I'm glad they've come to this decision, but given that Horne is currently unfit it does still make the loan signing a sensible decision.

Are you suggesting they know more than the posters on here?

Even Richard Agar knows more than some of the posters on here.



I just couldn't understand how bringing in a fullback on loan when we have none realistically available could be seen as a bad move.

Solid performance from the kid tonight imo ,Definitely a player who's going to be star in the game. Shrewd bit of business from Hull.

No complaints here.

Thought he had a very good game. Was vocal, organised and had a great turn of pace on the attack. Also thought he adapted very well in joining our line of attack and looked very threatening. For an 18 year old it was a great performance.

Way ahead of anything we have at Hull u20s.

Definatley. Better then J.Briscoe and WAYY ahead of Lyne, who had a shocker this aft in the U20s.

Another fantastic young prospect (shame he is not ours), he had a great game.

Let's hope he enjoys his time here. Be interesting to see who wigan sign, if they another halfback we might have a chance of getting him.

We were saying just how confident this young lad looked in an unfamiliar arena with unfamiliar players and calls around him. These are the youngsters that make it - the ones that are talented but also massively confident in the ability they have even as teenagers. I'm hoping for more players like Russell coming through our own system in years to come.

I think you are right to be interested in signing him but his long term career is at Wigan. This loan deal is in mutual interest. This kid will be a star in the game and he will play for Wigan. He will find his place in the Wigan team and I expect him to be a regular from next season. We have been tracking Matty for a few seasons. It is no surprise that he is attracting further admirers.

On the topic of rising stars I was impressed with Crooks last night. Hull need to concentrate on developing more home grown talent. That is the only route to long term success.

Great game on his debut, and it left me thinking 'Wade Who?'

makes you wonder what Wigan are doing differently with their youngsters, he looked completely confident whereas a lot of the players Hull bring through can look a bit nervous at first.

I think we just have a very settled system from u18's through to the 20's and then the first team these sides all play to set structures in attack and defence. The club also doesn't mind sacrificing some u20's league fixtures by getting these lads out on loan deals and dual reg deals. We've done that for the last few seasons and still won the 20's grand final by bringing them all back as better players ready for the play offs.

It also helps that a guy like Russell has played about 4 games this season for Wigan in friendlies and league fixtures and he's also played a few games for Leigh.

I'd love to see him stay for the season at Hull and continue to develop.

Looked physically much better developed than any of our U20's. Very sharp and thought he put himself right in the thick of things plenty of times. BAcking up was excellent considering he'd only been here a few days

Matty Russell or Reece Lyne? Hmmm tough choice.

Reece has got about 2 years on him but doesn't look half the player Russell does. Russell looked confident, wanted the ball and could actually pass properly. When we signed Reece up full time he had Wigan and Leeds after him aswell. So is it he hasn't progressed in our youth systems or what?

Good question, with a very easy answer. Reece Lyne will NOT make it. After watching him (and others) in the 20's yesterday I'd put him (and others) out to pasture. He's lacking in so many basic skills for me, the most obvious being his lack of heart and desire for the game.
I think Reece is a victim of his own success at youth level, him being a far superior athlete than kids of his age. He just hasn't moved on to the next level.
Matty Russell showed in one game that he's a far better prospect than Lyne.

Phil Clarke said on Sky that we should be embarrassed to have to borrow an 18 year old player from another SL club. On friday he also questioned why Wigan needed to sign Gelling when they have players like Russell. He is right, our only home grown players last night were Crooks and Houghton. Sends a bad signal to Lynne, Jack Briscow, Shaul etc.. Similarly Ellis and Nicklas must have been disappointed not to feature. The team selection obviously worked last night but why can't we produce many decent home grown Hull players. Even Rovers have produced more than us.

Russell is a fullback not a winger so Clarke was talking rubbish. He played on the wing for us at Salford last month and stuggled because he's not a winger.

Hull needed a fullback who's ready to play 'now' and I presume they didn't feel one of their own young kids was ready whereas the people at Wigan know this lad is but we just can't accomodate him at the minute. Sometimes clubs have to live in the here and now! Hull are going well and have a chance of winning things this season so as good as it is to keep an eye on the future you can't forget that.

I really don't see any issue from both sides.

Rubbish. Lynne isn't of the required standard and will probably never be. We've played plenty of our youngsters this season so any who have 'missed out' are also likely to not be of the required standard. Ellis and Niklas have had plenty of chances to impress and haven't yet managed to do so, hence other players being selected in front of them when available.

Our youth system has had years of underinvestment and you simply don't change that overnight.

The failure of Hull's youth policy can be laid squarely at the door of the previous regime. Maybe Phil Clarke should do more research for the job he is paid to do. We need a full back, & Wigan have a good one who needs experience. No problem
His criticism of playing Gelling on Friday was embarassing as well, as he played really well.
I used to like Clarke's analysis, but he's been poor for the last couple of years.

liked clarky as a player and when he first joined sky was pretty good, just lately though he has been cack,

The classic one for me from Clarke last night was his incredibly indignant "I can't understand what they're making such a fuss about. They took him from Castleford in the first place" about us being upset that Manu was leaving.

Eddie and Stevo both speechless for once.

God yeah...what on earth was that about



Surely they would not be bothered if they lost Finch as they took him from the NRL in the first place

Gentle and Bomber really impressed with him from last night and could possibly be looking to try and keep him for the full season. When asked if a permanent deal could be on the cards, Bomber explained that he's contracted for 2 and a half years at Wigan and they wouldn't be trying to poach any player. HOWEVER, it would be hard for him to get a look in over Tomkins at Pies