Can't say I'm too bothered Workington and Whitehaven getting relegated hated those long trips that seemed to go on forever

A lot of the older fans will have but it could be a brand new experience for the younger fans! And a chance to teach them about the history of RL and maybe recount a few stories of times the older lot went to these grounds! I know my grandad always remembers and tells me about old games when we play teams, for example, when we played you in 2015 in the Challenge Cup (good game btw) he recalled the time against you I think when Len Casey walked the team off the pitch. Against Workington last season, another story etc.

Plus it makes a change going to the older grounds too. As long as you don't get used to it again like we have



Be a few interesting games against you lot next year. 3, maybe 4 I believe!

well I do not remember Len Casey doing that I thought it was another player who played for you but time and age play tricks on you so he might be right

Geoff Grayshon.

That's right nice one he did did he not when he started out in rugby league was he not a winger and over time moved to the pack and he retied well in is 30ts I think it was 38 or something like that

I think Jeff played up to the age of 45 for Batley, even managed to play against his son Paul.

bloody hell they don't make players like him any more

Might have been haha, but either way I have heard Len Casey's name thrown about during old stories as well as many other ones over the years

Len Casey is the sort of guy we should have had the last few years wile in the super league he took no prisoners more then once in the old days he used to give a penalty away to save the side against us scoring a try if it was a close match and he was the first one their if their was trouble

Just read from Twitter that the club have smashed retail records, they are 90 grand up from this time last year. Over 4500 membership sales and over 3000 shirt sales.
Christ, I bet some superleague chairmen would love to have supporters like us.

Hugely encouraging figures thus far and I noted with interest that Lee Jenkinson from X-blades has been assisting with our retail operation since our link up. He has an outstanding reputation and track record in Rugby League retail. A real coup to have him onboard.

Well done there to all concerned, from a Wakefield supporter.

I think our biggest problem is our ground, it is poor and I will admit that. Unfortuantely, the state of the city is no better really either.

Unfortunately, our leading councillor Peter Box, and his chuckle brother mate, Ed (Twinkle Toes) Ball, are both Castleford supporters.

It pains me to say this but with the state of the city, in comparison to Castleford, with their relatively newish J32 retail outlet and their stadium getting the go ahead nearby, I dont see, while these two chuckle brothers are running the council, that things are going to change.

I have given up on our new stadium at Newmarket, if I am being honest, and the best I think we can hope for, is a revamped Belle Vue, which has been discussed, or moving to Dewsbury.

I also think your packages have been good, with the season ticket plus shirt. I wish we did that.

Does make you wonder,what went wrong last season? In a few departments!

I think a better question would, and one with a shorter response would be, what went right?

SL is a very unforgiving environment. Every team has the capability to beat you, some quite heavily if you are not 100% on your game. There are no easy games and if you switch off for a few mins you could find yourself 3 scores down. For Rovers the season seemed to be a perfect storm of things going wrong (hopefully mostly addressed) especially with injuries etc to key players for long periods of time, little room on the salary cap and a small squad being major contributing factors.

What does that have to do with your clubs season tickets and shirt sales exceeding previous seasons sales?

Another one who thinks he's still in SL..

Rubbish, hezza replied perfectly sensibly to your post which was his first mistake.think you'll find within few days of the pain of that Salford game most knuckled down and accepted situation and from top to bottom are taking whatever positives we can from a major setback.most older fans know the championship from before and I don't think anyone on here begrudge Leigh their place this time around.

I agree, it seems a prickly response to a sensible answer. Almost like they'd prepared a post in anticipation of something else and went with it anyway.

Hezza's answered focused on our poor form on field, and I think the question might have been more about retail and pass sales. There I don't think it is that anything big went wrong in the past, other than perhaps a sense that the club had lost direction a little bit in the last few years, and getting stock on the shelf sometimes. Numbers weren't bad. The reason they've held up so well despite relegation is what the club have described as an emotional spike.

While relegation is deeply undesirable, it has acted as a wake-up call.

Most supporters have moved on from the inquest into last season which is reflected in the membership & shirt sales.

The response, you seem to have taken inexplicable exception to, was to part of your statement regarding a 'few departments'. I gave a personal opinion of the playing department which I am sure you can understand does have an impact on the commercial aspect of any club.

Could you please point out the words or phrases used that would indicate that I still think my team is still in super league? I ask because I am struggling to see what you have seen in my post.

I'm failing to see what was wrong with your post to be honest

changing the subject slightly most rovers fans I have spoke too after the initial shock and embarrassment of going down seem more enthusiastic about this coming season than most for a while, maybe its because they are looking forward to watching a winning team for the first time in quite a few seasons and looking forward to going home from a game with a smile on their face after a game you could say has a club you are where your happiest a big fish in a little pond , this may explain to great uptake of shirts and passes

That is one way of looking at it and if those supporters you have spoken to said that they want to stay in the championship then you have hit the nail on the head. However, I think for most of us there was a realisation that our club needed us. I think the reaction to relegation is more of a Blitz/Dunkrirk spirit kind of attitude rather than looking forward to winning some games.

Although watching a team that wins more than we have recently will be nice.

Back handed compliment duly noted.

I always like it when people say "Duly noted", as if they have a little book that they record these things in.

I'm now just waiting for Kross Keith to come and tell me off again.

Never mind coming away from the game with a smile, I'm looking forward to going into games with optimism. We couldn't really compete with half the league over 80 minutes by the end of our SL tenure. Hope for a win had become trepidation about an embarrassing defeat. And ultimately resignation.

I'll certainly be happier if we do turn out to be a tuna in the Championship than I was last season, when we were a small, wounded and confused whitebait. We had our share of misfortune, and then some, but tbh it was a bit of a shambles. I can't imagine many won't be very eager to get back though.

I think there are a few reasons, a little bit of Dunkirk/blitz attitude as hezza mentioned but also the realisation of how badly we had lost our way in SL.
We now have a great coach and a decent squad that has a good balance of experience and young raw talent. The positives are that we can use the experience to learn and blood the young lads and hopefully return to SL stronger and better.