And you think all of them are actually better than Ellis LMFAO. Imo the best back rowers in the world are; Ellis, Thaiday, Lewis and Gallen. I'm still laughing at you bringing this up.

I'm surprised at you. Don't you know this poster is a widely respected rugby league expert. He must be as he's a Dobbins supporter and he's moved as far away from Caravan Park as possible. Showing great sense that man.

There's so much wrong with JB's post is unfunny.

I suppose that's what happens when you start to idolise Australian trolls on LU.

JB Down Under is happier with the signings of Cory Paterson and Travis Burns than he would have been with Gareth Ellis and Scott Prince. Hilarious

Hull will go well next year and so will Ellis 'if' he stays fit but I'm not convinced about the second part. He seems to be injured half the time but hopefully his problems are behind him.

He's proven in the NRL he's one of the very best back rowers in the world and he's had to do that at that level because for England he's been disappointing at times. There's no shame in that though as like many top class players before him he's fighting a losing battle trying to keep the Aussies at bay.

Quote ="Mark_W"Has Prince signed for Ferrybridge? www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 6498900616'" nope its eggborough - ferrybridge has two tall chimneys not one

Quote ="Mark_W"Has Prince signed for Ferrybridge? www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl ... 6498900616'" nope its eggborough - ferrybridge has two tall chimneys not one

Hull FC Squad

Kirk Yeaman - 29
Tom Briscoe - 22
Richard Horne - 30
Brett Seymour - 28
Mark O'Meley - 31
Danny Houghton - 24
Andy Lynch - 33
Danny Tickle - 29
Joe Westerman - 22
Aaron Heremaia - 30
Richard Whiting - 27
Ben Crooks - 19
Liam Kent - 21
Jack Briscoe - 20
Chris Green - 22
Danny Nicklas - 21
Tom Lineham - 21
Josh Bowden - 20
James Cunningham - 18
Lewis Brown - 18
Jay Pitts - 22
Liam Watts - 22
Gareth Ellis - 31
Joe Arundel - 21
Daniel Holdsworth - 28
Ben Galea - 34
Jason Crookes - 22
Paul Johnson - 24
Scott Prince (if signed) - 32

Average age - 24.9 (5 over 30, 9 over 25)


Hull KR squad

Craig Hall - 24
Kris Welham - 25
David Hodgson - 31
Michael Dobson - 26
Josh Hodgson - 22
Constantine Mika - 23
Rhys Lovegrove - 25
Lincoln Withers - 31
Jason Netherton - 30
Ryan O'Hara - 32
Graeme Horne - 27
Jordan Cox - 20
Sam Latus - 23
Mickey Paea - 26
Richard Beaumont - 24
Keale Carlile - 22
George Griffin - 20
Liam Salter - 19
James Green - 21
Tyler Hepi - ?
James Braithwaite - ?
Cory Patterson - 25
Omari Cairo - 21
Travis Burns - 28
Evan Tuimavave - 28
Sean Gleeson - 24
Alex Brown - 21

Average - 24.7 (4 over 30, 12 over 25)

So yeah, Dad's Army...
(If we release Seymour as expected, it'll be pretty much the same average as yours).

I love envy!

You've missed a few out of our ft squad.

Mainly youngsters.

Ellis is a very good signing and like has been said is one a lot of teams would want, the down side for FC is that they're losing Manu who in my mind has been their best player by a country mile for a few years, Ellis is a very different kind of player so time will tell if the better one has come in or gone out.

Scott prince on a 3year is like signing Shaun long all over again.

I think the only two teams in SL that would have not signed Ellis is Wire and Wigan and that is only because they have very good back row units and sometimes the sum of the whole is greater than the parts and for these two it is certainly true for these. Not saying that Ellis is not a great player just that he wouldn't add anything extra to these.

He'd add something to both teams although he might not make the starting 13. His experience and quality whether starting or from the bench is invaluable. But he wouldn't be worth it to the two clubs for the salary he'd command without having to release someone from their contract. In our case, Westwood, Waterhouse or Harrison. You could probably throw Catalans & Saints in to that bracket too.

Good signing for Hull no doubt but as with all players nearing the end of their careers it's hoping they avoid the niggling injuries and managing their game time as they tend to take a little longer to recover than their younger counterparts. Remember people said the same about Morley to us and our skipper hasn't done too bad in the past few years although he has picked up a few injuries here and there.

Wigan wanted Ellis but they didn't want to get involved in a bidding war and pulled out of the race for his signature.

Ian Lenagan admitted this in the Wigan paper a couple of weeks back.

I thought Ellis stated from the outset that he wanted to sign for a yorkshire team?

this coming from a man who calls himself hessle roader

Are you serious?

Name me the three backrow forwards at both clubs better than Ellis?

Ellis will be a good 20min each half player IF you can get him on the field. Prince has been very poor for two years, Galea was hanging his boots up. I forget how poor a standard SL must be for people to be lauding these signings!

Not my opinion, RLW panel of experts rate more than 10 other 2nd rowers better than Ellis, to suggets he is in the top two (or thaiday for that matter based on this years form) is laughable. I am guessing you don;t get many NRL matches to watch in UK?

Anyone who has watched the Titans for the last two years will tell you just how good Prince's form has been. Still gives us something to laugh at when we win another derby and you can blame the fact you had 1/2 the first team out injured

Why wouldn't I. Its where I come from!!

It was only a couple of months ago that Mal Meninga said that Prince's current form was rep standard. I'm going to take his opinion over yours.

As far as I know, Ellis suffered a broken bone in his foot, which could happen to any player at any time of his career.

As for your point about derbies. The two we won last year, we had more than 1/2 a team missing, to the point where our retired assistant coach played (and scored).

You're an idiot, and this thread has proven it.

What's unfair about what I said?

I think Westwood is better than Ellis currently but that's my opinion. You obviously disagree to some extent. That's fine. On our left edge, Waterhouse has been immense and attracts so much attention from defenders that Atkins and Riley have had a field day all year outside him. That's no coincidence either. So with his offload game, it complements our style down that side so I'd again pick him. Again you may disagree. And finally at 13 Ben Harrison has been brilliant, like a 3rd prop with more mobility, agility and more energy in his tank than your out and out prop forwards. I don't think Ellis would supply the same go forward and is much better on the fringes than right up the guts so for this reason I'd pick Harrison as it again suits our game plan better.

Apart from Westwood, I'm not necessarily saying the other two are better than Ellis but in their respective roles and how they are used in a Wire set up, I'd stick with the boys we've got. As I said, he'd be a great addition to any side in SL with his quality and experience. But not necessarily improve Wire or Wigan for example as they'd have to lose a good sized salary to get him in there in the first place.

You are making it sound like you've signed Jonathon Thurston of the back row world. Excellent player? Yes. Best back rower in the world? Not even the best in SL IMO.

Where did I say he was the best player in the world or SL?

You stated that Ellis wouldn't get into warringtons starting line up, if you think that fine, but I'm sure that 99% of coaches would much rather have Ellis than Ben Harrison, personally I'd have Ellis over Waterhouse having watched hem both he last few years.

Nothing wrong with our opinion, but if you put this on a forum, expect to get challenged.

Fair enough.

I'm not TS so I wouldn't know what he'd do having worked with both of them. I wouldn't expect to see Ellis play 13 even though he'd be more than capable in that position in SL and I personally wouldn't like to move our two SR's from their individual positions. So it would be a case of losing one or two sizeable salaries to get him in the squad in the first place or fill the remainder of the squad with kids on low salaries so he can supplement what you already have.

Depends on the team structures, we'd have to adapt to fit in Ellis in the starting 13. For Hull, you've lost Manu to Saints so it's a straight replacement and arguably an improvement although I'm not so sure if you'll play to the same structures this year? Probably a question you could answer better than myself.

Manu is a huge loss, easily the best attacking backrow forward in the league, however I feel that we relied on him too much in the past, despite his loss we have 5 very good backrow forwards in Ellis, Westerman, tickle, galea and whiting.

If we sign prince and McDonnell I would very disappointed if we don't finish in the top 4.

Nice to have a good debate, some good out of the rovers trolling attempts.

How do you define 'the best attacking backrow forward in the league' though? I think I'd prefer Westwood's attacking game, granted it consists of running as hard as you can in a straight line, but that works. The half backs can then select the correct pass. The skillful offloads and bumping people off are great and really exciting to watch though. I suppose they are different breeds.

If Gareth Hock had ANYTHING but wind in his head he would be the best second row in the league. Big, strong, quick, good offload and decent feet for his size. Just doesn't know how to use his noggin. Shame.


On a side point, how do Hull fans envisage Richard Horne being used next year, if at all? If Prince and McDonnell sign he will be surplus surely?

Horne will be challenging for the fb spot and covering centre and five eighth.

If you think McDonnell is the answer to your Full Back dreams you are going to be seriously underwhelmed.