Wow, there is a lot of things being said, re-said and then argued about on this thread.
My opinion for what it's worth is:
It is possible for a good championship team to get promoted.
Wakey did everything we had all hoped for - they were cr*p both in the season and play-off's - they were there for the taking by any decent team.
Yes, the seasons build up does matter. It gets you into that winning frame of mind. You learn to play your routines and you practise and build your defensive structures. We had played terrible all year and just couldn't switch it on at the end. OK, we beat a terrible Salford but things like that happen.
Getting into the mpg isn't a success. Someone had to and Leigh fell off a cliff. Who else was there that would get into it. Fax and Sheff were not up to it so it would have needed one hell of a mess for us not to get into it. That is no success in my mind. We stumbled into it when Leigh gave up the ghost and then cursed ourselves because we had not built up a run of good form that would beat a terrible Wakey team.
All of this talk of losing because we didn't kick this or Wakey did that is all speculation. If I hadn't have gone into that pie shop 30 years ago and got addicted to them I would have been stones lighter and been a top player sh*gging every cheerleader that met me - but it didn't work out that way - if only!
Did people notice the threat of moving out of the Tong training centre that is one of our jewels in our ever increasingly dusty crown. That would be a massive backward step in recruiting new and better players. If that happened I would have to say we are now on that slippery path / slope to becoming a regular championship team till the RFL find a way of getting us back in.
I do believe the RFL will get us back in (somehow) as SL as it stands is boring and they need clubs who can and will challenge the top few clubs. They need us and also a strong half a dozen other clubs for the game to survive. It is dying slowly but blowing it's own trumpet occasionally as it does.
I am surprised that Green as a supposedly top businessman has allowed such a downbeat article. ST sales will be down from next year as people just won't have the enthusiasm to watch a handful of awful games and my experience tells me that threats never work in any area of life.
I read one post from someone who says they will buy the ticket that allows 5-6 games at a reduced price. Good idea that. If I were the Bulls I would be dropping that ticket right now as many might just buy that and forget about the full ST.
When we brought in Ferres I was one who was pleased. I will admit that I am now not sure and am confused about what has gone on this year with recruitment and team selection. There seems to be a clash between the coach and Ferres. One or both may need to move on and probably will if we don't go up next season.