Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:00 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

I don't know about you but I think it'll take close to a miracle for us to stay up.

Your looking for at least 16 wins from 27 games. Where is Steve McQueen and that motorbike.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:01 pm  

redeverready wrote:

Whitehaven finished with 20 points after bottom 8's last year and were 2nd bottom.

No longer feeling fantastically optimistic. That's another 16 victories in remaining 27 matches.

[Bullseye]

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:14 pm  

16 wins? So what are the best chances of those?

So far I'd say we have a fair chance versus Swinton (H), Dewsbury (H) and (A), Toulouse (H), Odlham (H) and (A), Rochdale (A) and Sheffield (H) and (A). That's 9 games. We might nick one of the Fax games too if they decide to play like they did at Batley. I can't see us having much joy versus the other teams.

It's going to come down to the last few games of the season in the shield competition. I can see us having to win all those games.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:31 pm  

rugbyreddog wrote:

Being fantastically optimistic following the Swinton result I will ask how many points did the two teams get that were relegated last year? And is it a playoff for any of the relegation places?

Whitehaven finished on 17points Although i don't think any team is as weak as Workington and Whitehaven were last season. Very tight league. At the moment we are the same amount of points away from 6th places Oldham as Batley who occupy the last safe spot.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:36 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Whitehaven finished on 17points Although i don't think any team is as weak as Workington and Whitehaven were last season. Very tight league. At the moment we are the same amount of points away from 6th places Oldham as Batley who occupy the last safe spot.

No - Workington finished bottom after Super 8's with 15 points. Whitehaven just above them on 17.

In the regular season, we need to win at least half our matches and that will keep us within touching distance of two or three other teams down near the bottom. That, given the turmoil around pre-season and the -12 penalty, would be a huge achievement in itself.

We then have the the remaining 7 matches to stay up - entirely achievable, hopefully with the team that has developed through the season, but perhaps with some additional recruits for the last few matches.

It will be difficult - but do-able.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 2:40 pm  

Bullseye wrote:

16 wins? So what are the best chances of those?

So far I'd say we have a fair chance versus Swinton (H), Dewsbury (H) and (A), Toulouse (H), Oldham (H) and (A), Rochdale (A) and Sheffield (H) and (A). That's 9 games. We might nick one of the Fax games too if they decide to play like they did at Batley. I can't see us having much joy versus the other teams.

It's going to come down to the last few games of the season in the shield competition. I can see us having to win all those games.

I'd add Batley & London at home as "winnable" That said there are absolutely no gimmes. I won't be overly shocked if we beat London at home then lose to Oldham. We have to concentrate on ourselves as i don't know which team will be towards the bottom come the split. Keep ticking the wins off. Sunday will have lifted a huge amount of pressure off the lads shoulders.

[Bullseye]

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:38 pm  

A lot depends on getting those forwards recruits, making sure we have a decent dummy half if Moore gets jail time and avoiding injury to our halfbacks.

I predict we'll spawnily win a game either against London, Fev or Batley but end up losing to Oldham or Swinton.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:51 pm  

We need to focus on beating Toulouse on Sunday for a start...

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 3:53 pm  

Bull Mania wrote:

Whitehaven finished on 17points Although i don't think any team is as weak as Workington and Whitehaven were last season. Very tight league. At the moment we are the same amount of points away from 6th places Oldham as Batley who occupy the last safe spot.

If anything dewsbury look weaker this year. We are now five wins behind Dews and we will be playing them 3 times, win them 3 and better their other results by 2 wins and we'll catch em. Just need the wheels to fall off another team now... If all the other teams keep sharing the points around it will make it really tricky.

I reckon if we get to plus10 points after the regular season we have a shot in the playoffs, so 10 more games to win, starting on sun;
Dews h/a. Swinton h. Sheff h/a. Halifax h. Toulouse h. Oldham h/a. Rochdale a.

With some forward reinforcement, some luck with injuries l think that is a difficult ask to win that 10, but far from being impossible imho.

One game at a time, focus on Toulouse then reasses for the next challenge. Coyb.

Re: Things keep getting better : Tue Feb 21, 2017 6:19 pm  

Next six games for me are crucial:

HOME - Toulouse
AWAY - London
HOME - Batley
HOME - Dewsbury
AWAY - Oldham
HOME - Sheffield

I think we will lose this weekend. But the following five will be determined on a number of factors.

Conditions
How Phoenix and Smith integrate into the team.
Moore's Trail.

And finally the big one - the result of Toovey's visa. Hopefully will be sorted for Sun.