I think that Hull FC have a great chance of winning the Challenge Cup for a third year on the trot and could also reach the Grand Final.

The top four for 2018 will be St Helens, Hull FC, Warrington and Leeds and the bottom four will be Widnes, Hull KR, Salford and Huddersfield.

Will be interesting to see how they approach the cup. They've been great in it the last 2 years but it's arguably cost them a GF appearance. Tough to reach a GF especially if you haven't made it before (2006 was so long ago it doesn't really apply to the current Hull team). Could reach and and even win the GF but might need to miss Wembley to achieve it.

You do realise the season starts next week! Catalans always have a good home record but the cold seemed to be a shock to the system for Mead and co. Hope it warms up soon, I had four layers on watching it, I can't imagine how cold it felt out on the pitch.

The fact that we have played good SL opposition all the way through both cup runs hasnt helped either. No chance to rest players, just foot to floor all season. It takes its toll.

I certainly think the cup cost us a GF spot (and definately the LLS) in 2016. Last year we dealt with it ok. We had some decent performances post Wembley, we just didnt quite perform to the best of our ability in the semi against a Leeds side that was desperate to make up for the year before.

If you offered me a choice between a third cup or a GF appearance I would take Old Trafford. But I dont necessarily subscribe to the thought it has to be one or the other. Its doable, but you need to manage your squad well.

On the subject of Catalans. I do agree to an extent with John that a snowy January in Hull isnt the best place to guage how your season will go, however. That was effectively their best team against a Hull side missing Shaul and pretty much the entire pack. Taylor, Watts, Bowden, Green, Manu and Minichiello all sat it out and yet they couldnt make any inroads. Hull just strolled through in second gear. It wasnt a good sign if you are a Catalans fan.

I know this was something Hull fans talked a bit about this year but I don't think it's as vital as you think. Leeds don't rotate or rest players that well compared to others and 3 of our 4 GF's under McDermott we've reached Wembley so had no weeks rest. As seen with Leeds struggles in CC finals and Warrington winning cups but no GF's the two competitions are very different to win and it's learning to win playoff games and yes they are different to cup games especially as you don't have 4/5 weeks to prepare for a certain opponent

Spelling mistakes corrected in =#FF0000red.

No it wasn't Catalans' best team. The team was missing star forwards Michael McIlorum, Louis Anderson, and Thibaud Margalet who were not yet fit enough to play.

This would have been the first time David Mead has played in snow.

Rested everyone ahead of the cup semi last year .

Rested everyone and his dog against London ahead of the cup final in 2014 if memory serves.

1 - And lost that SF
2 - Won the final but lost every game afterwards and went out first week of the playoffs

Cas this year started resting a few in the final weeks of the season but didn't help in the GF.

John was deliberate, I'll give you gauge. Is that your new thing? Spelling mistakes?

Three players missing, hence why I put the word effectively in there. Would Margalet be in your first choice 17 anyway? Admittedly I do like McIlorum and he will make a difference.

Faraimo has never played in snow either. Judging by Mead's tackle attempt for Faraimo's try you would be forgiven for assuming he had never played before in any weather conditions.

As I said. I wouldn't read much into it. I doubt it is much of a guide for what is to come, but it was a pretty miserable performance from Catalans.

Have you seen the highlights on Catalans youtube channel Jean?

Looks like Fouad Yaha has spent the off-season watching old Peter Kay dvds. He has the "dad run" almost perfect.

Don't you dare speak ill of the French Billy Boston.

Quote ="Towns88"Don't you dare speak ill of the French Billy Boston.'" Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo

Quote ="Towns88"Don't you dare speak ill of the French Billy Boston.'" Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'"

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'"

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'" Looks like he`s in slow motion there, i know he was a big lad for a winger last season but he looks seriously out of shape both in the way he moves and looks..

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'" Looks like he`s in slow motion there, i know he was a big lad for a winger last season but he looks seriously out of shape both in the way he moves and looks..

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'" Almost Wellens-esque, that turn of pace shown by the French lad

Quote ="Mr. Zucchini Head"Sneyd just kind of walks over and tackles him. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gOM4SHhxVxo'" Almost Wellens-esque, that turn of pace shown by the French lad

Can't read too much into that game tbh. Most of the tries were scored from bad defensive errors which you'd assume would be fixed up in an SL game.

Come on now lets not get carried away.

most tries scored are from bad defensive errors in super league if your a fan of the team that got beat

I'm not a fan of either team but the errors for those tries shouldn't happen in an SL game.

it was sarcasm, when a team loses, most of the time, fans will have a reason why!

I agree, can't remember the last time I saw a SL game and there was an error that led to a try or a piece of soft defending.



Tbf. Catalans will be disappointed with Paea's try, that was really poor defending. Obviously the Griffin try should never be scored either. The defending wasn't great for the Faraimo try, but it was still a decent move with a lovely tap on by Connor, and he is a big boy. Talanoa's was a good try, and Down's was nice work by Sneyd to spot the unset defence and a nice line run.

On the other side, their first try shouldn't be conceded with that many defenders around. Their second was a try you see all the time in SL.

I look forward to a Hull KR defensive masterclass when we play though.

Oh sorry I forgot, i'm not allowed to comment on a game involving Hull FC because it may be construed as being bias.





I would hope that when the season starts we wont make as many defensive errors as there was in that game or else it will be one hell of a long season. However, I wouldn't read too much into a performance in a friendly but that's just me. I'm not that precious

We won't have much of a guide as to who will be a good candidate for silverware until the end of round 11. Everybody has to play everybody else.

The only complication is that Catalans' performances are usually more positively effected by playing in France than other teams' performances are effected by playing at home.