He was a good coach before he left us, he's had assistant coach positions at Canberra, Melbourne and now at the Nz Warriors, he will only be better for that experience.
I mentioned Newton too as he was a born winner and highly respected and intelligent rugby league man.
Chester has had enough time now for the team to start improving. It's pre season yes I know. But 23 rounds isn't long to make sure you've the right plans in place.

We aspire to top 8. Look at the recruitment of the teams who finished 6 to 8 in SL last season and then look at us. Then look at Salford, Wakey and Widnes and their recruitment and that will have a bearing on our Middle 8 success come squeaky bum time.

Then finally, look back at last season and how many times the same squad shipped points for a pastime. Familiar echoes. Plus 2 of our spine injured for the start of the season. Look at the bigger picture too of where we should be at right now going into the season with regard to squad size and pack size.

Roversmad, love your positivity but start slitting your wrists now, mate.

Geoff toovey with campese as player assistant

As with any Derby win we will all revel in it for a week but come the start of the new season im sure you will be a lot better a win against Cas some confidence in the squad and in the supporters and you could be in a totally different frame of mind sport is a funny thing and it turns round very quickly if we lose against Salford we will all be cutting our wrists lol .... but next year don't play a big physical team like the giants in pre season its bad enough playing them twice in the league we always get injuries after playing them

Surely Dixon has to start for you guys on the 7th? I know he has his defensive frailties and the tendancy to make some errors, but he is almost guaranteed to get you, or set up tries, especially against teams that are tiring.

I preferred it when they came on here to take the p1$$.

Aye when they start feeling sorry for us and try giving advice you know your $hiteu.

don't get me wrong, I was celebrating and laughing like never before yesterday. Was just surprised Dixon didn't play more minutes.

Did you not watch the CC final?

Yep. Had a nightmare. Still, not as if one poor match makes you a bad player. In 2015 he scored 21 tries, made 26 clean breaks, and 120 tackle busts in 23 appearances. He might make an error every now and again but you can't dispute the fact he had a good season attack wise. His defence may be a bit suspect, but that seems to be a squad wise issue.

The truth is that Justin Morgan had one season as a head coach before coming to Rovers. Craig Sandercock had never been a head coach before arriving in East Hull and Chester has been learning from these two novices. It's about time that Neil Hudgell and Mike Smith brought in an experienced coach.

If he was available I doubt any of the clubs who finished above rovers would sign him

What's that got to do with whether or not he should be playing for Rovers? I'd have him in over Cockayne every day of the week. Offers far more on the wing. Cockayne should have been filling in at hooker instead of Donaldson, IMO.

imo thought the Italy wing you have played well, he seemed to make more inroads than anybody,sio is class as is Kelly,you really need campese back but am not sure he will be,but you have only played 2 friendlys and lets see where your at after round 6

I said the day Chester was appointed he was the cheap option

You were telling us how great he is and I was pointing out that he isn't

The worst thing is definitely the platitudes from the wrong side of The Chocolate Rivers Tributary.

Two dullers bickering on the Rovers forum. You couldn't make it up. Not really surprising seeing as one of them is you, Rolfie.

1. would love to know the players thoughts on their coach.....
2. need game plan and set plays not just 'chucking the ball around'
3. need guidance (Campo)
4. need a coach with experience not someone who has not served an apprenticeship yet
5. need some goddam muscle up front - it aint rocket science

by answering my first question we could find some answers....

Okay. Thanks buddy

Apologies. Going to leave it at that I think. All the best for the season.

No need to apologise. He's the bell end. You seem ok (for a b&w anyway

)

I watched Graeme Horne being interviewed today on Hull KR TV. Made skipper until Campo returns.

He appeared to let one huge admission slip, which if true is disappointing and shocking.

Until our dry bumming against the dark side, he stated that they relied on the same defensive combinations in training as last season due to the minimal changes in personnel.

It's not as if we were defensively invincible last season, eh.

Sh*t the bed. It appears we have only practised new defensive combinations and alignments since the Derby friendly drubbing. If that isn't coaching complacency, I don't know what is.

The problem with last seasons defensive system and combos was the players weren't able to execute it in the absence of Campo who not only marshalled the attack but also the defence. Tyrone took the role over but his overall performance waned along with Rovers defence. Players like Campo are great communicators and looking at the possible 'spine' for Sunday I feel we need to see someone stand up and take the role by the scruff of the neck, but the question is who?

This is the possible 'spine' for Sunday:

FB: Charlie
HBs: Marsh & Kelly
Hookers: French John & Lawler
Loose: Clarkson

I am loathe to say this but I don't see any one of these taking on the role of defensive organiser. This then leaves the stand-in captain GH, who has spent more time lying on the ground around the PTB than in the defensive line (well it seemed like it).

Leadership is a real concern for me (in the absence of Campo and Lunt) and for sure Powell will exploit this and he has the spine to inflict a heavy defeat on Rovers.

I think your main issue with defensive is that you seem to lack any 'wrestling' in the tackle and find it really hard to control the PTB speed the opposition get against you. I don't know if this is down to a lack of physicality in the middle or its something that is getting neglected.