boris74

Aye, but Hull FC's problems havent!

For every Vete, Simms and Takairangi there is Lachlan Coote, SKD and Parcell or even further back overseas players such as Monaghan and Brett Hodgson all signed by Tony Smith at Rovers and Wire. Smith must be given the time to see this through. His budget for this year clearly shows he has to shop in the bargain basement and take a risk or two which haven't come off as yet. Enough experienced ex players, coaches etc in the game are saying he is the man that Hull FC need to change what is clearly a poor culture but this will not be a short term fix and I for one will bow to their superior knowledge.

If Hull couldn't even raise their game for the final home game last week then I suspect tonight will be very painful! A few senior players with niggles not fancying tonight and a few youngsters to debut. Good luck to them! Saints by a lot.

Last home game for a fair few Hull players may swing it in their favour. If not and the usual end of season apathy then I suppose that justifies why so many are leaving!

For a side fighting to get into the play offs without much room for error I thought Hull were very poor. Probably showed why they shouldnt and wont be a play off side in 2023. Looking for positives the side still shows effort in defence and this time last year the result would more likely be a 30 point defeat! Total faith in TS to turn it around and the high turnover of players was always needed and it will happen but its certainly not a quick fix. I would be tempted to give the likes of Staveley, Balmforth and Martin a few games now in place of the likes of Dwyer and Satae who are moving on next year and not performing consistently to the level needed. Agree about the referee, thought he had a very good game and deserves credit.

Boring but as long as the performance and effort matches the last 2 games for FC then the result should follow. Wakey will fancy it at home. Think one score in it.

The same effort as shown against the Giants and we will happy. Probably not enough to beat Wigan but as long as we are heading in the right direction. Trueman off the bench by all accounts but expect it to take a game or two for him to get into the full swing of things.

Hull's upturn in form wont happen just yet. We need a match fit spine at least for that to happen. Expecting\hoping for a committed performance though and signs that the tanker is turning. Giants by 18.

Think I picked the wrong week to give up alcohol! Effort in defence from FC a bear minimum from this game but suspect Saints will have too much quality and desire to put right a few wrongs from their side of things either way. Saints by 30+

Was hoping the Sheffield V Hull FC game was going to be streamed but not seen anything to suggest that it is! Clubs missing a trick with pre-season games in my opinion. Lots of fans haven't watched live RL for a few months and I suspect the streaming take up would be fairly substantial.

Probably nothing like but here goes... Hoy, McIntosh, Carlos, Sutcliffe, Swift, Trueman, Clifford, Taylor, Houghton, Satae, Sao, Savelio, Lane Bench from - Dwyer, Lovodua, Brown, Fash, Cator, Griffin, Shaul, Evans, Scott, Mitch, McNamara Plenty of youngsters with a few SL games under their belt waiting to step in once the injuries kick in!

The couple of niggles mentioned could well include Ackers but Mickey Mac was always starting hooker either way, it's how Wane wants us to play, very aggressive down the middle. Radley to spell at hooker. I suspect it will be a Williams and Welsby half back pairing, but the kicking game of Sneyd must be tempting against the big Samoan forwards. KPP the 18th man to cover both back and forward HIA injuries? Has the versatility.

If Connor stays I will be really interested to see how Smith changes his game (if he does). Also understand in a salary cap sport where we are near the full cap that Jake leaving would free up a big piece of the pie and for the greater good of the squad this may well be needed. Personally hope Smith gets to coach a side with Connor pivotal to it.

Hell of a lot of 2+2 = 5 I suspect with Abdul, Connor and a few other rumours! No issues with Smith taking over, he is the experienced head coach that we have needed for a fair few years now. Pearson just needed somebody to run the rugby side of the business and I believe he has found the right man now.

Even odder given that Rovers have at least two loans players playing champ 1 who were recalled last week and this week in prep to play first team. Just let them play for their loan club if you have no intention of giving them a first team jersey. Strange.

Another debutant this week in Gardiner I believe and Barron and Litten on the wings. Expecting a heavy defeat but consoling myself with the fact that so many youngsters are getting super league experience which hopefully bodes well for the future. There is always next year should be our club motto...

Totally at a loss as to what the actual answer is to the Hull FC annual car crash. Too many coaches have been the victim now over the last 10 years or so to put the blame squarely at their feet. Culture? How do you change that? Everybody out including players, coaches, conditioning staff, physio, even back office staff? Impractical to do... Even when we were strong in 2016 we found it ok to admit that a few too many days in the pub after Wembley probably derailed our best chance to win the Grand Final! A bad attitude that is always lurking around the club, or so its seems from the outside looking in.

A bit of a free hit for Hull this week! We know the side with one in one out and just hope for the effort levels to remain high and not drop to the Leeds standard... 30-10 to Wigun

Wouldn't expect a side with 5 debutants, 3 of which only came into the club days earlier to put on a defensive masterclass! That will be the focus on the training ground this week no doubt. Happy with the effort and scored some nice tries. Still concerned that it is our senior players who have such poor discipline particularly when in possession, this needs stamping out or they need replacing. By the letter of the law the Minchella try was rightly disallowed as there was no re-grip. Might not be a popular rule but you cant blame the officials for policing it!

The square pegs into round holes needs to stop. The first couple of sets in any game normally gives a good indication as to how a game will pan out and Saturday was no different. One side had clear purpose and made 80 metres no problem whist the other relied on one man rugby and didn't cross their own 30. As mentioned previously this is the first hiding that a Hodgson side has received so calls for his sacking is premature imo but there is something wrong at the club as this soft underbelly has been with us for far too many years! Lack of desire by certain players, no real shape and one out rugby will quickly turn the fans away. We cannot continue with the jam tomorrow line...

Was hoping to see some attacking green shoots from Hull last week but sadly there was nothing and looking at the players available this week I cannot see any change. Just cant see Hull scoring enough points to win games!

This will show if Hull are in for a long painful end to the season or the green shoots of an attacking game without Connor appear. Hoping its the latter! Wire by a couple of scores.

You might just get your wish with Hookem this week! Nothing to lose now in playing a couple of these talented kids imo. Balmforth is super league ready now.

Didn't expect the win but the performance was poor. Especially from a couple of the so called big earners. Not in the Hodgson out brigade and think next year is his team with no excuses. What I would like now though, and I suspect a lot of Hull fans agree with me, is for us to take a deep breath and go with the kids and drop the under performing bigger names. We have a real talented batch of youngsters at the moment, the best crop I can remember for a while, and I would rather see these guys get first team experience then limp performances like Saturday. McNamara, Balmforth, Litten and Staveley are all capable in my opinion and their enthusiasm would add a much needed boost to a lethargic looking team right now!

Think Hull will put in a good performance this week but not enough to win. Catalans by 6-8 points.