Re: Pre season. : Mon Dec 12, 2022 4:28 pm  

The optimist in me thinks that, baring been unable to replace Mau, the squad on the whole has improved. We've brought in:

A young exciting Full Back with plenty of pace
A very consistent Centre with plenty of utility value
A half back who is arguably one of England's best talents
An NRL standard half, who is 'too good for SL'
And a exciting impact hooker, who for me, is one of the most under rated signings by any club this off season.

Not to mention the likes of Cator, Carlos, Savelio who will all feel like new signings after their dreadful luck last year.

We have shown promise for the past few years, its keeping players fit and not fading off in the 2nd half of the year which will determine our year.

Maybe i'm buying into the annual pre season hype, but I think with what we have, there is good reason to believe we must be challenging for a top 6 spot.

Re: Pre season. : Mon Dec 12, 2022 7:24 pm  

All aboard the hype train

To be honest, I'd be happy with a play off finish. feel we're in a big group of clubs that could finish anywhere between 5th or 10th.

Genuinely feels like the club has 'rebooted'. A change in recruitment policy, new backroom staff and training facilities.

Can't wait till SKY start calling us the entertainers

Re: Pre season. : Mon Dec 12, 2022 11:25 pm  

HU8HFC wrote:

The optimist in me thinks that, baring been unable to replace Mau, the squad on the whole has improved. We've brought in:

A young exciting Full Back with plenty of pace
A very consistent Centre with plenty of utility value
A half back who is arguably one of England's best talents
An NRL standard half, who is 'too good for SL'
And a exciting impact hooker, who for me, is one of the most under rated signings by any club this off season.

Not to mention the likes of Cator, Carlos, Savelio who will all feel like new signings after their dreadful luck last year.

We have shown promise for the past few years, its keeping players fit and not fading off in the 2nd half of the year which will determine our year.

Maybe i'm buying into the annual pre season hype, but I think with what we have, there is good reason to believe we must be challenging for a top 6 spot.

Trueman isn't close to England's best talents

If he was he would of played for England by now

I'm encouraged by hoy and Clifford and players in great form in super league in dwyer and Sutcliffe

Re: Pre season. : Tue Dec 13, 2022 4:57 am  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Trueman isn't close to England's best talents

If he was he would of played for England by now

I'm encouraged by hoy and Clifford and players in great form in super league in dwyer and Sutcliffe

Your obsession with judging players based on International recognition is getting beyond a joke now. Mikey Lewis is an outstanding talent along with Harry Smith, Pryce and Dodd, none of these have played for the full England team, but it doesn't make them some of the most talented SL players, same with Trueman, You constantly criticized Connor, who not only has been capped by his country performed very well too, you can't have it both ways.

Re: Pre season. : Tue Dec 13, 2022 9:34 am  

Dave K. wrote:

Your obsession with judging players based on International recognition is getting beyond a joke now. Mikey Lewis is an outstanding talent along with Harry Smith, Pryce and Dodd, none of these have played for the full England team, but it doesn't make them some of the most talented SL players, same with Trueman, You constantly criticized Connor, who not only has been capped by his country performed very well too, you can't have it both ways.

Difference is Trueman has played at cas for years and has more SL appearances than Dodd, pryce and lewis put together

The others you mention have just started their careers

Trueman is decent enough but to label him one of the best english talents is just ridiculous he's done nothing of real note yet

Typical hull fc hyping up players the second they sign for us

Re: Pre season. : Tue Dec 13, 2022 10:43 am  

The margins in sport at this level are very small and it often doesn't take a huge amount to turn a team from mediocre to decent. Look at Huddersfield and Wigan, really disappointing in 2021. Wigan got a new coach but didn't change the team a huge amount, Huddersfield also made only minor adjustments, and just like that they were both up at the top end of the table. Look at Leeds. A complete lost cause under Agar (tbf the Kangaroos would look like a list cause under Agar), a new coach with some different ideas comes in and they nearly go and win the big one.

We were poor last year but we aren't a total basket case, we just needed to change a few things. Our spine looks miles better. We will miss Connors creativity but we will have more of it at 6 and 7 and we will definitely have a lot more pace and a better kicking game. Dwyer will inject some speed around the ruck. Bonaire said we lack strike at centre which may be true, but in Carlos and Sutcliffe we have two very accomplished and experienced players. Carlos, Savelio and Cator returning is a big boost. That's all without mentioning Smith. For the first time in ages we have a proven experienced coach who knows what it takes to do well in this league and who will set up his team to play in a positive exciting way.

I aren't buying into any hype, this is just my own views. Making a final is probably a pipe dream this early in Smith's tenure, but I fully expect playoffs and an improved season.

Re: Pre season. : Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:33 pm  

Mr. Zucchini Head wrote:

The margins in sport at this level are very small and it often doesn't take a huge amount to turn a team from mediocre to decent. Look at Huddersfield and Wigan, really disappointing in 2021. Wigan got a new coach but didn't change the team a huge amount, Huddersfield also made only minor adjustments, and just like that they were both up at the top end of the table. Look at Leeds. A complete lost cause under Agar (tbf the Kangaroos would look like a list cause under Agar), a new coach with some different ideas comes in and they nearly go and win the big one.

We were poor last year but we aren't a total basket case, we just needed to change a few things. Our spine looks miles better. We will miss Connors creativity but we will have more of it at 6 and 7 and we will definitely have a lot more pace and a better kicking game. Dwyer will inject some speed around the ruck. Bonaire said we lack strike at centre which may be true, but in Carlos and Sutcliffe we have two very accomplished and experienced players. Carlos, Savelio and Cator returning is a big boost. That's all without mentioning Smith. For the first time in ages we have a proven experienced coach who knows what it takes to do well in this league and who will set up his team to play in a positive exciting way.

I aren't buying into any hype, this is just my own views. Making a final is probably a pipe dream this early in Smith's tenure, but I fully expect playoffs and an improved season.

Improved season isn't much tho

Given how bad we were last season

we was only our toulouse wins from been in a relegation scrap

Re: Pre season. : Tue Dec 13, 2022 12:36 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Difference is Trueman has played at cas for years and has more SL appearances than Dodd, pryce and lewis put together

The others you mention have just started their careers

Trueman is decent enough but to label him one of the best english talents is just ridiculous he's done nothing of real note yet

Typical hull fc hyping up players the second they sign for us

He has also missed alot if rugby through injury which has set back his career a bit.

Also he made the Great Britan squad in 2019, that's a pretty good achievement.

[Chris71]

Re: Pre season. : Wed Dec 14, 2022 9:30 pm  

Wonder when the squad numbers will be getting announced for the coming season?

Re: Pre season. : Thu Dec 15, 2022 3:11 pm  

I wonder what Hoy and Clifford are making of the weather.