Captain for me has to be Asiata and then I'd look at either Herman or Jed as the VC

Feel sorry for the poor bugger who has to clean up the 3g pitch afterwards

Quote ="Steve0"Where's that from about Rapana?'" Probably here because of his unique character but what a competitor and what great praise from his team mates and coach. I'm excited about watching him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BBMEao5vU

Quote ="Steve0"Where's that from about Rapana?'" Probably here because of his unique character but what a competitor and what great praise from his team mates and coach. I'm excited about watching him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BBMEao5vU

From Grix today

The environment that we are trying to put together has a healthy fear within it; a new coach comes in, and there's always a healthy fear, and the novelty hasn't worn off yet. Everyone is still behaving. It's just been an enjoyable place to come and work. Long may that continue."

I’ve always said the players must feel that little bit of underlying ‘fear’
Fergie had it at Man U as did Cloughie who was a genius

Quote ="The Dentist Wilf"Probably here because of his unique character but what a competitor and what great praise from his team mates and coach. I'm excited about watching him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BBMEao5vU'" Me too. Heard some good things about him already.

Quote ="The Dentist Wilf"Probably here because of his unique character but what a competitor and what great praise from his team mates and coach. I'm excited about watching him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BBMEao5vU'" Me too. Heard some good things about him already.

I'd prefer it if Grix stayed hush tbh.

I do feel that during his interim stint Grix's hands were tied with what he could/couldn't say and in hindsight it sounds like it was absolute carnage behind the scenes, having said that how he carried himself and some of his actions/selections were horrendous.

Impossible gig for anyone with that squad and it became more and more apparent just how unfit and injury prone the team where. I reckon even Wayne Bennett would have gone home with his head in his hands...but personally I'd have let him go just to fully end that disaster of an era.

Asiata Captain, Sezer/Rapana vice for me

Think some of the comments are said with tongue in cheek but the common theme with the comments about him in the video are about his heart & competitiveness, not only that but the written comments from fans and even opposition fans.

However what really stands out for me and says everything about what we are getting in Jordan Rapana is Ricky Stewarts comment at 3.06mins when he says "in an interview recently I explained about the influence Mal Meninga had on players........ Raps is very similar"

Zak Hardaker interview : “We expect to win every week , we want to win. Not happy if we’re not in some kind of play off Challenge Cup type of thing” “ Logan Moy has really come on leaps and bounds since last season “ I’m getting a bit excited !

[quote="Tarquin Fuego":1dgubkzz]Zak Hardaker interview : “We expect to win every week , we want to win. Not happy if we’re not in some kind of play off Challenge Cup type of thing” “ Logan Moy has really come on leaps and bounds since last season “ I’m getting a bit [b:1dgubkzz]excited[/b:1dgubkzz]![/quote:1dgubkzz] Aroused?

[quote="mwindass":2rbgsnmr]Aroused?[/quote:2rbgsnmr] It’s early Xmas Eve here lol I’m a tad excited

[quote="mwindass":30qg1gnh]Aroused?[/quote:30qg1gnh] Semillon

I don’t think it matters that much as natural leaders will lead regardless but DT just narrowed down the captaincy shortlist to Herman, Lane, Sezer, Cartwright and Asiata.

Enjoyed the Hardaker interview, had his off-field issues but there is no denying he speaks about and understands the game very well. A proven winner pretty much everywhere he's gone who I think will be a big asset for us during his time here.

Heard Rapana has picked up an injury now .

Can they please focus on Discipline ! Stop the bastud penalties We saw this in the last game of the season v Dragons in the first half We were on course to win the game then gave away 6 penalties as in 6 again etc Dropped the ball 3 times as well and boom we lose the game by half time !! We must focus on the small things - penalties 6 agains and drop balls ! Also touch finders must improve massively as they are a gift to you and we don’t use them ! The small things make the most massive difference I watch Storm regularly and they are the masters of discipline They complete at about 85% plus most game sometimes they complete every set until mid way through the second half and that’s the discipline we need

anyone notice a reduced number of first team pre season matches, looks like most teams (apart from the leeds/wakey boxing day money maker) are only playing once vs SL opposition

[quote="number 6":2s5xp3qc]anyone notice a reduced number of first team pre season matches, looks like most teams (apart from the leeds/wakey boxing day money maker) are only playing once vs SL opposition[/quote:2s5xp3qc] I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.

[quote="B0NES":1ilq43f6]Heard Rapana has picked up an injury now .[/quote:1ilq43f6] It’s not a bad one. Will miss Catalan and Wigan should be ok the week after.

[quote="Faithful One":39yp8819]I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.[/quote:39yp8819] Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

If Rapana is out, hopefully not serious, no issue with Moy starting at FB, have heard he is really impressing in training and some of the new overseas players have been shocked how good he has been.

Yes Moy will have a lot more experience and more quality around him this season, so JC can drip feed the likes of Moy, Martin, Barron, Charles, Jebson, Staveley, Westerman.