Agree with this Alfi. I'm sure we get a bit more fun out of sport because of this attitude. I too am bothered about not being No1 ... but won't allow it to stop the enjoyment of the great game. I cannot see the point of one or two posters who have totally fallen out with Wire & RL ... why don't they just forget the game and do something else & see if they miss it?

“Optimist” in my case means hoping for a decent season. It doesn’t mean winning something. In fact anyone who supports a sports team expecting to win will at some point face crushing disappointment. I suspect the majority of supporters want to see their team play consistently well, accepts that defeats will happen but hope to win a title of some sort at some point.
You obviously feel that we “should” be winning titles and are therefore destined to be disappointed far more than you are fulfilled.

The game in general is in decline imo and the standard of rugby has dropped dramatically in the last five to ten years.
Lack of money is an obvious reason but for me every sides style of play has become predictable and plain boring.
The 'wrestle' drives me mad and takes away any flow an attacking side tries to build. Two or even three in with another arriving to take the legs away? How has this been allowes to dominate the game both here and down under.
I don't care if it's what they do in the NRL, it's ruined RL as an exciting gladitorial fantastic sport and replaced it with a boring stop/start defence first and penalty ridden version.
I haven't bought a membership this year and to be honest I'm a bit relieved.

I think we should have won at least one title in the 13 years since 2010, yes. I so no reason why not as Wigan, Saints and Leeds have multiple wins in that time frame. Wigan and Saints are pro RL clubs operating ~10 miles away from Warrington, operating to the same rules and with the same finances, playing the same game. So why not?

Don't forget we get all the messages from the club about "going places", "aiming to be the best" and "marquee signings" so you will excuse me if I am a little jaundiced at the perennial under achievement. We have become the laughing stock of the league with the alleged wealth we have and perma-failure to even compete latterly.

My expectation, based on the wealth of the club being no barrier, is that we should be competitive in all seasons, barring the odd "transitional years", make finals every couple of years, and win a GF and CC every now and then. Maybe a CC and GF per decade. Is that overly ambitious?

Personally speaking, I wish I could. Something to do with following the club since about 1977 and all the nostalgia keeps me bonded and a place in my heart. I think like the wife that stays with the bad husband hoping he will change his ways.

So if it's OK with you* I'll keep watching the odd game live, many games involving Wire on TV, and comment on here as I like and challenge others posts as I sit fit within the constraints of the AUP.

I've out lasted many vocal "ardent" supporters on this site though. Seen a lot come and go in my time . They all used to tell me what to do too.

*you do seem to have a bit of a record of commenting publically on what you think other people should do . It's a bit like the "mummy mummy I've seen something on the internet that I don't agree with" meme.

I can tell you he was probably our worst in a long time and, for context, we signed Roy Asotasi, Gill Duson and Josh Drinkwater ...

I think you’re being a bit harsh. He wasn’t telling you what to do, he was asking a genuine question and I think a fair one. To use your analogy at some point the abused wife has to walk away.
I’m glad that it hasn’t reached that point for you!

Looks like we are both looking forward to the season starting, maybe for different reasons. Enjoy yourself and let's hope we both have much to be positive about.

Since I'm probably being lumped in the same category as you, I have to say you've encapsulated how I feel to the letter. I think I even used the wife analogy last season at one point!

I'm amped up for Thursday, i cannot wait for the season to start. Apart from a little bit of boxing scattered here and there i only watch Rugby League. So the off season feels masdive for me.
Although i agree i don't think it's as good as it used to be and the hard hitting tough men are definately in decline, i love the sport and i'm as excited as ever.
I'm expecting us to be competitive this year and a lot more consistant, with effort for the full 80 mins. If we can do that and push for at least 1 final this year, then it will be a massive improvement this year.