Been a decent first half to our league campaign IMO. League position is a fair reflection of where we are after playing everyone; couple of close wins and losses probably cancel each other out.

Standouts for me have been Danny Houghton - another 57 tackles last night - but really taking games by the scruff of the neck and in great form. Pack looks strong; Taylor has been a very good acquisition so far and Frank's made more meters than any other back rower in the comp apart from the exceptional Dave Taylor. Shaul's come of age at fullback, and it's great to see Naughton emerging. Fonua looks a prospect too, hope he can get a good run in now. Sneyd has also shown his ability to run a game, would be good to get a solid 6 to relieve some of the pressure though.

It's been a bit disappointing to see Logan disappear from the radar - started to look the real deal last year but been displaced (deservedly) by Yeaman. The loss at Widnes was a real low point, but the response has been excellent and from Yeaman's break to put Shaul through at Hull KR we've not really looked back.

In terms of stats, they look good. Highest metres made of any club in the comp. 4th for tries, 3rd for tackle busts, 2nd for clean breaks, 2nd for average gain, 2nd fewest errors. In that context, support play remains a focus.

Radford and the coaching staff should take some credit too. Our conditioning looks strong, and we're playing a more exciting style of rugby off the back of a very good pack which is being rotated sensibly.

I think we can take encouragement from this first half of the season - overall it's been better than I expected - but given we've had a relatively good injury position compared to some clubs we need to keep up the momentum. It will be good to get Ellis back - his value to the team can't be underestimated in my view. Plenty to feel positive about at this point.

Excellent post.

Really happy, we aren't far off, we have as good a squad as any other team in the league, just not quite as good a 17 as some, but that squad has reaped rewards in a tough period. Great spine of English players who are all at a good age. Thinking further into the future not much recruitment needs doing for next year which is a bonus, just some retentions and two class players at centre and stand off needed.

Players coming back will give us a boost for the next couple of games, important game next week and one we need to be winning despite Wakeys good form.

I'm pretty happy with the first half of the season. Bounced back well from the Widnes hammering.

You'd hope we'll improve, too, with Ellis, Mini, Pryce back imminently after layoffs plus warmer weather and firmer conditions should suit the likes of Pritchard and Manu.

If we can win at least seven of the remaining twelve games before the cut we should be very well placed to push on for a play off spot after the Super 8s.

Much will depend how we react to last night's defeat with two games coming up against the current form teams in the league.

Great post. It's been a long time that I've been this optimistic at this stage of the season.

How refreshing are all the positive vibes on here. We've just lost a match that perhaps we should have won but apart from the usual candidates we're all pretty upbeat. Win the next couple of games and we'll look set fair for the rest of the season.

yeah we are in a pretty good place IMO. Put it this way, as things stand we are better than last season and have a chance to make the top 4, so I don't think many fans would have grumbled about that. Shame about last night, but such is life.

Wakey game is massive.

Good summary. Nice to see the club on the up.

Spot on summary.

Fair assessment , Pleased were starting to see some consistency from Sneyd .

We are looking good. We have definatley moved forwards. We just need to stay consistent. We would all have accepted where we are had we been offered it at the start of the comp.
I think we maybe need to be just a little braver in respect of our off half position. How good are Dean and Tyson Wilson. I don't know because I last saw HTW play when he was ten. If either are good enough then perhaps they should play. That's no disrespect to Washbrook who has been a revalation off the bench. We are nearly there . The rest of our season should be faced with confidence. I think we can compete on our day with anyone. I am looking forward to the future. More Rioja anyone?

Fully agree that off half is our major problem. I like Pryce and he shows glimpses of real quality, but just don't get enough minutes from him. We need a more robust Plan B than getting Washy to fill in, as he's been doing great work elsewhere in the team.

To be honest i think we can get by with the centres we have.The priority has to be a 6.
Fonua and Tuimavave should be our starting centres when everyone is fit.
I would think the club have already started looking.Its a crucial position and teams do struggle when they lose their starting 6.
I would still take Danny Brough if he came available

I don't even think we've hit close to top gear yet, I think this team has far more to give and I expect us too get even better. I was confident of being contenders at the start of the season and I'm still very confident, I think we'll make at least one final this season.

I don't think the league is that strong (compared with previous seasons) and I don't fear for us against anyone.

So far so good would be a fair assessment. Won 7 lost 4 is a decent return. Out of the four we've lost, 2 were by a point with another by 2. The only real blot on the season was the nightmare night at Widnes.

We look fit and strong, as our 2nd half performances show, which is probably credit to the work done pre season. We are showing glimpses of what we could be in attack and team spirit and confidence appears to be excellent.

Before the season started I hoped we would win a minimum of 50% of our games (i.e. 15 wins from 30) and we are clearly currently on course for that.

Looking forward to the next 12 games and hoping we will continue to improve as the players become more familiar with each other's games.

Just a note of caution though, we looked like serious challengers in April/May 2013 and by the end of that year we'd had 70+ points put past us in a play-off game, the coach was clearing his desk out, and this board was having one of its regular meltdowns.
Although I would say we look in far better shape overall than we were 3 years ago.

So, onwards and upwards hopefully. Still plenty to play for in both the League and the Cup. We've still to enter this year's Challenge Cup, whereas some Super League clubs have had their interest in this year's competition ended already

I believe only one Super League club has so far sunk without trace. Unfortunately I cannot allow their name to pass my lips.

We should be satisfied with where we are and how we've been performing. We made a good start and then had a wobble but recovered well. Its a bit frustrating that we lost three games narrowly but we won three narrowly too.
The job is only half done however, we need to kick on throughout the second half of the season. Wakey away is a potential banana skin, we rarely do well there. Catalans will be tough too but if we win them both we'll be nicely placed. Lose them both however....

Think there's more to come. Overseas players often take a while to fully settle in, so think we still have the best to come from our new players.
I've been critical of LR over the last couple of years, but I'm glad he's proved me wrong so far. He's changed the culture of the club and that will be his legacy. We've won games this year we'd have lost last year.
There'll be no wholesale changes next year, so onwards and upwards. A number 6 will a priority, and I'm sure the club will be on with it.
There's been some pain over the last few years, but I can see there are structures in place and we, as a club, are moving forward. Have quite a good feeling about where we are heading.

Defo going in the right direction.Important game against wakey coming up. COYH

A good post. More than happy in most areas, especially the pack where I think Bowden and Washy have exceeded all expectations. The one disappointment for me there is Manu, I think he's lucky to be keeping the likes of Hadley, Thompson, Green etc out personally.

Centre still worry me - we're doing ok but in terms of a top 4, then GF push, this is where we look slightly short to me. No one has necessarily let us down, but conversely no one really stands out either.

I've been to all hulls matches at home and when I've seen manu play have been underwhelmed . but when I've watched the match back on fc live I've been surprised how much of the so called dirty work he does.

We have to be happy with how things have gone so far , a bit of luck and we could have been even better. Radford has moulded a good side who clearly fight for the badge and are all in it together and that on its own is something we have not had for years.We have some fantastic talent coming through the ranks which will be a huge benefit to the culture of the Club . No doubt we will have some downs along the way but we have to be excited what the potential this squad can achieve

Danny Houghton said several weeks ago that Manu was his type of player.Does a lot of hard graft which goes unnoticed.
What i dont like though is how Radford interchanges Manu.
In my opinion is on the field too long. At Leeds he was out on his feet before being inchanged.That could and should have been done 10 mins earlier.
We have some quality on the bench now (apart from Feka) so dont need to exhaust players.
I like Feka but he is finished at this level.Why Radford wastes a bench spot on him to play 10 minutes only he knows.

Spot on