Felt like it tonight anyway - we'll be on 50% after the next 2 rounds, and even if we make the playoffs we've not beaten any teams above us except Wigan in the cup.

Pretty depressing night really, especially with AP's gloomy prognosis too. Sense a real reset coming up, not in a good way. Interesting to see the outcomes of the club conversations on league structures tomorrow and how it affects us.

We're probably about where I thought we'd be this year. Mid table/lower end of the play offs. Our position is maybe exacerbated due to Rovers having a good season.

We've lost some good players and only brought one in.

Clubs tend to go through cycles in salary cap sports.

Leeds have been building for 3/4 years. Hopefully BH has the budget to bring in some players he wants.

Of course I want the club to be successful, but it'll be what it is. It's all part of the 'fun' (stress)

Quote ="mwindass"We're probably about where I thought we'd be this year. Mid table/lower end of the play offs. Our position is maybe exacerbated due to Rovers having a good season. We've lost some good players and only brought one in. Clubs tend to go through cycles in salary cap sports. Leeds have been building for 3/4 years. Hopefully BH has the budget to bring in some players he wants. Of course I want the club to be successful, but it'll be what it is. It's all part of the 'fun' (stress)'" Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918

Quote ="mwindass"We're probably about where I thought we'd be this year. Mid table/lower end of the play offs. Our position is maybe exacerbated due to Rovers having a good season. We've lost some good players and only brought one in. Clubs tend to go through cycles in salary cap sports. Leeds have been building for 3/4 years. Hopefully BH has the budget to bring in some players he wants. Of course I want the club to be successful, but it'll be what it is. It's all part of the 'fun' (stress)'" Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918

Agree with that but sadly mid table mediocrity can be dull and we've had many seasons of that now. You get neither the 'all in it together' excitement of a relegation scrap, or a belief that you can make Old Trafford. We just seem to be stuck in a long term rut and can't get out of it.

Will give Hodgson time to bring in his own players, and of course this season is unique...but given the situation with the clubs finances, the stadium the state of SL in general etc we can't keep just plodding along. Fans are drifting away and Covid isn't the only reason.

I think there are a few players who need to be moved on as they are either done or are just not performing to a level that they need to be and will likely be taking a fair chunk in terms of salary cap.

It's more apparent in the NRL, but you need to get your recruitment spot on and carry as little or no dead wood.

Look at the Bulldogs, Wests and Broncos. They have to pay overs to get mediocre player to sign, then end up in a world of pain.

The Storm and the Roosters and by far the best teams that manage the cap.

We could do with freshening up the spine (9) and adding some depth to the pack.

Like I say though, it's all budget dependent and hopefully BH can get some business done.

Trouble is we have no money spare to waste paying people off and other clubs won't be queueing up given their form, maybe Toulouse might need a few to strengthen in SL but thats about it.

Motu Tony did a great job 5 years ago, unearthed some diamonds while we secured the likes of Shaul, Houghton and Snead down to bring stability.

Since then we've been guilty of keeping players too long out of sentiment. Minichello and Manu did a year too long and now its looking like several of the current team are past their best.

Youth development hasn't fired on all cylinders either (will of course cut some slack this season as the Academy had a year out) we produce the odd squad players here and there but there's no Cooke/Horne/King/Yeaman's bursting through, Shaul is our last home grown international and that was years ago.

I don’t disagree we can’t pay any players off but the point remains there are some players that are just not cutting it. Some where re signed on sentiment rather than what they can actually offer for term of their next deal.

The recruitment has certainly not been as successful since Motu left his role.

I’d rather see us let a player go a year too early than 2 years too late which is what we seem to have a knack of doing.

One this AP said when BH got the job is that he is well connected. We'll see what he can do.

This season isn't over anyway, anything can happen. The loss is disappointing but not the end if the world.

It's taken Tony Smith 2/3 seasons to build at Rovers, same at Wire. It took Powell 3/4 seasons at at Cas. Radders took a similar period here too.

We're at the start of the BH journey. Let's see what happens.

Which is true but unfortunately the financial situation at the club isn't great, as we know TV money is down, debts due to Covid have grown, the stadium situation is worrying we are more likely to see a budget cut and the club run below salary cap then we are another round of big spending. Pearson has spent big 3 times (2013, 2016 and 2020) and he's had his fingers burnt twice and may be wary of doing it again.

A big winter ahead. 'Wait til next year' absolutely needs to go on the club badge.

This is the problem though as it’s always been ‘jam tomorrow’ for far too long now and a good number of fans have had enough of that.

I seriously question BH tactics, bench selection and the way it’s used in games. Many defended it earlier in the season but tonight was another example. Why have JJ on the bench if you aren’t going to spell him with Houghton? Why have we not tried starting with JJ when Houghton hasn’t been pulling up any trees of late and the early promise he showed at the start has evaporated. Again why have Scott on the bench when you are unlikely to play him? Why is Brown still not getting game time when he offers more than Bowden has done when played.

There was no logic to the way the bench was used tonight and seeing both Houghton and Johnstone on at the same time was going to achieve what exactly?

Spending big wasn’t what burnt AP’s fingers for me it was spending big but keeping the same coaching set up behind all the failures. Other than the 2 Cup wins which I shall be eternally grateful for we blew the best chance we’ve had at reaching and winning a GF in 2016 and never kicked on.

To answer the original question, no our season isn’t over.

Tonight wasn’t great and we should have managed the game better to win the match. We now have three tough games in a row.

However, the remainder of the season is all about making and achieving in the play offs.

Firstly, can we finish in the Top Six? Yes, assume we can play our first two games in hand v Leigh and Salford at home, then that should improve our current standing to 4th.

After these next three games, we should also start to see the return of Shaul, Connor and Taylor, plus Savelio will be back. Put these four in our 17 and we are able to give anyone a game in a knockout competition.

If we make the play offs I don’t think it really matters much if we finish 3rd-6th. Those games are going to be tight whether we are at home or away. It’s hitting form at the right time and that may still happen.

As for the future, well the close season will be the real first opportunity for Brett to start re-shaping the team, subject to funds and contract positions.

As for our previous great recruitment (Motu) and youngsters coming through (Horne, Cooke etc), it’s worth remembering that in the first 18 years of Super League we won one Challenge Cup and made one Grand Final appearance. I’d say on average our league position was about 6th.

So to say the season is over after losing tonight is premature. On the whole we are probably performing above our usual position and the season may still turn out ok. (anyone else remember how they felt after 58 mins when 20-0 down at Craven Park on Good Friday, compared with how they felt at Wembley in the August back in 2016?)

Let’s not give up. A season is not based on one, or just a few results. I’ll judge the season when it’s over… and that’s not tonight.

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918'" Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918'" Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

I blame it on Radford.

The season isn't over unless you mean in terms of winning a trophy as we have no chance of winning the Grand Final from fifth or sixth,

We have a battle to make the play offs as it looks to be between us and Rovers, possibly Cas. Connor back in, with Savelio and Taylor will help our cause but as Mrs B says we are really missing Josh Griffin.

We really need the Leigh and Salford games to be rescheduled as we should be wining them to boost our points percentage.

This year was always going to be tough - we appointed Brett Hodgson in late November. Compare that to Warrington with Wire and Cas with Radford - both announced in April for next season.

I said this at the game. The covid break came at a bad time time us. We had a chance to build a bit of momentum after the hudds home game, that's all gone down the drain.

You dont need to spend big to compete, just better cap management and use youth, we have failed on both for top long.

Spot on. Kept faith too long when a change should have been made far earlier.
People who criticise AP for getting rid of LR don’t realise it should have been done 18 months earlier at least.
BH is now trying to turn things around without much wriggle room in recruitment.

AP must have been gutted last night. Fairly decent crowd in the circumstances, and it falls flat again.

But the youth has to be good enough.
Not seen any backs to be excited about and apart from Jack Brown not seen a forward with real potential
The difference between 18 year old Pryce at Huddersfield and 19 year old McNamara was astounding given McNamara has been around the first team squad for several months

Pryce probably the wrong comparison - he has been a star throughout the youth levels and could be a once in a generation kind of player.

However, I agree on all the other points. I honestly think Abdull and Litten would massively improve us at the moment - players who Radford gave away. Our retention has been poor and done on sentiment rather than performance.

I think there are some promising kids coming through. Barron, Staveley, Burrell, Ferreira etc. so hopefully with the training centres we are strategically placing across the country, that can aid with the scouting of youth

I like Hodgson and for me the jury's out until the end of the season which is far from over even if our expected next 2 results end with similar outcome. But I'm not understanding his choices on the bench? We must have at present the smallest bench in the league, I like Scott but was he needed last night? same with jj when Cator can cover Houghton, we Have a man who would have out jumped Hurrell all night not in the 17 and a young forward with great potential also not in the 17 as far as we know neither injured?

There are a number of influential factors. However, I’d argue that money is the single biggest one. It’s a question of degree, and unromantic, but imo it is likely bigger than the rest combined.

Was worried about props before the season started. Ended up with 2 very good campaigns.from Satae and Sao, a step up from Fash, and poor returns from Taylor, Bowden and Matongo. Change needed if we are to progress.