I have read a few season previews all of which have written us off. Previews are based on people's opinions and let's be honest providing you have an honest held belief it's hard to argue someone one way or the other. But all these "experts" of the game seem to have written us off based on the fact that we have yet to fill the half back issue since Cooke left. They have not based their conclusions on anything other than Hull never have a half back combination.
When you look at our first choice spine (I'm basing this on a almost fully fit squad that played yesterday) Shaul, Pryce, Sneyd, Houghton and Westerman how is that only worthy of 9th position at best (based on season previews).
Add in Ellis, Mini and a very potent back line and you have a squad I'd say is above average. Yes under that first 20 names you could argue there isn't the quality (could I said) but I'm struggling to see what it is that I and many other Hull fans are not getting that the experts are.
Pryce according to Rugby League World will be a big loss to the Dragons but hardly worthy in a black & white shirt. Sneyd was a top performing half back last season in an over achieving squad, who faltered as his support faltered. He was in a Cas team written off 12 months ago who performed miracles but have lost their spine, yet I don't see any previews that predict them below us. Clarke, Sneyd and Huby big big losses for them.
But it's a funny old game and so long as we dip below the radar and sky love everything West of the Pennines (with the exception of Leeds, who's squad couldn't contain more oldies if they'd tried) I guess we will be happy.

So back to Pryce and anyone who knows the game will appreciate that he has performed at the top of his game season after season. To my knowledge his injury record is good. He is the perfect "veteran" to be bringing on our young halves and not forgetting Sneyd. He knows Radford and will respect Radford and I'm certain that he will not be here for a jolly.

Lets see if you can manage back to back decent performances. No doubt codheads have underachieved last few years. Most people had both Ull teams to finish outside top 8. I wasn't one of them.

Those 2 statements are not mutually exclusive. I don't think anyone argued against the idea that better players will improve things. It would be pretty daft to, as it's perfectly obvious. What some (including myself) put forward is that we had/have several fundamental issues that will/would not be fixed by recruitment alone, and that the problems in the halves should not have meant the size of the gulf in performances we've seen, we should have been better in some aspects of play regardless of personnel.

Some people suggested that too much emphasis was put on our previous lack of quality in the halves. I'm hoping that the current incumbents continue to prove that theory wrong.

They aren't currently doing so to continue it. They can't, it's not possible and will always be open to debate.

OK then.