Shhh
This can be our secret, but I have been moved to write one last post for the website based on the 2022 Superleague season.
How would I describe it ?
Unfulfilling to be honest. We started slack and with a poor result at St Helens and the season never truly got going after that.
Here are a couple of formed thoughts.
Challenge Cup
The draw of St Helens at home wasn't ideal but after running them close at the Grand Final last season should we have fallen away so convincingly? No, we shouldn't but all too often in 2022 we showed all sides of out personality in a half let alone a complete match.
We did beat Fev but it was closer than anticipated and didn't draw too much praise.
Super League Main Season
Urgh. It was more down that up in terms of performances and not being able to sort out and put out a settled side was no help at all.
Steve McNamara has cited it as a reason for some of the inconsistency but of course, all coaches, even ones still in the competition could do likewise.
I think that the turning point of the season, the deflator of all the optimism came really early on with the Dylan Napa moment of madness at St Helens and the opening night hammering.
I think a lot of our disciplinary issues stemmed from that moment and we were playing catch up from week 2.
There were highlights of the season but a lot also unraveled with the weather affected trip to Huddersfield and subsequent war of words post the home match.
Ken Davy hates us.
The home capitulation to Leeds will live long in the memory as a shocking performance and trumps some of the heavy away beatings we used to ensure regularly before our ascension to contenders.
Super League Play Offs
Nothing more to say really, other than all of the frailties and downsides to our character that were exposed in the regular season and the cup were laid bare and punished by Leeds.
Where Do We Go From Here?
I think that there is plenty of change coming off the park. Bernard has been widely quoted as saying he wants to step back and we need new ideas and drive to keep this level up.
You could argue we maybe need new money but I don't know on that score.
We 100% need a clear out of players, but I feel that the off contract list doesn't contain the names that we should be moving on.
We talk annually about the Elite 1 side providing Super League players and it does. But it would be great to blood them across the season. Not away at Wigan when they are guaranteed to get hosed.
The world cup and the French sides reliance on us will be key here. We struggled post the last world cup with injury, lack of pre-season and fatigue. I see that being relevant in 2023 as well.
In Summary
Steve McNamara has a big job on his hands.
Catalans clearly had the players in the squad to do much better in 2022. But many of those players were no use as they were sat in the stand injured or suspended.
The recruiting so far has been consistent with what I would expect. Highly paid Australians and injury prone Brits.
Let's see how it pans out.
