But we came close in those two semi finals to get to Old Trafford. In 2016 we came from behind at the JJB even with a key cog of that team, Sika Manu missing. Only to narrowly lose out in the final minutes. And in 2017. We came from behind to take the lead at Headingly only to lose out to a late Sutcliffe try. We'd have done Castleford in that final no problem, as Leeds did.

The point is, we were competitive and in the mix when the silverware was decided. We could only dream of that right now because we're miles away.

Such a good post it posted twice.

injured?
we dont sign injury prone players

All ifs buts and maybes, we didnt make the Grand Finals and then threw all the good progress in the bin with repeated bad signings.

Also not sure it is down to training too hard early in the season and burning out this time, Smith indicated we started the season a bit undercooked. I agree with Wilf that theres a trend for us to drop off when we are safe from the drop and players know theyve got another seasons money coming their way. Worryingly with no relegation in the future the players may be even more relaxed

think its the latter
Perfect game to play him today off the bench with Houghton
Top six was well gone

Notice that Keith has been online for hours.

Poor sod. He must be frustrated beyond belief that he's not allowed to play with the grown ups.

But that's what you get for being a naughty boy.

At the moment we are playing with no forwards which the club have identified to a certain extent but for next season our backs are looking so weak its embarrassing.
We dont know yet where Hoy will play but if he does move into the halves then we are weak at full back.
Our two centres are average at best and if we run with the wings we have plus Tindall they must be the most inexperienced and weakest in S/L
Never would we have expected Cam Scott to be a starting centre.
We now need two halfbacks and the problem at nine is still to be resolved because an overseas nine seems to have been ruled out.
Maybe explains why Pearson has gone off the radar as reality has kicked in

Nah, It's about having a group of players that are winners and born to play in the big games against having a bunch of average players who are happy to just take home a living. The likes of Wigan and St Helens usually go for the former. That's why they're always successful and have bulging trophy cabinets.

Nah, It's about having a group of players that are winners and born to play in the big games against having a bunch of average players who are happy to just take home a living. The likes of Wigan and St Helens usually go for the former. That's why they're always successful and have bulging trophy cabinets.

youre on a roll with these double posts

It's the forum. It's loving my posts so much it's posting them twice.

Well, that was a fun afternoon, was it not! as another year of what might have been drifts off into the autumn sunset!! never to be seen or spoken of ever again!!

Move along everybody, there's nothing left for any of you to see here, it's time for you all to head off home!!!

Bloody hell…there are some right whinging sods on here.They wanted a clear out and a proven head coach…we got that and yet still getting hysterical about a season that was never going anywhere.People saying about Pearson not saying anything…err Smith has full control of the playing side so he doesn’t have to say anything.Yet again he is finding money again to make signings as well as paying off the Covid load.He has to take some of the blame for the last 4/5 seasons but has now appointed the right coach and maybe some of the money is being spent on the youth and academy set up which will bear fruit in future seasons…look at Wiagan,they have signed how many players but not bringing any through the academy and those that have are forwards.we can’t all have big money backers and tbh it doesn’t guarantee success,our friends across the river will be like Salford in a few years

I didnt expect to make the playoffs this year but I did expect to be seeing signs we are getting better, and a few weeks back we were such as beating Saints at home and running Wigan very close away a couple of weeks ago.

But losing to weak Wire and Leeds teams at home while looking devoid of ideas is concerning. The club just cant seem to lift its end of season malase.

Smith still has my full backing but we need to be starting 2024 with a bang, we cant keep saying 'its a rebuild year, wait til next year' its got old

Feels like we've been rebuilding since Watts left mid season back in 2018, as you say, needs to stop at some point, can't just keep saying its a new coach he needs year 1 to steady the ship, year 2 to make it his team, year 3 to win something

Oh I agree….the last 2 matches have been wretched and tbh I think Clifford’s not been ripping up trees since he announced he is buggering off to be a back up half for a year???,saying that,take Trueman out and we devoid of ideas and that has been proven over the last 2 games.it’s amazing that our end of seasons slump has happened with the players Smith is shipping out

Big mistake lettingWatts go and never replaced him..Another Radford master stroke

Tony Smiths done the same to Fc that he did to Rovers, too small to take teams on, not big enough to go up the middle so trying to take teams on out wide, it looks great when it comes off but it doesnt come off often enough, and thats why your where you are in the league. Smith talks a good game but unfortunatly hes out of touch. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8722011

Tony Smiths done the same to Fc that he did to Rovers, too small to take teams on, not big enough to go up the middle so trying to take teams on out wide, it looks great when it comes off but it doesnt come off often enough, and thats why your where you are in the league. Smith talks a good game but unfortunatly hes out of touch. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8722011

Quote ="bishops finger"Tony Smiths done the same to Fc that he did to Rovers, too small to take teams on, not big enough to go up the middle so trying to take teams on out wide, it looks great when it comes off but it doesnt come off often enough, and thats why your where you are in the league. Smith talks a good game but unfortunatly hes out of touch. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8722011'" He has been lumbered with an ineffetive pack, Evans was useless, Sao has been injured or banned most of the year, Satae blows hot and cold, our 2nd row is none existant most weeks. So going up the middle just isnt an option for us. What style he chooses to play next year will be interesting

Quote ="bishops finger"Tony Smiths done the same to Fc that he did to Rovers, too small to take teams on, not big enough to go up the middle so trying to take teams on out wide, it looks great when it comes off but it doesnt come off often enough, and thats why your where you are in the league. Smith talks a good game but unfortunatly hes out of touch. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ll-8722011'" He has been lumbered with an ineffetive pack, Evans was useless, Sao has been injured or banned most of the year, Satae blows hot and cold, our 2nd row is none existant most weeks. So going up the middle just isnt an option for us. What style he chooses to play next year will be interesting

Another shocking display in a Must Win game - losing to Wire was a shocker

Really not progressed other than being able to increase our effort , but only in some games

This is a business based on Winning

It’s not like Tim Sheens “ we lost but didn’t get beat” league table

We have to WIN and the players have let down the Coach this season.

Thankfully TS gets his own squad next year and as long as Lane moves on then I think we have cleared out most of what we needed to

Jam tomorrow for next season

Nobody will take Lane off us, hes just about the most forgettable SL player. Needs to be shipped out to Newcastle its about his standard at the moment.

Agree with this, think it's one of the root cause's of our struggles this year. Apart from when Satae has one of his on-days, it becomes impossible to lay any decent foundations in a game. This leads to us constantly looking for miracle off the cuff plays to get anywhere, usually by the Clifford-Swift route.
Smith can't be held wholly responsible for this, he has to work with what he has inherited and to somehow find a formula that works with this somewhat disparate group of players. We've had games where it has come together, but obviously nowhere near often enough.

I would think that most of us on here, if we are being brutally honest, would openly admit that our league position reflects this squad of players. Bottom-six certainly, and probably bottom-four on reflection. I was hoping that we could maybe sneak 5th/6th, with a little help from other teams underperforming, but that was me trying to be optimistic in the face of cold reality



Ah well, there is always tomorrow/next year isn't there!! There's always next year when you're a b&w, heaven knows I've lived through enough 'next years' to know that

Just got home from the game after spending the night in Hull and all i can say is what a show! Some of the worst rugby ive seen in 40 years was under Hodgson and that last night was no better. My dad said its because all the players leaving but i dont buy that. And after nearly a full season of Tony Smith imposing his ideas and methods on the team i cant see what hes actually done. I know i know the team is shocking but they just didnt look interested and had the totally wrong mindset. Two of the best players Savelio and Swift both leaving. Its like were dieing corpse of a team that needs putting out of its misery. Just appalling.