Hull FC on the verge of signing Scott Prince. Only concern is his age and the length of the deal, but on the plus. He'll arguably be the best 7 in the league and still is a world class player!

Don't get dragged in by the age police. Scott Prince would be an immense signing for anyone, for the next 3 years.

No he signed for Bradford for crusaders and was given a 1 contract exemption just as 2 were at HKR (Both who's contracts are up at the end of next season so will return to the quota).
The orgional exemption was for any player registered in the UK pre feb 08.

How can it be stopped if he has an English wife and children though?
I thought that gave you an automatic right to UK citizenship and all the rights therein?

For the length on 1 contract.
At least that WAS the rule but this is the RFL we are talking about here.

absolutely, possibly the signing which pushes Hull into the top 4? the best 6/7 in Super League by some distance if it comes off

You'd have to think so wouldn't you, but we're not going to have a running game from the halves. That's where Chase would of been ideal. Although Prince over Chase everytime, we'll certainly have creativity with these two in the halves running the show.

a prince/holdsworth combo at halfback would be an immeasureable improvement on what we are currently operating with at halfback. hull have always had the forward pack and a decent set of threequarters - its obvious our weak link has been halfback. hopefully this will now be fixed

As we are now I would fancy us to break the 4. If Prince does come (seems a done deal according to the Aussie press-) I fancy us to have a real crack. We lack a running half back but we have plenty of back row strike and an attack orientated full back to compensate.

McDonnell
Briscoe, Yeaman, Arundle, Lineham
Holdsworth, Prince
Lynch, Houghton, Watts
Ellis, Tickle
Westerman

O'Meley, Johnson, Galea, Heremaia

That is a very exciting 17 imo and we've got some real good depth too. Crookes, Crooks, Whiting, Pitts, Horne, Green all waiting in the wings.

I agree. A very capable team.

I'm not convinced on your left hand edge in the backs with Arundel and Lineham.
That's an inexperienced pairing and I am not convinced on Arundel from what I have seen. Other than that (which might prove me wrong), it's a top 3/4/5/6 team IMO.
What's your depth like though? A good 1-17 alone wont be enough.

Top 6 is done and dusted for next year.
Warrington / Wigan / St Helens / Leeds / Hull / Catalan (maybe not in that order, but there or thereabouts)

Its a decent 17, i dont think its going to strike fear in to anyone, That bench is decidedly average, and Briscoe is a quality player, Yeaman can be good but spends far too much time being mediocre, Arundel and Lineham are a very young and unproven partnership. Mcdonnell isnt a game breaker. The squad doesnt look too deep either.

Top 6 for Hull this year, top 4 a step too far. look to be building though. I think top 6 and 2 play-off wins would be a good season.

Be a great signing for you guys if that comes off. World class player, and will give you that bit of quality that championship teams need. Whats happening with Seymour, seemed to be a real disappointment for Hull this year.

Depends

Have you got the same conditioner and physio

it was our halves who let us down against warrington in the playoffs, match stats prooved we more than equaled the wolves in every other department! somebody worried??

No not really, As i say, i think Hull are a decent side, building towards something. I just dont think they strike fear in to anyone.

Not sure about the Conditioner but [url=http://hullfc.com/article/22667/new-physio-on-board-at-the-black-and-whiteswe've just gotten a new Physio.[/url



Lineham looks like a brilliant talent, hopefully he'll push on from his good performances this season (before he broke his ankle).
Personally, I'm not convinced that Arundel will be in the first 17. He'll be battling for a place with Ben Crooks. Crooks needs to bulk up but, if he does, then he could develop into a great centre.
I agree with you that it's pretty unproven.

If we sign Prince then I would be very disappointed if that squad didn't finish in the top 4.

Depth in the forwards is good. 6 props with SL experience (Lynch, O'Meley, Watts, with Johnson, Green and Bowden fighting it out for the 4th spot).
Back row looks decent too (Ellis, Tickle, Galea, Westerman, Whiting, Kent).

However, we lack depth in the backs. Only 3 centres (Yeaman, Arundel, Crooks) and two of those have missed many games last season, and it's a similar situation for most other spots. I imagine that we'll be relying upon Richard Whiting to be covering most places (although, if the rumours of Shannon McDonnell are true, then we'll have Rich Horne as utility back cover).

It looks promising, though. I'm looking forwards to the season, hoping that the recent seasons' injury crises doesn't occur again.

typical smokey arrogance!

Typical codhead, world class in the offseason.

justin poore signed a 2yr deal for wakefield from parramatta

Richard Mathers - Wakefield Wildcats (2 year deal)

Rangi Chase to remain at Cas. I know it's not a 'new signing' as such but think most expected him to move to the NRL.

"If we sign Prince then I would be very disappointed if that squad didn't finish in the top 4"
Its ok saying defo top 4 but look who you have got beat to get there, Warrington, Wigan, Saints, Leeds, Catalan. All these teams have quality running through the squad and have had for a few years now. With the signings Hull have made i dont see them breaking in anywhere this season. If they keep the same squad for 2014 then maybe in 2 years time. You cant jsut sign loads of players and expect all to Gel, Wigan may suffer from this as well.

By "loads", you mean 2?

It took Wakefield most of the season of to finally gel; only in the last 7 games did we show what we were capable of.