Team development takes time.

We've had 3-4 disasters. With Cas, Leeds and Salford coming to mind.
But we've had a lot of near misses too.
Small margins to take us from our position now to fringe playoff.
Chester couldn't do it and just ran out of options with his team. There may be others who can but who knows. Even the lauded Powell couldnt turn around a team on the slide without spending money. Poching has shown enough to me that he can do it. It's not an overnight thing and we'll probably have bad days ahead too but I think there are enough signs to know we can do it.

Wow, It doesnt feel like 13/31, although we did finish last season quite well.
Assuming that the wheels dont come off in spectacular style and with Toulouse' best player now out for the season, I really cant see them willing their last 3 games, it's now all about recruitment and what type of budget Willie has for next season.
We have the makings of a decent side but, with a number of players on their way, can we replace with equal or better.
Miller has been playing the house down recently and on current form he will be difficult to replace and Fifita would also be hard to replace.
It seems he will be in the UK next year but, will he still be at Trinity, there were rumours that he may be on his way to, of all places, Leeds

Vasty that's a particularly long bla bla, hopefully diverting people's interest from your own Poaching thread.
It didn't work

Pop Tart got to agree think he as done a good job considering most of sallery cap had been spent for this year .Willing to give youth a chance ,

It's his first full season in charge FFS!

Every man and his dog pre season (outside of Trinity) had us finishing 11th or 12th so those claiming we should be top 6 must be seeing something everyone else in the game isn't!

When people make predictions pre season they are basing those predictions on full squads that are put together...when you consider we've missed nearly our first choice three quarter line for at least half the season we're about where we should be IMO.

Two so called better, established coaches in Ian Watson (Hudds last season) and Daryl Powell this season haven't done much better.

He's made plenty of mistakes, that's not in dispute but too many fans are quick to jump on people without giving them chance...on the whole I think he's done really well as the season has gone on...for the mistakes he's made he's also done some real big things that have worked out.

Taking everything into account I'd rate his first season in charge 7/10...

Overall there are a few negatives to point at poching but far more positives. Lets be fair he was handed over a right crock of left behind by Chester. He was left with some poor signings to suck as well. Not only that he has to work within the limits of a strict budget. Obviously he wanted to retain Batch and Miller otherwise they would not have been offered contracts. Now he has to find replacements at least as good with the money those two turned down. Plenty of other players to recruit as well. So the guy will probably not get the team he would like and have to make do with less. It would be nice to win a few more next season and finish higher up the league. However ,if he manages to keep us up again within all the constraints he has, we cant realistically ask for more.

Why not debate like an adult or is that beyond you?

I’ve made my opinion clear but I’m open mind enough to accept those of others. Try it, it’s quite liberating.

Vasty you give your opinion and that's it when have you ever been up for a debate. Your dictatorial manner would not invite debate.
Its also interesting how you constantly belittle other contributers..
Open minded you are not

You started that lampy. Leave it alone please.
Either debate the point or leave it alone.

I wasn't a fan of promoting Poaching, simply because of the environment he was involved in.
He did a good job at the back end of last season not sure if that was his coaching ability or because of a new face.
This season because of the Chesters recruitment he's struggled to put his own stamp on things and probably found the going difficult.
Next season will be his opportunity to hopefully mould the club his way providing he can obtain full backing, if not it will be more of the same.

Unfortunately Willie might still be having to deal with some of Chesters signings next year, unless somebody comes to take them off us.

It's unfortunate that Wakey Trin, not an ideal situation.

Not all Chesters signings are rubbish.
But there are a couple that would be good to move on.

But for me, Willie's biggest opportunity is to replace Tom and Bill. Not their positions particularly but their senior place in the team.
Unfortunately he needs to know where he stands with Fifita and Miller first.

I feel sure he will know how he stands with Miller and fifita.

Fair enough....but I don't.

So assuming both stay I would look 9 and 13.
I like Hood but he needs support and it isn't Crowther and Bowes needs longer.
Dwyer would be fine for me.

13 I want another Westerman. I know Crowther is solid and I wouldn't lose him, but we can do better. I think we'll have to go overseas but we need a good one.

I'm OK with 3/4 though we need some depth. Murphy and Kershaw work perfectly. Not sure whether we are keeping Jorge but he's behind the other too. And I'd keep Evans too. Lineham has to go.
Hall, Lyne, Gaskell and I'd keep Croft. Minns has to go.

Fullback is a difficult one. I've been really impressed with Shaul. He brings something Max does not though clearly Jowitt has skills of his own. Hull seem to want rid. I'd take him unless there was a Coote or French just hanging around waiting to come to play for us.

Clearly if we need to replace 6 or 8 then we have to go for quality and possibly downgrade signings in other positions.
..... and a Captain

Think he has already called it a day hasn't he?

Too late, he has gone to Hull

Dont forget Kaye is still with us next season

With 6 games that were lost by the margin of within a single try, maybe with better game management, we could well have won some of those, and pushed for a play off spot.

Maybe if some of our senior players were a little more consistent, rather than a handful of games toward the back end of the season, we could well have been challenging.

I don't know if Lino is staying or not, he was rumoured to be going too, not that long ago, but with Miller likely ending up at the Dingles next year, we could be looking to be replacing both our 6 and 7 at the same time.

Maybe with a bit more quality, we may get a little more consistency. I don't mean by signing the top NRL halves, we can't afford it, but sometimes spending just that little more, can make a big difference. (If you buy a £4 bottle of wine, it tastes like a £4 bottle of wine. Replace that with a £5 bottle, it usually is that bit better.

Just a shame we spent so much on Lineham and Gaskell.

Then there is Fifita, one moment he wants to bring his brother over, then you read Leeds are trying to snare him

No they didn’t, I quite fancied us and said so pre-season. I certainly didn’t expect some of our non shows this year.

Jorge is signed for 2023

Sadly I can't see Lineham walking away from the remaining two years of is inflated contract and nobody else will be daft enough to take it on.

Would it be worth the double negative of having him out on the pitch though. The wage is lost but why weaken the defensive line each game?

Offer him out on loan with part of his contract covered.

Any idea what his inflated contract amounts to?, just asking out of interest like.

Is he?

Where you got that from? I’m not saying your wrong but I can’t find it.