One thing's for sure, the legendary nine-game barometer in 2025 is pointing towards sunnier days ahead, unlike the past two years where all it was indicating was storm clouds gathering!


We're way ahead of expectation, of anything any of us could have dared hope for. Even if we had won four of these opening nine (Leigh, Hudds, Wakey, Cas) I would have taken that as a positive start. When I viewed these opening fixtures I had real concern we could find ourselves nought from nine and rock bottom again! It was more fervent hope rather than expectation on my part before the season started. All I was looking for was some commitment and organization and, by and large, we've had that most weeks from this team.


We've had three unexpected big wins, Catalans and Wire away plus the Wigan cup victory. The only really disappointing performances for me have been the rovers cup defeat and yesterday's loss, and I think yesterday we simply ran out of a bit of gas when coming up against the best.


Looking ahead, the remaining fixtures are a lot more even than these opening nine. Think the games against Saints, Leeds, Leigh, Wire and Cats will decide whether 2025 turns out to be a totally unexpected excellent year or merely a slightly deflated so-so one in the end. If we can continue to pick up these away wins, then we will be in a strong position when that run of home games kicks in the latter part of the year.


There's still an awful lot of rugby still to be played (18 games) and ultimately we could finish anywhere from third to ninth. Realistically, I think we'll be somewhere between fifth and eighth. Injuries (or lack of) will play a major part in how we go, a couple of key players missing for an extended period could harm us badly. I also wonder if we can maintain the necessary level of performance needed to keep racking up the wins. Don't think it would take too much of a drop in performance standard for us to become vulnerable, particularly in those games I mentioned above.


I had us tenth before we started. I honestly believed we were in too big a hole to be able to climb out of it in one go, so these opening nine games have way exceeded my expectation. Still a long way to go and still a lot of hard work and good recruitment to complete before we can truly compete at the upper end again, but for encouraging signs these opening nine games have been hard to beat.


Let's hope the 18-game barometer still registers 'sunny days ahead'!! 

We've played Wigan twice, KR and Leigh probably the best three teams and Wire and Catalan away plus two energy zapping cup games against the best two teams, so to be sat 4th is very good with no 2nd rowers. Future is bright if we can win 2/4, 3/4 away games we be in a great position, plus two much needed rest weeks in the next six weeks, get some bodies back. Club will have to make a decision on Olly Holmes if he's not back in next 8 weeks IMO. 

With the way the fixture list is so back loaded hopefully we can get some home wins and have a feel good factor into the winter.

Really happy with were we are as a club and in the league . Still room for loads of improvement but we're slowly turning the corner . 

You have to be happy with the way we have started especially with a difficult run of games. We've not had more points after nine games since 2016.



Really important we don't slip up on Sunday. A chance to consolidate our top four place and hopefully improve our point difference which has taken a bit of a battering with two games against Wigan.

Only lost 2 the 2 grand finalists from last year so we can't complain. It's been a tough start