It's here......GAME DAY.

[Squaddie86]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

How many games will be played on army assault courses?

A week in a hot country working on the blistering plays that saw Cas racking up 30-40 points a game might be more beneficial.

[InTheKnow]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

How many games will be played on army assault courses?

A week in a hot country working on the blistering plays that saw Cas racking up 30-40 points a game might be more beneficial.

GF will be.

[InTheKnow]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

How many games will be played on army assault courses?

A week in a hot country working on the blistering plays that saw Cas racking up 30-40 points a game might be more beneficial.

GF will be.

I am against it though. Rather they go on a bonding session to Spain again.

[orrsome]

My concern is that we only have one remaining REAL warm up match left. With all due respect to Newcastle, the team we put out against Leeds on the 21st Jan is the only opportunity for our first teamers to get any meaningful match practice and then we're straight into our SL opener against our bogey team of recent seasons.

I was going to post this. But I realised it was probably that our players - especially key ones such as Gale and McMeeken have been involved upto the end of November so probably don't need much game time to get back into the swing of things.

Looking at other clubs pre-season plans:

Cas: 1 SL, 1 Championship, 1 L1
Leeds: 2 SL (Wakefield and us), 1 Championship, 1 L1
Wigan: 1 Championship, 2 L1
Saints: 2 Championship
Wakefield: 2 SL, 1 Championship
Huddersfield: 1 SL, 1 Champ, 1 L1
Catalans: 1 SL
Hull FC: 2 SL
Salford: 1 SL, 1 Champ
Saints: 2 Champ
Widnes: 1 SL (already played)
KR: 1 SL, 1 Champ, 1 L1

There's a worrying lack of SL sides committing to play each other. This may be to help players avoid burn out but also because the season starts so early on in the first week of February.

I suspect that with us having a game on 21st and 27th January, there just simply isn't a free weekend for us to play another game. We've also got to fit in a week away for our pre-season camp, which looks like will be next week.

My bet is that Leeds game will feature all the first team and then any of the remaining players will travel up to Newcastle and play in that game.

Pending injury:

Leeds:
Roberts, Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden, Ellis, Gale, Millo, McShane, Massey, JSL, McMeeken, Milner.
Subs: Moors, Wardle, Oli Holmes, Cook, Springer, Green, Foster, Clark

Newcastle:
Lo, Maher, Trueman, Douglas, Hitchcox, Clare, Egodo, Aston + kids/anyone not fit for Leeds.

I understand re Sl clubs availability but I would have thought that another game against a top half championship (maybe Halifax) would be beneficial to give the opportunity for a few combinations in key areas to be tried.
As it is we have fielded a very weak side against Fev which told us that our kids are not ready and we didn’t have the right attitude throughout ( Powell’s assessment) After that we have one game to get everything sorted.
I hope I’m wrong but I just think that another real testing game would prepare us better because we may be a bit underdone for the start of the season.

[Casmoley]

My concern is that we only have one remaining REAL warm up match left. With all due respect to Newcastle, the team we put out against Leeds on the 21st Jan is the only opportunity for our first teamers to get any meaningful match practice and then we're straight into our SL opener against our bogey team of recent seasons.

I was going to post this. But I realised it was probably that our players - especially key ones such as Gale and McMeeken have been involved upto the end of November so probably don't need much game time to get back into the swing of things.

Looking at other clubs pre-season plans:

Cas: 1 SL, 1 Championship, 1 L1
Leeds: 2 SL (Wakefield and us), 1 Championship, 1 L1
Wigan: 1 Championship, 2 L1
Saints: 2 Championship
Wakefield: 2 SL, 1 Championship
Huddersfield: 1 SL, 1 Champ, 1 L1
Catalans: 1 SL
Hull FC: 2 SL
Salford: 1 SL, 1 Champ
Saints: 2 Champ
Widnes: 1 SL (already played)
KR: 1 SL, 1 Champ, 1 L1

There's a worrying lack of SL sides committing to play each other. This may be to help players avoid burn out but also because the season starts so early on in the first week of February.

I suspect that with us having a game on 21st and 27th January, there just simply isn't a free weekend for us to play another game. We've also got to fit in a week away for our pre-season camp, which looks like will be next week.

My bet is that Leeds game will feature all the first team and then any of the remaining players will travel up to Newcastle and play in that game.

Pending injury:

Leeds:
Roberts, Minikin, Webster, Shenton, Eden, Ellis, Gale, Millo, McShane, Massey, JSL, McMeeken, Milner.
Subs: Moors, Wardle, Oli Holmes, Cook, Springer, Green, Foster, Clark

Newcastle:
Lo, Maher, Trueman, Douglas, Hitchcox, Clare, Egodo, Aston + kids/anyone not fit for Leeds.

I understand re Sl clubs availability but I would have thought that another game against a top half championship (maybe Halifax) would be beneficial to give the opportunity for a few combinations in key areas to be tried.
As it is we have fielded a very weak side against Fev which told us that our kids are not ready and we didn’t have the right attitude throughout ( Powell’s assessment) After that we have one game to get everything sorted.
I hope I’m wrong but I just think that another real testing game would prepare us better because we may be a bit underdone for the start of the season.

I'll be surprised to see Gale play any friendly.

[InTheKnow]

Gale still sunning it up in Bali.

[Casmoley]

Gale still sunning it up in Bali.

Ben Cooper has said he'll only have a 2 week pre-season which isn't anywhere near long enough to start firing round 1

[alcasfan]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

It was a week away in Lanzarote last year wasn't it?

Same again.

[gateman]

We could not have a more testing game than away to St Helens for our first league game, i think i read that its over 20 years since we last won at their place, all our players should be back at the club preparing for this one lets get the monkey of our backs 2 points at the beginning of the season are has valuable as two at the end

[old cas lass]

Looks like lanzarote again this year according to DP.
Announced in the cas and ponte, 11th jan they go.

[derbystiger]

Looks like lanzarote again this year according to DP.
Announced in the cas and ponte, 11th jan they go.

I hope so, worked last year so no need to change something that works

[InTheKnow]

Looks like lanzarote again this year according to DP.
Announced in the cas and ponte, 11th jan they go.

I hope so, worked last year so no need to change something that works

I bet Gale is laughing his pants off. Still in Bali then flying straight to Lanzarote.

[Squaddie86]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

How many games will be played on army assault courses?

A week in a hot country working on the blistering plays that saw Cas racking up 30-40 points a game might be more beneficial.

GF will be.

The final will be an army assault course? When did the RFL announce that?

In any case you honestly think a cold week in Cumbria in January would make a difference in October?

I'd rather the lads were happy, motivated amd refreshed, ready for a long season, not cold, wet, miserable and hating life at Cas while their mates at other teams are away training in the sunshine.

[mart0042]

I think warm weather training and bonding is the way to go. More sessions available and you put to bed last year. Players can make goals for themselves in positive environment.

Cold training is a punishment for bad behaviour and poor execution. Wigan have done it because of their poor end to the season. It'll make them not want to do it again.

[InTheKnow]

Hope the week away going to be a army assult course type of thing in the wind rain and heavy ground in deepest cumbria

How many games will be played on army assault courses?

A week in a hot country working on the blistering plays that saw Cas racking up 30-40 points a game might be more beneficial.

GF will be.

The final will be an army assault course? When did the RFL announce that?

In any case you honestly think a cold week in Cumbria in January would make a difference in October?

I'd rather the lads were happy, motivated amd refreshed, ready for a long season, not cold, wet, miserable and hating life at Cas while their mates at other teams are away training in the sunshine.

You clearly didn't see what I wrote underneath. Saying I would rather them go Spain again. Clearly it's not an army assault course but the wet weather training does help. Teams do it for a reason.

[Flat Capper]

Some interesting thoughts on this one folks.

Personally I can see the benefits of either option but as I'm a sadist I prefer the harsh winter training option rather than the 'easy' life in the sun.

As we all know, playing rugby league at any level is punishing on both the body and the mind so a week of harsh weather, tough exercise and a reliance on team mates to get you through seems the better option to me.

I also understand Cas make use of the indoor facilities at the A1 football factory, so there doesn't appear to be a reason for going to the sun to work on game-plans, weights and the like.

[takethetwo]

It might help the new signings get to know their new team mates in a relaxed atmosphere. Like othere have said certainly dodnt do any harm last year.

[Flat Capper]

It might help the new signings get to know their new team mates in a relaxed atmosphere. Like othere have said certainly dodnt do any harm last year.

I take it you've never shared a sleeping bag with a mate then?