Glass half empty - this squad is barely an upgrade on the last couple of years. Cayless coming back from England and injury will prove to be a marginal improvement on Skando. Tuqiri will bolster the backs, but we've already lost Tuiaki, seemingly for the season. Same issues as previous years remain (no genuine halfback, no depth in front row, players out of position). A fringe playoff team at best.
Glass half full - Cayless recaptures 2002 - 2004 form, we remain injury free in the forwards and Marshall, Lawrence and Farah both take big steps in their games, as well as some of the younger players developing into legitimate first grade footballers (Lui, Ayshford et al). A bounce of the ball or two favours us and we make the top 4.
For mine, we've had the talent, by and large, for the past couple of years to make the top 4. Nobody can tell me that our sides in that time were any worse - talent-wise - than the likes of Canterbury or Dragons. They've simply been better prepared, better disciplined and more stable (through injuries). We're capable of making the top 4 again, but short of a huge turn-around in attitude I can't see it happening. We are what we are - a critically flawed, entertaining at times team that will flounder in the big games as a result of our well known weaknesses.
