Christmas is out of the way and that can only mean one thing and it is not going shopping with the wife to the pre January sales ¬- the countdown to Super League XI has begun.


We are still World Rugby League Club Champions and the best supported team in Super League and after the youngsters showed the way against ‘Trinity’ on Boxing Day I am optimistic for the new season as long as the “kids” are up to it when it matters.
We have 3 further friendlies against York on Jan 15, Harlequins (we will just have to get used to it) on Jan 29 and the “Champions of South Leeds” Hunslet on Feb 5 before the big kick off at home to Huddersfield on Feb 12.


My only worry is the last time I looked we only had one out and out winger (Scott Donald) and more Props and Second Rows than a Great Britain train on squad.

Jamie Peacock is certainly an adequate replacement for Barrie and will hopefully provide some of the dynamism that I felt was missing last year and Mark O’Neill’s work ethic and tackling will compensate for the loss of McKenna if he stays fit.
I am not sure about Millard for Dunneman but what I am sure of is that Donald cannot replace both Marcus Bai and Mark Calderwood the latter of which I believe is a major loss. To my knowledge we have no Wingers to promote from within so the question has to be - WHEN ARE THE RHINOS GOING TO ANNOUNCE THEIR SIXTH SIGNING OF THE SEASON?

Get another winger sorted out and I will be more than optimistic – Watch this space.


And another thing - with or without a new winger we have recruited better than the Bulls for 2006.