Or is it a blip and was last year just a dream let’s hope we can turn the corner

Last year was a big leap forward and I will not poop on those memories. However, it was from being terrible to being average. I remember beating Warrington 19-0 but I’ve forgotten the score in the next game against Catalans. The first is more pleasant to think on but they’re both relevant to setting expectations for 2022. It was 28-10 to Catalans, I just looked it up.

Wigan beat us and have won both their other games. Saints won their first three (and now four). Cas have started slowly and we beat them. Hudds away is no sort of gimme. So, I don’t think results have been horrific. I’ve not seen enough to comment properly on performance, but it apparently hasn’t been great.

However, injuries, sickness and suspensions have disrupted us early season. Not just us, I’m sure but the impact can be managed much better by the wealthier clubs. And, I think we all recognise the hints in the media that pre-season has been ‘mixed’ by now. So, I’m not massively disappointed at this point. It probably helps that I struggle to find time to watch the games we win nowadays, never mind those we lose! That wasn’t a conscious decision nor one I take any pride in… but when I realised it had happened, I found it very easy to accept.

The three we’ve lost to are now the top three. In part because they have each beaten us, of course. However, setting aside our games with them, the combined record of all four of our opponents to date is won 9, lost 3. The game Hudds lost was to Wigan.