12th

 So after the final round of games played out, we finished 12th on the table. 

We actually had a 100% win record against the teams which finished below us. And an 11.7% win record against the teams above us.

There's zero doubt it was a disappointing season. Coming off 5th in Season '24, I think it's fair to say our hopes were high.

I do though come back to our off season: From Season '24 we lost a hell of a lot of talent to other clubs - Feldt, Holmes & Finefeuiaki (all were part of our best 17) - then we lost Luki for the year to injury (another from our top 17). And while we got Hess back from his knee injury in '24, the only other player we brought in that had a notable impact was Bateman.

We also got a very patchy season out of BigJase because of injury. He's a warhorse these days, but without doubt remains our most influential player. He finished with just 10 games under his belt in Season '25. Given we'd lost Finefuiaki & Luki, we desperately needed a big season out of Jase (and simply didn't get it). 

A lot of people point to Purdue moving into the halves (and dropping of Clifford) as the downfall of our season. That was the same time as when we lost BigJase - and I think that was that key to our drop off of form, not the dropping of Jake. 

As we look to 2026, I see the team as being even more dependant on BigJase. McLean has retired and he proved very solid and dependable in the middle. He was also robust - he played 19 games this year, and played 20+ games in each of the 4 seasons before that. We'd hope Lahrs blossoms into a quality prop, and Neame, Hess & Michaele all step up, but gee it feels like BigJase, even at age 32, is more key than ever.

Luki will hopefully come back strong, and will take some of the load as well. He's a bloody big body. 

I would though love to see the Cows sign another real metre eater of a prop. I don't love the fact that we're so damn dependent on BigJase to bend the line. Neame, Hess, McIntyre & Michaele - they're all very solid, but simply don't have the impact Jase has. 

I'm also worried about the guys who are able to negotiate come Nov 1 (as they don't have a contact beyond 2026) - specifically Purdue, Neame, Lahrs & Taulagi. Admitted there are lots of players at lots of clubs in the same boat, but with the Perth Bears entering the comp in 2027, and PNG following hot on their heels, I'm guessing retention will be bloody hard. The less quality players coming off contract the better.