Leeds “buy their way back to being competitive “? Oh dear you are one sad individual,lose the chip ffs!

I'm not really sure what your point is.

Leeds have more resource than any of the other current also rans, so it seems plausible. I suppose you could make a case for Warrington, in fairness.

Or do you not like the inference that wealthy clubs mostly buy rather than earn their success? I mean, when Rovers were good in the 1980s, money played a very big role... and then Wigan one-upped everyone, and now thiszzzzzzzz.

We don't have to listen to all that 'culture' stuff. Having Jamie Peacock as DoR for a spell gives us an exemption. Check, it's in the small print.

Also, and I'm probably over crediting you here, we don't want to be gaslit into making the mistakes that exacerbate the 'challenges' we face. Well, I don't. Some other Rovers fans no doubt have a sunnier disposition. Although, at least a few are trying to work out how much compensation the club would have to pay St Helens to forfeit our next game 48-0, so optimism is in somewhat short supply.

Have you met Gary Hetherington?!

Are you suggesting he is cautious with his spending?

If Leeds continue as not really being perennial contenders, there's a decent chance that he'd eventually be replaced by somebody with slightly different priorities. If the SL scriptwriters do eventually come up with a new story line, 'Leeds are good again' seems like one of the most likely - if not the most compelling from my perspective.

Sorry if I missed your point completely.

Yes, he's quite well known for his negotiation skills (and not just with player contracts, the sale of Iestyn Harris to Wales RU was an amazing deal).

What will sort Leeds out, as for most clubs, is not buying their way out of things but building bottom up which is what Smith is doing and all other clubs should do. They'll be up at the top pretty soon by following that route. But even if that takes time Hetherington is not going to be moved on by anyone; he might only own 25% of Leeds but he makes 100% of the decisions.

Patience, long-termism and building bottom-up being luxuries only the wealthy can afford is my ‘thing’ at the moment.

Being reminded by fans of successful clubs that they finished fifth one year, but they stuck with it and were patient and ultimately enjoyed the rewards is very much twisting my melon.

Sure, good structures and culture are valuable. But I just feel that chasing something that I increasingly believe is out of reach (emulating much better resourced clubs [I think you may be interpreting ‘buying success’ more narrowly than me]) may prevent us from emulating Hastings-era Salford, Bullyball-era Hull and Powell-era Cas in having some temporary relative success. Since the end of the definitely-not-bottom-up Morgan era at Rovers, we’ve had no end of ‘building for the future’ and 5-year planning. On the pitch it has not gone well. RL folk are super-wedded to the idea that certain virtuous behaviours should lead to success and therefore the plan was sound and it must just have been the execution that was off.

I don’t think Saints and Wigan, for example, have some sort of magical formula or special DNA. Or if they do it is not the key differentiator. They now just have substantial inbuilt advantages that can’t be overcome simply by doing things ‘the right way’.

It’s a bleak truth but I think a club like Rovers could be more successful if it was acknowledged and accepted. Or everybody might despair and give up, that’s another possibility.

I mean fans of Aston Villa or Crystal Palace don’t wonder at what differentiates Manchester City or Chelsea, and wouldn’t be accused of having a chip on their shoulder for discussing it. Tbf, my ‘tiresome and entitled’ comment was uncalled for. I’m just fed up with it - happens periodically. It’s just maybe the periods are getting longer and the gaps shorter.

Gosh, I hope Willie Peters does have a magic formula… or beans or something.

Mate, you've right got monk on, have you dropped all your test tubes or something?
I'll cheer you up, I've had a ludicrously terrible year, get in touch chief.

Sorry to hear that mate. I’ll drop you a PM later on.

I know I’m being a bit melodramatic about the rugby. It’s just stuff like that being our 13th straight defeat against St Helens. They’ve also beaten Hull 14 times in a row. Minds me of the bit from 1984…

For St Helens, always, at every moment there will be the thrill of victory, the sensation of trampling on an enemy who is helpless. If you want a picture of the future of SL, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - for ever.

And that’s fine. It’s the holier than thou, ‘you’re prioritising the wrong things’ BS, from fans of clubs that don’t have to prioritise, that sticks in my craw a bit. Like we’re watching morality play rather than an uneven battle of resources.

As I say, bit melodramatic.

As long as nobody says ‘the salary cap is the same for everybody’, I’ll be fine.