Before the season started, I expected that again we would be in the bottom four teams and that we would end up in the middle 8 comp and it really looks to me at this that this is going to happen. Our squad simply isn't good enough for the top 8 in super league, be it down to a lack of investment in the right type of players, misfortune/whatever.

I actually believe that 10th in the league is about "par" for where a team of our ability [ishould[/i end up though I would be interested to hear the opinions on anyone who genuinely believes we should be higher up the league table?

Accepting we're going to again be in the Middle 8 competition, I would hope that we take some more opportunities to give young players some game time and try to bring along their development. We need to start looking ahead to the coming seasons and seeing which players we're going to need to be replacing soon, who's going to be our next fullback once Cockayne isn't here anymore? Will we need to invest massive chunks of our salary cap into signing big name Australian halves or can we bring someone through to partner Marsh and give us a home grown half back pairing? Having a spine of home grown players with a sprinkling or "marquee" imports is where I'm sure everybody would like us to get to eventually.

We have a crap academy so don't rely on our youth. We are $hite, and we will be lucky to be anything other than 12th or 11th. Peacock, Hudgell and Crossland have tonnes of work to do!

I pretty much agree with you. With our spine all fit and firing I'd now say that 10th would be par and 7th or 8th possible. But I think we're all realising that probably won't ever happen for a long run of games, which makes 11th or 12th likely.

I'd like to avoid the spoon, just on principle and winning a handful more between now and the 8s will be good for morale.

Then obviously, survive in SL to rebuild.

It'll be tough to attract new players who are good enough to have options - the possibility of us going down can't be dismissed. To get out of this rut, we might have to look at paying fees once we're safe. Five-figures, sort of thing. I'm not sure the club can afford it, but I'm not sure they can afford another year of turning up late to find the cupboard bare, either.

I'm happy to admit to not being much of an expert on Championship rugby (at least since the 2006 season

) but as poor as we have been at times, I still don't believe we'll be relegated. It will be very interesting to see who joins us in the middle 8 comp though, SURELY Leeds will pull themselves up the table?

Who ever has all of their key players available though? Hull have had pryce missing for 1/2 their games, wigan tomkins, wire gidley and now sandow, les cats carney, leeds maguire etc. etc. rovers have been badly hit but that's what you get when you sign players with poor injury records. Doesn't stop the rest of them putting some effort in though

Other teams have other strings to their bow. The quality of our spine was one thing to be optimistic about through the winter, but yes we were aware that there was a downside to that, even if it has been worse than anticipated.

I don't think lack of effort has been a major problem, at all. In fact, trying is the one thing we do have.

I said walking out after the Walefield game on Feb that I'd take 10th there and then to get the extra home game on the middle 8's. That might be a tad optimistic.

the trouble we find ourselves in is that the current bottom 2 surely won't stay there for much longer.

I think a lot depends also what kind of points deduction salford get but id take 10th like you say get the extra home game

Having seen Bradford play recently, I seriously expect the middle 8's to pose no problem to any current SL side. The gap in quality is vast.

Doom & gloom merchants out in force I see! The team is busted & what was on the field last night is just about what we have. Can't fault the effort last night just don't' have the skill levels to deal with a big side like Le Cat's with a scratch side out on the park. Not pleasant to watch especially if you have to be at work at 4AM, but that is sport just hope we have enough skill available to do a job on Oldham & re group, But you either support Rovers or you don't lets move on.

? I'm not being "doom and gloom" I expected us to struggle again this year - and we are struggling again this year. I actually think HKR are doing "fine" to where i would say a squad of our ability should do.

My aspirations for the rest of the season are - PLEASE DO NOT PICK THE SPINELESS, DEFENSIVELY INEPT 3RD CHOICE HEADLESS CHICKEN LEFT WINGER AGAIN THIS SEASON.

Please let Oakes or Wardill have a crack until Josh returns.

Players who gift 3 tries to formidable opposition within 30 minutes of the start of the game because they have no will or guts to get stuck in have no place in our team. Send him out on Loan to Newcastle.

How much is it to get in at Bradford nowadays?

How much is your mam charging tonight?
The question is about as relevant as yours.

Not exactly as you can pay to get into a Bradford game, my mams dead.

Derailing threads is a personal favourite of yours isn't it?

No, it isn't. His question is far more relavant.

Aside from the fact that this is a rugby league message board rather than a personal insult forum, there is every chance that Hull KR will finish in the bottom four of Super League and that Bradford Bulls will finish in the top four of the Championship. You will therefore quite possibly be playing them later this season at their place "in the remainder of the season".

I post in relevance to the chosen topics.

Not really relevant to be asking on a HKR forum the ticket prices at Bradford though is it? Probably more "relevant" to be asking that on the Bradford forum maybe?

Current aspirations: win as many games as possible and stay in SL.
Long term: give youth a better chance, rebuild the team and become more stable.

Catalans was a blowout after 4 games with no players left to rotate and against a club likely to be in the top 4 come the end of the season.

Webbo (like chester) has faced the same injury crisis, but apart from Catalans, our structure and performances are far better and tactically correct under Webbo rather than the all guts no glory approach from Chester. I feel we may still be recovering from how Sandercock damaged this club.

Webbo and the boys now need to prove that game was a blip, ignore it and move on, getting back to our recent tactical approach. If they don't then we should worry.

But, he was being a c0ck. And you are a c0ck.

Harsh bordering on nasty that pickers I wouldn't call him spineless or anyone who actually takes to the field and puts his body on the line

announce the new coach, keep giving the kids a chance, beat Oldham, get a good draw in next round, get the quality we have on longer contracts, target the signings we needed last year and cut a fair few out fom what we have. Not knowing our financial situation I have no idea what we are capable of doing id like to pay off at season end Tilse, till season end we need him, our missing no 6 clearly wants away, sign a full back, convince Green he would hate Australia and get him signed long term. Finally remember my fellow red and whites we started the season with Sio as full back which could have been great for the team we will never know, we have had our captain for a half hour all season, our 6 has developed an eating disorder and agoraphobia which he manages to overcome for the occasional game then goes back to his cupboard, our 9 has been injured for large parts as has our back up 9, our 1st choice centre at season start(not mine out of interest) has hardly played one of our starting 2nd rows the same. Mantellato, who in my opinion is a marvel for us, has again hardly played due to 2 major injuries and our back up kicker and a decent looking back is out for the season. Look at Leeds with half our injuries and twice the squad, or Giants with a comparable injury list (not quite as bad imo) the teams at the bottom are ravaged by bad luck. Keep smiling, I enjoyed the middle 8s last year.

Great post