..somewhere between 5th and 7th. A fair reflection of our position in the competition and absolutely miles off the top 2 and Leeds, miles off.

I've posted a few times on it the last week, but my opinion is that Warrington and Wigan's current dominance is a combination of 2 factors:
1) Money Talks. I knew about Moran's wealth, but wasn't aware of Lenegan's until I googled him. Blimey. Sounds like the guy just bought Orrell's old stadium as a training facility on there. Plus he owns Harlequins and a football team.
2) These teams with the 2 richest backers now have top class coaches who are recruiting very well, and playing slick, well-organised rugby. At Wigan, the fitness and professional attitude appears top notch too and they seem to target a minimum of 40 points a game. It doesn't matter to them or Leeds if they have players out, they have a structure, shape and gameplan and play to it. It works.

There have been a few false dawns in the SL, but I wouldn't be surprised if we're not on the cusp of a period of Wigan dominance, particularly given their recruitment for next year and the fact they have excellent attendances.

So in this context, what are our realistic ambitions now as a club? Play-offs and a lucky cup run? Whilst fully recognising the fantastic off the pitch work our club has done to have the most robust and self-sustaining economic model in the comp (thanks in no small part to us customers), I don't get the impression that our board has vision and ambition on the playing front and that they are entirely satisfied with the current "in the pack" position that's not costing them anything. This last bit isn't supposed to sound ungrateful as their cash saved the club and there's no one else wanting to buy it, but I don't get the impression they'll be [udemanding[/u success on the pitch and making the tough calls to get there in the way that Lenegan has done at Wigan.

I don't think we have any real ambitions except making a profit.

We don't need to feel 'grateful' either. They didn't invest in the club out of love for the fans - they did it to make a profit.



Sadly, I think you might be correct.

I think that's a fair assessment Mrs B. I agree that we are looking at a period of serious Wigan dominance. We're a long way off considering ourselves to be a top 4 club. I hope that we're going in the right direction though. We're certainly better this season that we were the last two but it's succession planning that concerns me. We're told the future is bright but there's little to back that up with at the moment.

It would appear that our ambition lies off the field rather than on it.

Cannot argue, the board have no ambitions beyone the balance sheet, and they are happy with that balance sheet because of the fanatic fan base Hull FC enjoy.

Please get a grip.Wigan beat us with an almost full strength team we had 6 of our MAIN PLAYERS OUT do you think Wigan would have won last night without Leului Tominkins etc answer is no.

The salary cap retricts all clubs on their spend so having money does not mean you can but success. The issue for us for the last few seasons has been poor buys and poor coaching. Look how Hudds have come on with a decent coach.

You are right we are currently a mid table team our skill levels are poor. You as a fan have a choice to go or not to go this will make the board react .

For me I still do not think Wigan will win anything major if Leeds get their players back they will be in their and for US if we beat Harliguins and Crusaders then we are back on track .

Show me where anyone - anyone at all - is saying we should have won last night.

I think the reason why there'll be some discussion about Mrs B's post is that some of us are glass half full and some who are glass half empty



Personally, as far as Hull FC goes, I'm a half empty man !

Mines more than half empty

Correct. Last night was a damage limitation exercise. I said to my mate before the game we would do well to stay within 20 points of Wigan. Unfortunately, that limitation exercise was limited in it's efficacy !!!

Hard to disagree with any of that. As I said last night there are 2 teams way out and above the rest on the field. Off the field from a license perspective we are self sustaining and that should be applauded. To match them on the field would require a seed change in the way we operate the team. More than anything we need this next crop of youngsters to shine. That's the biggest test of all for the coaches IMO - fail to bring 3 or 4 of these through to top level and we'll be struggling to get anywhere near.

The salary cap will mean there's no "dominance" by anyone.

Agreed and the non fed rules etc. hence the massive importance of the youngsters making it.

Pretty much sums it up for me, except that I don't think we'll see any one team dominating because of the salary cap. What we'll see instead is a small group of clubs winning stuff because they use the cap more effectively, have better systems in place on the field, and have superior coaching. Unfortunately I don't think that we'll be in that group.

Like there has been no dominance by Leeds the last few years? People are dubious about Warringtons adherance to the cap already and they have only won the CC.

Dominace, to me, means winning everything out of sight, like Wigan did. Leeds haven't been dominant, just the best in a grand final. The 2006 Saints team is the closest to dominance we've seen, yet they couldn't carry it on. The salary cap was a big factor in that.

As i said last night , Success breeds success . If we had winners in the boardroom with the ambition to see the club challenge for honours rather than just making the numbers up, The money side would look after it's self. If we played the game like Wire ,Wigan or Saint ,We'd be playing in front of 16-18000 imo.

I think we would have had a job on even at full strength t.b.h.

I'd have expected us to at least get close with Fitz, O'Meley, Whiting, Long, Tickle and Calderwood in the side. All I wanted to see last night was 17 guys prepared to give it their best shot.

Me too,all I am saying is,it still would have been a tough battle.

Great POst Mrs B says it all really can't disagree at all!

I agree with that. I went last night thinking we could tip the balance...even with a VERY WEAKENED side. The enthusiasm of the young lads, I thought, would outshine the petulance of a dominant Wigan side. It all started really good.....loads of pressure on their line.....Then (and I dont like using the Ref as an excuse).....Silverwood remembered he was on TV. I wish he had seen as many forward passes as we did too...but hey-ho, I gusee the TJ's are at fault too???? I guess any team that has been battered by a Ref as much as we were last night would lose their will to compete like FC did....and the nightmare just carried on into the second half. Wigan did score a couple of stunning trys....but there were some really dubious ones in the first half. I havent seen the sky coverage...but would love to hear what was said on the comentery when they kept showing the 'dodgy trys' from different angles ?
I'm pretty much confident that with Tickle, Fitz, Ogre and Longy in last nights team.....We would've come away winners. I get amazed by people that say the injuries shouldnt affect the team.....IDIOTS!!!!! End of!
BRING ON QUINNS....(and come on Bulls

)

good post chewie

Quote ="CHEWIE7"eusa_clap.gif I agree with that. I went last night thinking we could tip the balance...even with a VERY WEAKENED side. The enthusiasm of the young lads, I thought, would outshine the petulance of a dominant Wigan side. It all started really good.....loads of pressure on their line.....Then (and I dont like using the Ref as an excuse).....Silverwood remembered he was on TV. I wish he had seen as many forward passes as we did too...but hey-ho, I gusee the TJ's are at fault too???? I guess any team that has been battered by a Ref as much as we were last night would lose their will to compete like FC did....and the nightmare just carried on into the second half. Wigan did score a couple of stunning trys....but there were some really dubious ones in the first half. I havent seen the sky coverage...but would love to hear what was said on the comentery when they kept showing the 'dodgy trys' from different angles ? I'm pretty much confident that with Tickle, Fitz, Ogre and Longy in last nights team.....We would've come away winners. I get amazed by people that say the injuries shouldnt affect the team.....IDIOTS!!!!! End of! BRING ON QUINNS....(and come on Bulls )'" With Tickle,Fitz,Ogre and Longy in the side, we still conceded 48 points at DW Stadium. See this : www.wiganwarriors.com/WMatchP.as ... &id=161908 Face facts Wigan are mirror imaging Melbourne Storm, the most succesful team in the NRL, we are nowhere near them. All this, lets release this player,that player -wont change nothing. If fans and the board want to settle for second best - then the future looks bleak.

Quote ="CHEWIE7"eusa_clap.gif I agree with that. I went last night thinking we could tip the balance...even with a VERY WEAKENED side. The enthusiasm of the young lads, I thought, would outshine the petulance of a dominant Wigan side. It all started really good.....loads of pressure on their line.....Then (and I dont like using the Ref as an excuse).....Silverwood remembered he was on TV. I wish he had seen as many forward passes as we did too...but hey-ho, I gusee the TJ's are at fault too???? I guess any team that has been battered by a Ref as much as we were last night would lose their will to compete like FC did....and the nightmare just carried on into the second half. Wigan did score a couple of stunning trys....but there were some really dubious ones in the first half. I havent seen the sky coverage...but would love to hear what was said on the comentery when they kept showing the 'dodgy trys' from different angles ? I'm pretty much confident that with Tickle, Fitz, Ogre and Longy in last nights team.....We would've come away winners. I get amazed by people that say the injuries shouldnt affect the team.....IDIOTS!!!!! End of! BRING ON QUINNS....(and come on Bulls )'" With Tickle,Fitz,Ogre and Longy in the side, we still conceded 48 points at DW Stadium. See this : www.wiganwarriors.com/WMatchP.as ... &id=161908 Face facts Wigan are mirror imaging Melbourne Storm, the most succesful team in the NRL, we are nowhere near them. All this, lets release this player,that player -wont change nothing. If fans and the board want to settle for second best - then the future looks bleak.