Here here well said...the money I've won based on this fact...saying that the bookies have slashed there odds on Wigan and challenge cup runners up moaners so winnings won't be as huge.on years gone by the favs are usually at 5s this season they are 3s at best but it will be the 2 most likeable teams that lift the end of season trophy... Biggest cert going

Whilst Hull’s squad is strong, where is the evidence that it is stronger than Warrington’s, as previously mooted?

Man for man it’s only really in the centres that I’d consider swaps.

I don’t really have a problem with our squad overall, just the ability and style of the coach to realise that potential. I guess we’ll find out this year whether Price is the answer to our long-running problems.

As for Radford, why has his stock suddenly risen after some very mediocre league campaigns?

First 17s:

1. Jamie Shaul (The Geddes Boys)
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Carlos Tuimavave (Prime Processors)
4. Josh Griffin (WCM)
5. Adam Swift (Revamp Builders)
6. Jake Connor (Humber Street Distillery)
7. Marc Sneyd (SS Testing)
8. Scott Taylor (TC Accounts)
9. Danny Houghton (HI Commercial)
10. Chris Satae (Bad Rhino)
11. Josh Jones (Kaygee Engineering)
12. Manu Ma’u (Prime Processors)
13. Ligi Sao (Conceptus)
14. Albert Kelly (The Empress)
15. Joe Cator (Elecplant)
16. Jordan Johnstone
17. Matty Dawson-Jones (Jane Brooks Law)

Versus:

1; Stefan Ratchford
2; Tom Lineham
3; Anthony Gelling
4; Toby King
5; Josh Charnley
6; Blake Austin
7; Gareth Widdop
8; Chris Hill
9; Daryl Clark
10; Mike Cooper
11; Ben Currie
12; Jack Hughes
13; Ben Murdoch-Masila
14; Jason Clark
15; Joe Philbin
16; Leilani Latu
17; Jake Mamo

Naulago certainly gets one of Hull's starting wing spots, he'll be up their for top tryscorer this year.

Also Ma'u would walk into every Super League starting 13, he's a world class 2nd rower who was nominated for Dally M 2nd rower of the year last season. Josh Jones would also get in over Currie, Currie is gone.

No contest. Hull submission.

It'll be interesting to see how they compare to Warrington this year. There are arguably several positions where they are better individually than Warrington, although Hull have proven that doesn't really mean much as they've continued to underperform in Super League. Their pack is going to be very physical, looking forward to seeing Ma'u in Super League, arguably the best signing by any club this year.

Wire
St Helens
Wigan
Hull
Leeds
Castleford
Catalans
Wakefield
Salford
Toronto
Huddersfield
Hull KR

Looking at the squad from a neutral point of view, I’d much rather have Hull’s squad, only 1 or 2 wire players would get into that hull team and they also have the better coach

1 or 2? The entire front row would get in hulls team. Our full back is much better. Obviously Connor and sneyd are better than 2 top class nrl half backs though, I'll give you that one.

ratch above shaul...charnley above swift/naulago...widdop and austin above sneyd and connor, hill above any hull prop... clarke above houghton.second row they are stronger but thats about it.

Some people have not been paying attention ...IT’S OUR YEAR!

Really surprised at a few of these predictions of 6th-8th.
Cant see you guys falling outside top 4-5.

Hull under Radford remind me of us under Cullen. There's a lot of talent in their team but it's a bit imbalanced and they are maybe lacking leaders.

Inconsistency may be their undoing but I can see them being a very hard team to handle when they get hot. They aren't the kind of team you would want to wind up by baiting them on Twitter as we seem to like doing, as they have the players to shove that back in our faces.

If we have to do these stupid twitter wind ups why not do it to Hull KR rather than Hull FC. It still might backfire but less likely than with FC?

The problem with Hull is you never know when they’re going to suffer a massive and inexplicable dip in form.

I wonder if he is too close to the players.

Yeah, I didn’t realise he was Mike Coopers uncle.

Too obvious SC. No professional sportsman should need extra motivation to play at their best. Keep the wind ups say I.

This is one of the big things that separates clubs like Hull and us from the teams that win the title.

Leeds under McDermott and Wigan under Wane often went through bad runs mid season. They were able to work through it and get themselves together for the business end of the season.

With Hull or us though, it feels like once a bad run hits it becomes a pit we can't escape from.

Sure, but in practice players' focus and distraction will vary over a season. How often do you see a game where you can tell the favourites are still 'on the bus' for the first half. Those wind ups and insults are a great way to sharpen opponents focus before kick off.

If you were a young player coming up against Des Drummond in the 80s, and one of your team mates thought it was a good idea to go to the press and announce that Des was a bit soft, couldn't handle the physical side of the game, would you gently suggest that wasn't a good idea, or would you say meh, go ahead and wind him up, Des will be the same to face either way.

Yes...all his life.

LOL. Imagine doing that to Alan Rathbone, rest his soul. He would have battered you before the game.

I think there is quite a difference in targeting an individual rather than a team. If it does make a difference (it shouldn't but hey ho) it can just as easily lead to a rush of blood resulting in bad decision making, Cull being a classic example.

I guess then you're in to mind games, which when done tactically and subtly, a la Alex Ferguson, can be an effective way of distracting opponents.

The problem with ours is it isn't tactical or subtle its just a wind up along the theme of "we're gonna beat you lol". It's more on par with Tony Greig telling the West Indies that England were going to make them "grovel".

Wigan
St Helens
Hull FC
Catalans
Warrington
Leeds
Huddersfield
Castleford
Wakefield
Salford
Toronto
Hull KR

Each time you've tried it on us it's been overwhelmingly successful for you!!

I think we all remember the 3 eyed fish with fondness!