Might not be inspiring but it is realistic. Which is a lot better than recent years when he's claimed we'll be challenging for the playoffs only for us to sink further down the table.

Yes, that's how I read it too.
The pressure is on the new recruits to repay the faith the coach and DOR have shown in them by bringing them into the club. I guess the conversation went along the lines of 'we believe you can do a good job for us, come and join us here in rebuilding the club'

People usually respond well if they feel someone has faith in them, let's hope that's the case here, fingers crossed.

Like you say RR, in recent years he's promised a lot but delivered very little.
Maybe he's decided to try the opposite, promise little, damp down expectations (not that any of us have any wild expectations for 2025!!) and then hopefully surprise everyone! The old reverse psychology trick!!



The only way is up, surely!!!

We are where we are, unfortunately, and there is no getting away from that fact.
I agree with you that the squad is hardly setting anyone's pulses racing and dreaming of big days out at finals, but we have an awful lot of damage to repair and we have to start somewhere. I think this squad has been put together for the sole purpose of stopping the rot and stopping us going backwards even further. Then we can hopefully address the issue of moving forward again. We are not going to go from 3 wins in 27 to being contenders in one fell swoop, it just doesn't happen that way I'm afraid.

It's probably been very hard to attract anyone half-decent to a club who have been going backwards for seven years now! If I was a RL player of decent quality I'd be looking somewhere else right now for gainful employment, and that's speaking as a die-hard fan of long-standing, but even I would find the club less than tempting at this point in time let alone a decent rugby player in the prime of his years!

I agree that the squad is underwhelming and I think the next twelve months are going to be another hard slog with only the odd afternoon to cheer us up a touch (although hopefully a few more afternoons than this year!) but I'm afraid we are going to have to grit our teeth and bear it. All the wishful thinking in the world isn't going to alter the reality of where we have dug ourselves into.

It is when you have previously finished bottom

We haven't finished bottom for over sixty years.

Don't let facts get in the way of his inane rants. Gunna be a long off season

Good to know we might win a few games next season

does finishing second bottom with the same points as the bottom club London make you feel better

Thanks for correcting yourself.

To be fair to him what else can we realistically expect though? We are skint and in 2024 had one of the worst squads SL has ever seen. The only way we’d go straight from where we are now to competing for trophies would be to pluck 5-6 absolute top class players that have been discarded by other SL clubs or are fringe NRL players who suddenly turn world class in the first season. It just isn’t going to happen those players just aren’t available this season.

Leigh are the only team I ever really remember turning competitive in such a short space of time like that. They picked up the likes Hardaker, Charnley, Briscoe, Asiata, Lam, Armone etc in a short space of time post covid and Ipape was just brilliant scouting. This quality of player is not on the market this year. Not getting hammered every week and picking up a few wins is a realistic target for the position we find ourselves in. I’d much prefer the honesty rather than BS from the owner.

The new boss is here and sporting some nice new training gear

I can't help but think that some announcements are incoming. It is very radio silent at the moment apart from merchandise and season passes, despite media reports prior to the end of the season about us looking for a hard-working middle, and an outside back, as well as impending takeover or investment - and a fans forum! Got to be quiet for a reason, surely......please!!

I'm not that confident

The lack of update on the fans forum is the interesting one, its in two weeks and yet nothing has been mentioned since the initial annoucement.

I like to think they are waiting to pair it with a big announcement (New owner/investor, New signing etc). However I also wouldn't be shocked if they have just forgotten about it

Me neither. At a guess anyone of real quality who will enhance our 17 is already signed up unless we are prepared to pay transfer fees.

It wouldn't surprise me if we signed a couple of championship or fringe SL players to give the squad more depth. We need more than that.

Robbie Storey? Born in Hull, had a decent season for London - strong.

Cartwright is here. Photographed at the the stadium on twitter but nothing in the HDM which I find a bit odd.

Wouldn't be against it, adds depth and not sure we will get anuly better without a quota spot
.

Maybe once they appoint the new manager at Man Utd, INEOS will announce the takeover at Hull?

Or Michael Knighton.

I admire your optimism but I find that a strange default position if you support this club. If there’s radio silence I’m more inclined to believe there’s not much to shout about, with the season ticket deadline looming you’d think if they had some positive news they’d want it out there.

The talk of signings was literally in the season ticket brochure to push season tickets. Cust was one, I’m not saying they’re not on the look out for this hardworking middle that was mentioned and are no doubt trying but I doubt they’ve signed someone of note and are just sitting on it. I’d be surprised if didn’t make an offer for Bullock when he was made available, might be back to drawing board now he’s announced at Salford.

Don't think we will sign anyone of note before the season, but think we are trying, I'd rather wait and see what happens during the seas, than sign someone like Ruan, I wouldn't be against him in addition to someone like Sutton, but it as the main signing.

Just put Peggy and bone on ignore…miles better…as for things being quiet….so what,the club don’t have to tell us everything that’s going on….has Cartwright had his cornflakesyet..did he like them?