Agreed we're expected to run away with the championship, the dreaded middles 8s is a different matter.....

My main fear is 'complacency' and the Oldham debacle is still fresh in the memory.

Having spoken to Cookie he said it was a constant challenge to keep complacency at bay, but once the season reached Rnd 20 a new mindset developed.

I think our pre season friendlies will stand us in good stead when you look at one of our biggest rivals pre season fixtures londons....

I know we need good pre season fixtures to give us a stern test and this season more than ever to assure the right intensity. Hull and Leeds are perfect tests.

On the negative side, we usually tend to pick up a few injuries in these pre season games. These have tended to blight us in recent years come Round 1 when the season begins in earnest. I really hope we have better luck this year with injuries.

Surely it can't be as bad as last year.... i like the balance of the team this season two more players in and I would be fairly confident

can it be any worse then the last season and the one before I hope not

Do we really need a high intensity stern test with high injury risks at the start of the season?
To me this season is more like a marathon with high intensity at the end, if we qualify for the middle eights.
I would prefer a steady start and build momentum and intensity as the season progresses.

There's a balance to be struck.

If it weren't for the money, I wouldn't have wanted to touch the Hull friendly with a barge pole. Yes, it's only a friendly, but they'll be looking to give us a heavy beating in every sense.

That said, I think planning for a 'steady' start would carry the risk of going in underdone again. Our first competitive games are Bradford and London. There's a bit of fresh optimism around the club at the moment, but if we start slowly it might turn out to be rather fragile.

I'm nervous some fans are taking rounds 1-23 for granted, as an extended warm for the real season that starts in late summer. We have to be focused on hitting teams hard, fast and ruthlessly from day 1, IMO.

By steady start I mean the level of the warm up games, I agree it's a matter of balance MR. But think it could be very damaging letting the new squad take a good beating on their first run out.
I for one am not taking games 1-23 for granted, it will be a lot tougher than some seem to think. Like you say we must be ruthless and hit the ground running from game one, hopefully lessons have been learnt from the last preseason and the fitness and conditioning will be muck improved.
However it's also important to learn from Leigh's first attempt and not burn ourselves out by the time the middle 8's arrive if we are good enough to qualify. Hopefully we will be in a position to add a couple of fresh bodies to assist.
I think we are in for an interesting season and as usual with Rovers a bit of a roller coaster ride, but hopefully not as bad a ride as the last few.

Yeah, I'd have been tempted to include a confidence builder fixture in there. They say losing can become a habit. And for me the feelings associated with the MPG will linger until we win a game.

For all that results in friendlies don't matter in of themselves, heavy defeats against Leeds and Hull would bring back the familiar pre-match trepidation ahead of the Bradford game.

Tbf, friendlies can chuck up some odd results. Leeds might play a mixed team of senior players and young lads for a chunk of the game at Headingly, for example.

I know its the of season but has nobody got any news on rovers

There's a rumour of a kid called Jake Butler-Fleming signing from Wentworthville Magpies.

The club shop has been busy.

I haven't got my Dream Scene print yet.

Proper East Hull name.

Naaaa, a proper East Hull name would be Jake Lambert & Butler Fleming