Still seething at the gutless dross last night, but….
We are too small in the middle. Mago slaughtered us for 20 minutes, as did Watts and Westerman.
So.
Arona. Past his sell by date but been great for us.
Fifita. Probably out for quite a while but fits the ticket in many ways, inspirational.
Toupou. Crocked and out till when?
Lino. To me, he’s not the Messiah but won’t be going anywhere I would imagine.
Whitbread. Why is he here? What is the point, no different to our own lads in size and ability.
Miller. Still got plenty to offer hopefully.
Tanginoa. Something drastically wrong here. Is in a shadowland.
(Hood on loan somewhere please, I am faster at 71)
If we could move one on, we could have a punt on a Mago type fringe NRL player. We’ve done it before but I think we need two. Would have thought most championship players tied up now and wouldn’t fancy the risk.
Some years ago, I remember MC stating any players wanting out, just pop in his office. Some did. Why not ask again?
Wiggin must be pooping themselves.

I agree with most of that though I don’t know where you’ve got that Fifita will be out for a while, not what I’ve heard.

Truth is our overseas players are by far and away the great underperformers.

Tanginoa in particular is a waste of space. He runs with no purpose and cannot tackle and he’s playing in his proffered position apparently.

Lino hides.

Whitbread is astonishingly ordinary.

Tupou is unlikely ever to get back to what he was.

Arona is fine but he’s never been a match winner.

Fifita is our only go forward along with Batchelor.

Miller, I never want to hear a word against this bloke ever again.
Head and shoulders our best quota player, how we missed him last night.

Agree with a lot but think it is age as far as Arona concerned We got to see with Tupou still might be able to do a job.Think Lino and Tinginoa drop of form is down to Miller not been on park Think the last two games have proven how much of a influence Miller is to the rest of the team .Got taken of after 3 minutes against Leeds resulting in one more bad 37 minutes of headless rugby

I don't see Arona as too old either.
We play better when he is on the field.

It won't be long before he's too old but right now I'm OK with our overseas players.....assuming Tupou comes back.

I just don't think Arona should be at Prop, he does a fine job but surely we have better options for an out and out prop.

For me Arona has been a consistently decent player over the years ,not a world beater ,but a good solid player ,Tanginoa for me is inconsistent and fades into the background far too often for my liking ,built like a brick -hit house but our home grown lads batch and Crowther out perform him ,he needs to step up to the plate pronto . Always liked Miller ,same again not a world beater but give 100% gets us on the front foot and tackles well above his weight . No doubt Toops in his pomp was almost unplayable at times ,but I fear his latest setback may be an injury too far ( hope I’m wrong) but it’s going to take a mammoth effort to get anywhere near his previous form . Sure Willie will be fuming with that performance and looks to our overseas players to add that extra level to our game .

Not knocking J C but he was very poor last night . Did not look like a first pick at all last night

Not his finest game I agree, but there were another 16 players not performing as well

I am a massive fan of Tupou but feel that if the prognosis about a full recovery is in any doubt then consideration ought to be made to try to negotiate a pay off of his remaining contract before it’s too late in the season to try address the obvious lack of strength in depth of the front row.

Trinity need to try to find another decent import prop alongside Fifita, Whitbread and Arona as the squad is too weak down the middle…

Hull KR have just shown how a smaller mobile pack can totally outplay a set of bigger forwards with a combination of being smarter and playing with more skill, grit and determination from 1-17....3 things that were totally lacking in our performance last night

I’d also add Passion and Pride to that FIL

Difference is HKR had there fair share of ball ,and completed six tackles sets .Would like to no what our completion rate was on completing sets and what % of ball we had

To be honest it was hard to criticise the backs last night as the barely got a touch and never any space.

The culprits were 6 - 13.

He’s never been a prop never will be sadly coaches past and present give him the number 10 jersey

Ok FIL but I don't think we can do the smart bit!

If we got some of those refereeing decisions occasionally it would be a miracle. Turn at least two of the 50:50 around in favour of Hull FC and it would have been a whole different ball game.

Agree

I've no problem with Arona at prop...think he's been one of our best players this season...was excellent when he first came...very consistent...had a dip in form over a season or two but had a horrid time with injuries. Capable of doing a very good job at prop for me though when the whole pack is playing well...

Without Dave we do lack a bit of size but a smaller mobile pack doesn't automatically say you're going to lose against a bigger pack....in games we've played well in, the forwards have run hard. got decent quick play the balls and at times got good offloads out...when we play like that we're a handful. Last night we just seemed to lack energy from the start....the play the balls were the slowest we've had this season by a country mile...we were completely dominated in the rucks and not one forward got an offload away all night so no second phase stuff which made us easy to defend against. That's why I'd put last night down to the short turnaround rather than anything else.....

Arona is not the problem, if the rest of the pack played with his commitment we’d win far more games.

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 637001.amp Ought to be looking at this fella for next season or earlier if possible…..

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... 637001.amp Ought to be looking at this fella for next season or earlier if possible…..

We wouldn’t have the coin for him, think it has to be a fringe player looking to make a name and cut his teeth over here. That’s the stat though. 6 ft 6 and 17 stone and 24!,

As a season ticket member at the sharks when played there I can confirm he played at prop and also a the roosters before that
Usually off the interchange bench

He is a fringe player hence why he’s looking to get a gig over here potentially. I don’t see the obsession with getting fringe/second rate Aussies over, we’ve hit mud more than oil doing this. It’s rare that quality from the NRL comes over, and we will be way down the pecking order of clubs to compete, and even then it’s a risk ie home sickness etc. We need to get Fifita out on the field as much as possible this year as we have about as much punch as a paper weight boxer without him. Arona is a fantastic player, in a St’s or Wigan team he would really compliment the wrecking ball props like Walmsley as a solid and consistent workhorse prop. Players like Dale Finucane, Jake Trbojevic and even luke Thompson show you don’t have to be monsters to be quality forwards.

Correct but some fans don’t go with facts.

Must say I do not agree with the ' bagging ' of Lino. He distributes well, tremendous side step , plenty of pace , excellent goal kicker and field kicker . Made our only try against Cas. Had tremendous games after his late start to the season.