So where do we go from here….?

After finishes of 11^th, 7^th and 4^th in our brief Super League history can Rovers continue their progress? Bizarrely the answer is "yes" but it might not be apparent in a final league position.

The "expert" opinion is that our squad is significantly weaker than last year, although the departure of Messrs. Gene, Aizue, Fitzhenry and Fozzard has been set-off by recruits of Cook, Ratu, Hodgson and the expected arrival of Joel Clinton.

The first two of those might well expect to find their regular opportunities in years ahead of 2010 once players such as Jake Webster and Ben Galea come to the end of their current contracts, however, they will still supply a little strength in depth in positions where Galea, Clint Newton and Kris Welham were virtual "ever-present2 in 2009.

The opportunites taken by Daniel Fitzhenry and the appearance of Scotty Murrell in the No9 jersey would suggest that there are likely to be significant changes at hooker, with this in mind Josh Hodgson will certainly be looking at adding to his SL appearances this season.

Supporters will hope the arrival of Clinton is on the cards pretty soon as he will offer up size and experience which will be vital in bringing on younger players such as Liam Watts and to a lesser extent Rhys Lovegrove.

It is fair to say that many other teams who finished below us have strengthened significantly and with a fair amount of quality, although teams like Bratfud, Hull and Wire will be wise to look back at Rovers in 2008, when we released a raft of players and brought in much more quality in Newton, Walker, Briscoe, Fox, Galea, Webster etc. while we improved considerably from 11^th to 7^th there was still the balancing act of making wholesale changes and getting consistency to be overcome…

My own hopes for 2010 would be that Justin Morgan finds and maintains a style which allows Messrs. Cooke and Dobson to produce displays which were seen at places like Quins, Cas, Wigan and the KC last year. I certainly make no bones about my admiration for Paul Cooke as a player and feel he is sometimes marginalised to the detriment of the team.

Whilst progress has certainly been made on the field it would be open to debate if off field progress has been so obvious, particularly since the departure of Paul Lakin in summer 2008.

There is no doubt that Neil Hudgell and Rob Crossland have both worked wonders in dragging the club up from the National League to becoming an established SL club, this coming year there will be further extensions to the East Stand to go alongside pitch improvements, floodlights and previous work already carried out on the East Stand in the last three or four years.

However, the need for a recognized CEO working at the club on a day today basis is vital when it comes to matters off field - there seems to be an ever increasing "Marketing Team" at Rovers but from my own experience little direction, hopefully this off-field blip can be addressed and the appointment of a new, enthusiastic director in Paul Luen can hopefully only help this.

So, in conclusion I think it's hard to predict any league spot between 2-11 but I'd hope to see another season in the play-offs, improved relationships with the HDM, a home draw in the CC quarters (again!) with a different outcome (please!).

Feel free to drop us a line with your hopes and fears for 2010….

"Rally 'round……"