You capture my sentiments perfectly

I want opposite views. If they are lucid and backed up with reasoned rationale
I quite enjoy it.
What I don’t want is compliance for an “easy life”. If someone has something to say let them say it as long as it isn’t abusive

If we are not careful we could go down tha Red Vee route where apart from their current coach you see almost no alternative views on a variety of topics

We must be doing something right on here as Yellow Giraffe has returned to his true spiritual home. Welcome back YG

Well, I think it's a well used opinion that Brexit leaders have gone from a position of
Early 2016 = well be financially better off
Late 2016 = Therell be little difference financially to people
And on an ever decreasing scale until end of 2019 = No one said we would be better off, or well have to take the short term pain etc etc.
The pound has fallen quite heavily against the euro and the dollar which in turn is creating issues. There is also uncertainty over a deal/no Brexit that isnt helping business (and to make it clear business would be better knowing which it is, rather than being in uncertainty).

Now I am guessing that you voted Brexit, fine
You wont need to be a genius to work out which I voted for

I'm not getting I to a discussion here about the rights and wrongs

What I will say is it is absolutely had an effect on all of our lives, livelihoods and will continue to do so whilst there is so much up in the air, like it has been for the last 4 years.

Yes, I hope and am starting to feel that we will see him here for another 12 months

Well said Jukesays

You are clearly intelligent and i would guess a business owner so you would know that the pound was actually on the up before Covid. We shall agree to disagree on this subject though because i suspect we are at completely other ends of the spectrum



Back on topic. Yes i think he stays for another 12 months. Bit of an incredible side that on paper when you look at the pivots. French, Hastings, Field and Powell with Smith getting more game time. I would assume that Tommy is retiring. I can't see a way of having 4 halves in the side and keeping them happy. We also have a bit of a problem with Greenwood now. You would think we signed Bateman not only because he is world class but as a replacement for Isa with Isa covering the two second row spots. There has been a lot made of (me included) about Greenwoods heart and aggression. Since lockdown he has been a completely different animal. What i would do for next season is get Lockers to finally call it a day and go with Smithies with Greenwood making the transition from back row to 13 but for him to be on the bench he would have to play prop too because the bench you would assume would consist of 2 props, Smith and Isa. Conundrum.

If we win the LLS the argument - my and others argument - for Lam being released is obsolete. I don’t fancy Lam as our head coach, irrespective of how we’ve been playing recently I just don’t believe he’s the one to take us back to winning the SL/CC.

However, even as in ardent “Lam Outer” I can’t die on that hill if we win the LLS and finish top. It looks, and sounds, ridiculous. He will get another year at the very minimum, whether he wins a GF or not IMO.

The squad itself looks immense for 2021. I’d like to see Flower & Clubb moved on and another prop brought in but on the whole it looks well. I am as excited for next season as I am the end of this season.

Well, i was waiting for someone to say...!



What I was going to say, which was, I'm sure I've criticised Lam plenty (but not IL or KR), and I'm sure I'm not the only one, as memory serves! And like 100%, I'm not fully convinced by a handful of good results. But still we go onwards and upwards. We have a great chance to get to the GF and put on a display. Lam could not ask for a better test.

So is he staying or not?



He seemed to give a pretty cryptic message in his Sky TV interview earlier. Said he knew in his heart what he wanted to do

Come on, ye of little faith give a bit of credit where credit is due to the Coach.

I have and will continue to do so where due irrespective of personal opinion on Lam

Very true Jukesays.
I was looking back and we have finished 1st or 2nd in 8 of the last 10 years.
We have contested 5 of the last 7 Grand Finals.
We have won 10 trophies in the 13 years Lenagan has been in charge
We have contested 13 finals in his tenure (6 Grand Finals, 3 Challenge Cups, 4 World Club Challenges)

As supporters, that is my measure of success. Ultimately you are in sport to win. IL/KR have won. I think we have been the most prolific team in terms of trophies in the last decade. What more can you ask?

What I will add though I don't see the incredibly high standards fans have as a completely bad thing. Yes it goes OTT and I include myself in that at times. But the fundamental expectation of constant success, every year, is what makes this club great for me. That said, we know that aligns with IL/KR and you have to say they've met those standards, which is your point.

Add to that ten academy grand final appearances, winning nine. The club has done the majority of things right under Lenagan, perfect, no, but nothing ever is.

You can't beat cold, hard facts.

When you see it all written down, that's some achievement.

The post match interview with Hastings and Leuluai spoke volumes for me:

When asked about their contract situation next year.

Hastings: “I will speak to my agent this weekend and then my mum and decide what to do’

Leuluai: ‘I want to be here and play for this club’

Sounded to me like he is staying and wants to inform his family first that he won't be coming home.

As for rumours the players don't like him, they all wanted their pics with him.

I think he’s staying and I’m happy he is to be honest. I have openly criticised his attitude, something which sometimes does need reigning in, but he has been solid for us.

My only concern is how do Smith/Jax/French/Field mix and play together. If Jax does leave do we have Smith/Field as starting HB’s? I know Field was struggling to get game time there at Parramatta but that’s irrelevant IMO

Add Leuluai in there too! Sounds like he will probably stay. I’m guessing another year playing off the bench for Smith.

Don't understand the criticism of his attitude. He never seems to give less than 100% for me. His social media stuff can rub people the wrong way, but I think he plays to that.

Not sure how I could forget Tommy! I’ve called for him to retire or play 2nd/3rd fiddle to the HB’s and Powell/Bourouh but he’s playing too well for that. But if you look at it without the well earned good sentiment towards Tommy you’ve got to reluctantly say it’s probably time for him to retire.

Why?

Like you said he's been playing well and he's also been playing 80 mins too. I can't see a reason why he's not got at least another 12 months in him. His form is great & he's not an injury prone player either.

If the club can fit him under the cap, then it's a no brainer from me. Lockers will probably retire, so let's stagger the losses of these two champs over 12 months.

I hope Lockers gets to sign off on the field with a classic Lockers performance. Be a real shame to see him forced to finish.

Bob on. He’s playing his best rugby for a while (no coincidence that he’s had most of the kicking taken off him and can concentrate on his strengths) and if there’s room it’s an easy decision. His role will depend on who stays/goes but just to have him around the side makes a difference.

If you watch last night's game again you can definitely tell that the fire is still there with Tommy. He was getting stuck in and he's always been an absolute specimen too, so there's no doubts over form or fitness.

There's still plenty of experience in the side, but you just don't throw away a player with 300+ appearances, especially when they are in great form.

I think the ideal scenario is that Hastings stays along with Tommy and Harry Smith takes on a bigger role, with him starting more games and Tommy helping cover Powell and the both halfback positions. If you’re going in to a game that you think will be an all out battle like last Friday against Saints then you always have the option of starting Tommy and keeping Smith back.

The only thing that makes me think both Hastings and Tommy won’t stay is the impending signing of Field. It seems unlikely both will stay if he comes in, especially now French is staying. It should all be one clearer in the next few weeks.