[quote="Hullfc-white":2v9d30u0]https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-make-denive-balmforth-9898121 Thought he was definitely signing for rovers?[/quote:2v9d30u0] Great news. I think this could be the biggest blessing of Abdull leaving. Balmforth may have been stuck behind Bourouh and Cust and been swayed to move somewhere else. Hopefully now be kicks on and becomes our hooker for years to come.

[quote="Hullfc-white":1gu9qhyc]https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-make-denive-balmforth-9898121 Thought he was definitely signing for rovers?[/quote:1gu9qhyc] That's great news on Balmforth, sounds like he's really put the effort in bought in to the new regime and coaching under Cartwright and impressed in pre season. Hopefully the promise he's shown will be nurtured under a quality Coach like JC and he will fulfill his potential.

[quote="MadDogg":1fbvkvi7]This isn't the same as saying he's going to be as good but I think there are glimpses of Keiron Cunningham with this guy.[/quote:1fbvkvi7] Said the same when he broke through - that acceleration and power from a standing start was reminiscent of KC. However, this pre season, Balmforth has definitely trimmed up - be interesting to see how that affects his game [img:1fbvkvi7]https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRi6nxDwKlw6UQLeeVRkmn2IfvmVhlL0Q8wCIL9kOXet9OJtIVsQtUI7ZE9KkBguIZ0s3VRTomAUM5UUcM2f2plBA[/img:1fbvkvi7][img:1fbvkvi7]https://i2-prod.hulldailymail.co.uk/incoming/article9898684.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/1_Denive-Balmforth-001.jpg[/img:1fbvkvi7]

[quote="Hasbag":3jc0rd15]Great news. I think this could be the biggest blessing of Abdull leaving. Balmforth may have been stuck behind Bourouh and Cust and been swayed to move somewhere else. Hopefully now be kicks on and becomes our hooker for years to come.[/quote:3jc0rd15] It could be that the way Balmforth seems to have gone in training, impressing JC may well have been a pivotal part in the clubs decision re Abdull. If both Balmforth & Bourouh have shown up well in pre season hopefully it shows the club are genuinely prepared to back the young lads coming through. Also credit to Balmforth for backing himself and putting in the effort.

[quote:8xngbsxr]Well, community is what we're rebuilding; our connection with our fan base has to be better, and our fans want that. They just want a team that works hard, puts in effort, and hopefully wins a lot of games. The winning will inevitably come over time. It just does. But having a proud performance and a fan base who gets the story and the journey that we're on is the most important thing.[/quote:8xngbsxr] That'll do for me Richie and I think a lot of fans will agree.

[quote="Chris71":2wnswv8m]That's great news on Balmforth, sounds like he's really put the effort in bought in to the new regime and coaching under Cartwright and impressed in pre season. Hopefully the promise he's shown will be nurtured under a quality Coach like JC and he will fulfill his potential.[/quote:2wnswv8m] Great news to get Balmforth signed up long term, he can now concentrate on his game. Some improvements needed of course but he's got a big future. Thankfully an end to all the rumours of him leaving that have been flying about for a couple of seasons.

Any rumours or news re a half back? We've only got Cust and Sezer as senior players. Below that is Kemp and Charles, the latter injured currently. Not enough for the coming season I don't think

Good news on balmforth. He's definitely a talent, just needs (needed) the fitness and concentration levels. I think that the ability to sign players from other clubs in the final year of their contracts will certainly change recruitment and retention stances at clubs and we will probably see instances of it backfiring but it makes things interesting

Good re-signing. Needs to work on a few things, but looks like he’ll have the time and opportunity now. The Rovers trolls masquerading as Hull fans got this one wrong. Again. Myler seems very switched on when it comes to recruitment and retention.

[quote="MadDogg":g2qshdxw]This isn't the same as saying he's going to be as good but I think there are glimpses of Keiron Cunningham with this guy.[/quote:g2qshdxw] He is similar style and if he is half as good then we have a great player. One area holding him back was his fitness which he seemed to have worked on. Really pleased he had signed and a long deal too. One real positive of not getting Sneyd would be the gametome it should give him at the start of the year.

[quote="Blackandwhitebigdog":27mp08y5]Any rumours or news re a half back? We've only got Cust and Sezer as senior players. Below that is Kemp and Charles, the latter injured currently. Not enough for the coming season I don't think[/quote:27mp08y5] Probably something the club are looking at, but in reality there isn't likely to be anyone available and I'd rather wait tham sign a Reynolds or Richardson.

[quote="Irregular Hoops":a92nj0a7]Good re-signing. Needs to work on a few things, but looks like he’ll have the time and opportunity now. The Rovers trolls masquerading as Hull fans got this one wrong. Again. Myler seems very switched on when it comes to recruitment and retention.[/quote:a92nj0a7] did anyone actually say he'd signed for rovers?

[quote="Yippee try yay":3mdyyrts]Great news, Barron, Ashworth and Staveley to follow hopefully.[/quote:3mdyyrts] Ashworth needs a big start to the season and stay injury free, showed what a good player he can be, but that's no good if he is sat in the stands for 50% of the games. Signed by Smith and Clarke so probably a decent salary. Hopefully proves his value. Think Wainhouse will debut this year and sign a long term deal too.

[quote="Jake the Peg":l1yvqtpq]did anyone actually say he'd signed for rovers?[/quote:l1yvqtpq] Well you suggested it on Pete Riding post.

[quote="Dave K.":2emkjf89]Ashworth needs a big start to the season and stay injury free, showed what a good player he can be, but that's no good if he is sat in the stands for 50% of the games. Signed by Smith and Clarke so probably a decent salary. Hopefully proves his value. Think Wainhouse will debut this year and sign a long term deal too.[/quote:2emkjf89] Agree re Ashworth but at the same time there's a real shortage of decent British front rowers, we seem to struggle to produce big forwards whereas the likes of Wigan and St's have them in abundance. Hopefully Ashworth will have a big start to the year and stay fit.

[quote="Dave K.":1xdom6ab]Ashworth needs a big start to the season and stay injury free, showed what a good player he can be, but that's no good if he is sat in the stands for 50% of the games. Signed by Smith and Clarke so probably a decent salary. Hopefully proves his value. Think Wainhouse will debut this year and sign a long term deal too.[/quote:1xdom6ab] I posted on the pre season thread about Ashworth. Had a fantastic pre-season by all accounts. Hopefully will stand him in good stead for the season.

Cartwright interview on Humberside https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kmk ... are-mobile

Cartwright interview on Humberside https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0kmk ... are-mobile

good to see Balmforth signed up long term....moral of the story, dont believe everything you get told

[quote="number 6":3q4dxvrc]good to see Balmforth signed up long term....moral of the story, dont believe everything you get told [/quote:3q4dxvrc] All that fretting for nowt

[quote="Dave K.":2w0lbwq1]Well you suggested it on Pete Riding post.[/quote:2w0lbwq1] did anyone actually say he'd signed for rovers?

Had Cartwright not come in, think Balmforth would be gone. On another topic, read an article about Connor the other day, said he wanted to stay long term at Hull and talks of a new contract broke down when Smith came in, wish we had him, think he would have been great for us playing at centre or 6 under Cartwright. Still can't believe the damage Smith did.

I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club

[quote="Jake the Peg":6wp95766]I was surprised myler spoke positively about smith in that interview. The guy has done a huge amount of damage to our club[/quote:6wp95766] He spoke positively about the Smith of old. From about 10 years ago. Not the Smith that damages our club

Good to have Balmforth signed up, said it seemed like a big gamble for me letting him start the season able to negotiate with other clubs, if he started the season well we’d have been in a battle to keep him. Also been confirmed by Matt Shaw that clubs have been given quota dispensation to sign Salford players. Don’t think it’s that relevant for us, Cross was the target and if they do sell think it will only be Leeds now with the Sivo injury.

I think this shows that what is happening at the club is a huge improvement with this regime in charge. 6 months ago, there is no way on earth that Balmforth is staying at the club - and I hear he also had offers to move.