Just been reading the Hull Daily Mail this morning. Assuming what has been reported is correct? Re the report that were looking to bring in an NRL half back as cover.

I just cannot believe were even considering using a quota place for half back "cover". What a total waste. It highlights again how clueless Agar and the Board are. Did we not learn anything from the Dykes/head saga? Bringing in an old half back........ Wow they don't play many games do they. So let's bring in Shaun Long he's old ........... Ohh yeah he didn't play many games either...


Ok let's bring in cover...... And then next year when Long retires...... Ohhh yeah we'll be struggling for quota spots to bring in a Quality half back.

But wait it gets better. Granted we've only just got Berro off the quota, but it's hardly a surprise that this would happen. It's hardly as if this hasn't happened previously with other clubs. Again if the report is to be believed now we've finally decided that we need cover we've started to look. Guess what? It's so late in the day that options have "diminished" due to the fact that anyone of any quality has already been snapped up..... Hey who would have guessed that.

Que an old has been Aussie HB to keep Long Company with the Physio.

We should use the Quota spot for quality or not at all.

Go on then, like who?

Lets break the bank and sign Eastmond, oh hes not played much this year

I've taken the Hull Board and Head Coaches approach and not given that much thought to be honest.

I take your point, but as a whole the older a player the more injury prone and time taken to recover from injury.

We now have a quota spot we never expected to have, we have two options:-

1) Don't use it.

2) Use it on bringing in some halfback cover, not a worldbeater but additional cover in case Horne/Long are out injured again. If the halfback could also play hooker then that would be useful to cover Houghton from the bench. Just give him a one year deal and look as planned for a top class long term option around April/May time.

So what would you do?

He'd complain.

was it the clubs "lack of vision and strategy" that managed to get berro off quota?

This forum never ceases to amaze

The OP has a point. Whilst the club continually takes this short sighted approach we will not improve. First it was sign Long who had two years max left in him, now its sign a back half for a year but then what? Sign the next ageing scrum half and let the cycle continue. I really do despair of whatever strategy there seems to be at Hull FC at the moment. Nobody seems to be thinking of the future and only of now and a very average now too.

Agree....a downward spiral of depressing negativity based on knowing absolutley nothing regarding the goings on within the club....FFS cheer up and back ya club!!
I'm sure the input from the experienced staff....Fitzy, Long, etc are taken into account with decision making process.

Would you have preferred that we went into this season with the same half backs as in 2009?


We need cover at HB for next season. The season after we are apparently looking to sign a replacement for Long. What other options do we have?

Okay yes that was a good idea. But then is that good enough for you for the rest of the year.....?

Are you happy with the continual poor decision we have to suffer. I ask this as you have defended the situation.?

I think it'd be unfair to say we had a lack of strategy, lack of vision would be evidenced by getting rid of coaches willy nilly.

This year was a much better season, to have Horney/Longy out for long periods and still come so close to finishing 4th was a great achievement for the team, we played some dire stuff I will agree however I can empathise with the club that this was necessity as a team playing with Washy as one of it's half backs (no offense to Washy who is a good LF) is never going to be play fluid Rugby - we made the best of what we had which is what sport is all about IMO.

The rumored interest in Fielden/LMS was very encouraging to me and despite neither coming off at least it showed we was looking to improve. Radders staying on a 2-year deal was a bit of a downer however I can't personally say what was out there. If Dowes stays on a 2-year deal that would be very disappointing for me.

Next year is looking a bit bleak, it's hard to see how we'll improve ATM however I'll leave my opinion on it until we've finished recruiting for next year as Agar has usually (minus Thorman) done well on the transfer front.

Your correct I have no idea what is going on at the club. However like you I see the outcome. These outcomes have been lacking in perceived long term thinking.

You mentioned the downward spiral of negativity....... So clearly others feel the same way.

Not sure if quote "experienced staff....Fitzy, Long" have an input? I hope they dont when it comes to long term player planning.

I just see other teams making vastly superior decisions and getting better while we just appear " from the outside" to continually make the same mistakes.

I only post and vent my frustration because I care. It's backing and turning up and seeing the fruit of the poor decisions that makes it frustrating.

unbelievable

In general I'm very with the club at the minute.

off the field we are looking in as good a shape as we've ever been in.
the retail side is doing excellent
we are the 1st ruggy club to launch an academy
we are no longer in debt


on the field.
we've just about got rid off the players who continually let the club down
we've finished 6th which i was happpy with
very happy with our quota players
The club have managed to get an extra quota place but havent got a large amount left on the cap so they have gone to great lengths to make sure we get some cover in the halves for next season. Surely that can only be a good move?



Granted i'm not sure about the coach but I dont accept the club make continual poor decisions.

do you mean in general or just whilst writing your initial post??

you were quick there sheldon

Spot on there Paul Thats exactly the point, suddenly we have a quota place but not enough left under the cap for a Marquee signing and none avaialble anyway so what do we do not use it or take someone short term to act as cover. Thats how I see it anyway!

Well said.
I think we'll improve next year just by having Long and Horne fit more often. If we get them on the pitch together 15-20 times next season (only 60%+) we'll look a lot better. I'm not as concerned by Long's injuries as i am by Horne's. Longs dislocated elbow was a freak accident as was him turning his ankle against Wire, other than that he would of played 20+ games this year. Horne is really worrying, lots of niggly muscle/ligament injuries from non contact activities.

didnt you know wilf that they are backing up at the airport in Sydney to come to SL!!!
and Kyle eastmond is begging his directors to let him leave cos we need a half back

wow