup.

Only one year later, with nearly exactly the same players and the same Coach, some are choosing to turn their back on the players and club because of the struggles they have had. I think it was an awful season, I don't see any positives that can be taken from it. But this is exactly when a club and its team need their supporters the most - it's very easy to support a club when the times are good but the true test are times like this.

I may be wrong here but I think there was too much focus on coming good at the "right time" - end of season- to go for the farcical comp that seems to be the Holy grail. I want to see us going for every game as near to full steam as possible, go for the league and CC, and then deal with the end of season comp if or when we get there. I think if the team go with that outlook we might see games and performances we all want. The team is good enough on their day - just need to have plenty of days! I find it hard to understand how people can just walk away - it irritates me when I can't get to a game!

some good points, people really do seem to forget how far we have come in a short space of time, fighting way above our weight , we have been spoilt really with how we have now become a major force in the league season.. would be nice to go that extra step but sometimes we have to have a reality check

indeed they are, on catalans how many overseas players are they allowed?? seems to be more than the UK based teams which is unfair...supposed to be a french team but about 8 were french when they played us?

we have done the mason saga to death.

grix 2yr deal when we have connor and murphy waiting in the wings, well that could be questioned indeed that particular deal, like you say the money could have been spent more wisely

spot on!
but some fans are fickle and disappear as soon as the silverware disappears.

with the new structure in place next season, with only the top 4 qualifying for the play offs i don't think teams can afford to take it easy next year, hopefully every team will give 100 % in every game unlike the last few years.

I love how ambitious you guys are!! At the next supporters meeting why don't you just pat each other on the back for our past achievements... Come on, it sounds like your happy being 4/5th best team in the comp because we used to be a lot worse. Being the best team in the comp and winning the grand isn't unrealistic if we move forward with 2 good signings and good management

it isn't unrealistic but it hasn't happened yet so no point acting like we are the top dogs till it does.

But that's it, overall I think we are moving forward with the resources available. I think a mass overhaul would be counterproductive. Yes this season was a step back, but in the scheme of things no disaster. I think Anderson and the players will have learnt plenty and can take that into next season.

I think the urgency of the new league format will suit us. Mentally from the start there was something not quite on with us; hangover from a table topping campaign where our spine hardly missed a game and then went straight into World Cup - cudjoe, grix, ferres, brough, wardle, Koppy off the top of my head. This was a major thing for us and we just never got into a groove. Still, finished 3rd, edged out by saints in cc, good points total, bringing on some cracking youth and brought in some useful looking signings so far.

I'm not saying that Anderson is beyond criticism or that everything is rosy in the garden, but overall I'll take where we are at, as I genuinely believe we are on the right track.

it's not unrealistic though is it?
we are now considered one of the top 4/5 teams in super league, we are considered, by some to be genuine trophy winning contenders.
in the super league are, there have only really been 4/5 teams that have realistically been considered so, bradford, wigan,leeds,saints and warrington...these clubs are far bigger clubs with far bigger supporter base than us, so to be up there now is a great achievement in my eyes, but it has taken us 15 years to get to where we are, we have built slowly, and right now we aren't far off, but for a couple of poor performances in the last week of the season we could be going to old trafford on saturday.

that says to me ,that we don't need to overhaul the team/coaching staff we just need to be smarter in games that really matter.
yes we are on the right track but having fans desert us because we didn't win anything is not going to help us continue to strive for success.

Fans ain't deserting but if you read my previous posts the cost of home and away support is around a £1,000 possibly more so it's a big chunk of anyone's leisure spend and a lot of people go as a couple so it doubles this cost.

So anyone who waits to see what investment the club makes isn't disloyal just waiting to see what value they are going to get for what they spend the question being season ticket or pay on the day !!

Ok at the moment Huby is a good signing Ellis needs to kick on to be considered the same.

We have lost Chan and Faiumu two of our better players and Kafusi a decent signing on the face of it that just didn't quite work out. So at the moment lets say we are status quo but with at least two overseas spots.

On top of this certain players for example, Cudjoe, Brough, Grix at times, Lunt, Ferres didn't have the same big seasons they had the year before and in truth some of the turgid games particularly at home that we did win were poor fare so the regular supporter home and away got less good Rugby for their dollar.

So for anyone to consider for a spell before committing a large part of their leisure budget to the Giants is only common sense 99% will probably renew before the season ticket close date but ultimately despite being part of our fabric the Giants like all entertainers have to put forward the product to attract the customers being fans mean we are more easily persuaded.

If we are all honest last season was better than the dark old days but there was no progress from the year before and thus far the signings and plans for next season would suggest the same hopefully last year was a blip but people ending large amounts of their spare income have a right to consider their investment as does Ken and the club.

so the ones who havent renewed, if any new players are to come in, which im not sure they will, what position do you think a new player will come in?

cant be half back or hooker because those are already taken now for next season.

pretty much every other position is set too.

you will be having along wait.

if we signed sonny bill williams our average gate wouldnt improve much, we have the 4/5k fans that will be there for home games..depending what day its on ofcourse!

So are people saying that they will only come to support us if the season just gone has been an improvement on the last one ? If your a supporter isn't the idea to support not just come along when we're winning !.

I don't get that, if your a fan surely you would want to support the club all the time not just when we have a good season.
I'm disappointed with this season myself but i would never consider not going next year because we didn't improve from the previous year, has winning the LLS suddenly turned us into a bunch of glory hunters who are only interested in watching if we're playing well and winning ?
If so its a tragedy that after 1 good year followed by an average one after all the years of struggle we put up with people are prepared to not support anymore because we haven't improved !!!

with the club being a regular fixture in the playoffs now the fans have very high expectations!

we arent far off, we need to stick with the lads and get behind them even if we are all disillusioned with the season we just had.

new structure of the league may suit us

i think the problems starts with brough statement at the beginning of last year about only the play off matter. i like many of us seat there watching paint dry like Wakefield at home thinking what the hell am i doing here . as i have posted before we need to replace Chan plenty of props but a only ferris and baily who can make breaks and put there away