This is the problem though as it’s always been ‘jam tomorrow’ for far too long now and a good number of fans have had enough of that.

I seriously question BH tactics, bench selection and the way it’s used in games. Many defended it earlier in the season but tonight was another example. Why have JJ on the bench if you aren’t going to spell him with Houghton? Why have we not tried starting with JJ when Houghton hasn’t been pulling up any trees of late and the early promise he showed at the start has evaporated. Again why have Scott on the bench when you are unlikely to play him? Why is Brown still not getting game time when he offers more than Bowden has done when played.

There was no logic to the way the bench was used tonight and seeing both Houghton and Johnstone on at the same time was going to achieve what exactly?

Spending big wasn’t what burnt AP’s fingers for me it was spending big but keeping the same coaching set up behind all the failures. Other than the 2 Cup wins which I shall be eternally grateful for we blew the best chance we’ve had at reaching and winning a GF in 2016 and never kicked on.

To answer the original question, no our season isn’t over.

Tonight wasn’t great and we should have managed the game better to win the match. We now have three tough games in a row.

However, the remainder of the season is all about making and achieving in the play offs.

Firstly, can we finish in the Top Six? Yes, assume we can play our first two games in hand v Leigh and Salford at home, then that should improve our current standing to 4th.

After these next three games, we should also start to see the return of Shaul, Connor and Taylor, plus Savelio will be back. Put these four in our 17 and we are able to give anyone a game in a knockout competition.

If we make the play offs I don’t think it really matters much if we finish 3rd-6th. Those games are going to be tight whether we are at home or away. It’s hitting form at the right time and that may still happen.

As for the future, well the close season will be the real first opportunity for Brett to start re-shaping the team, subject to funds and contract positions.

As for our previous great recruitment (Motu) and youngsters coming through (Horne, Cooke etc), it’s worth remembering that in the first 18 years of Super League we won one Challenge Cup and made one Grand Final appearance. I’d say on average our league position was about 6th.

So to say the season is over after losing tonight is premature. On the whole we are probably performing above our usual position and the season may still turn out ok. (anyone else remember how they felt after 58 mins when 20-0 down at Craven Park on Good Friday, compared with how they felt at Wembley in the August back in 2016?)

Let’s not give up. A season is not based on one, or just a few results. I’ll judge the season when it’s over… and that’s not tonight.

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918'" Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

Quote ="Mrs Barista"Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918'" Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

I blame it on Radford.

The season isn't over unless you mean in terms of winning a trophy as we have no chance of winning the Grand Final from fifth or sixth,

We have a battle to make the play offs as it looks to be between us and Rovers, possibly Cas. Connor back in, with Savelio and Taylor will help our cause but as Mrs B says we are really missing Josh Griffin.

We really need the Leigh and Salford games to be rescheduled as we should be wining them to boost our points percentage.

This year was always going to be tough - we appointed Brett Hodgson in late November. Compare that to Warrington with Wire and Cas with Radford - both announced in April for next season.

I said this at the game. The covid break came at a bad time time us. We had a chance to build a bit of momentum after the hudds home game, that's all gone down the drain.

You dont need to spend big to compete, just better cap management and use youth, we have failed on both for top long.

Spot on. Kept faith too long when a change should have been made far earlier.
People who criticise AP for getting rid of LR don’t realise it should have been done 18 months earlier at least.
BH is now trying to turn things around without much wriggle room in recruitment.

AP must have been gutted last night. Fairly decent crowd in the circumstances, and it falls flat again.

But the youth has to be good enough.
Not seen any backs to be excited about and apart from Jack Brown not seen a forward with real potential
The difference between 18 year old Pryce at Huddersfield and 19 year old McNamara was astounding given McNamara has been around the first team squad for several months

Pryce probably the wrong comparison - he has been a star throughout the youth levels and could be a once in a generation kind of player.

However, I agree on all the other points. I honestly think Abdull and Litten would massively improve us at the moment - players who Radford gave away. Our retention has been poor and done on sentiment rather than performance.

I think there are some promising kids coming through. Barron, Staveley, Burrell, Ferreira etc. so hopefully with the training centres we are strategically placing across the country, that can aid with the scouting of youth

I like Hodgson and for me the jury's out until the end of the season which is far from over even if our expected next 2 results end with similar outcome. But I'm not understanding his choices on the bench? We must have at present the smallest bench in the league, I like Scott but was he needed last night? same with jj when Cator can cover Houghton, we Have a man who would have out jumped Hurrell all night not in the 17 and a young forward with great potential also not in the 17 as far as we know neither injured?

There are a number of influential factors. However, I’d argue that money is the single biggest one. It’s a question of degree, and unromantic, but imo it is likely bigger than the rest combined.

Was worried about props before the season started. Ended up with 2 very good campaigns.from Satae and Sao, a step up from Fash, and poor returns from Taylor, Bowden and Matongo. Change needed if we are to progress.

Squad has been unbalanced for a few seasons now, and will take a few seasons addressing it.
Forwards desperately need help.

I dont think our forwards are that big an issue, of the 7 props we have 5 are good enough, unfortunately one has been injured most of the year. The issue is how we use them.

I'd have another prop, but it won't matter until we address our issues of attacking in the opposition 20.

Think some of our forwards are excellent - top drawer, sadly we are a couple short, IF Tag had been fit all year they wouldn't have had to play so many minutes.

BH improved defence massively.

Sadly our squad was assembled by LR to play Bradford style rugby - nobody mentions current COVID rules requiring fitter, lighter, quicker players. How the hell could tht have been seen coming ? Sadly we still dont' know next years rules - scrums ? restarts ?

Current squad lacks pace & creativity, BH knows this & hopefully is addressing. For me Mahe & Reynolds huge disapointments, I fear both Danny H & Sneyd have seen the game bypass them - we definitely need more from those positions.

Keep the faith, support AP & BH - spend money at the shop & over the turnstile !!!

Up until the last two games we where doing ok. Fallen away since. But still have chance to turn it round. Reynolds had co vd symptoms and may still be struggling. Bit harsh to say he's a poor signing. Hopefully get Connor Taylor Massi Savellio back in the near future

Agree with you Dave in both the Huddersfield and Leeds debacles the forwards made metres and gave us a platform but we generated very little from that which is a concern. Look at the first half against Leeds in particular when we dominated Leeds and had repeat sets and scored nothing as our attack was so disjointed and no creativity at all which bit us later in the game.

Abdull always had the potential to be a very good player and we should have kept him. I for one was disappointed when we let him go. Many people will disagree with me and I hate to say it but I believe he offers much more as a playmaker than Sneyd. I wasn't that bothered when Litten went to Rovers but with the new rules he's just the type of dynamic hooker we need.

Lots of work needed in the off season. Hopefully Pearson finds a magic money tree to finance the overhaul the squad. We have a lot a players in their late 20's early 30's but don't have appear to have enough quality coming through to challenge them.

Abdul had good potential, but had a poor attitude, the move away from Hull gave him a kick up the backside to sort that out, happened to a few players like Brough and Long.

Litten didn't get enough chances st Hull, that was Radfords fault.

I'm not convinced either are top 4 SL players yet, buy they have potential and there would both improve us as it stands.

So you are saying they are better than you have in your own team and wish you still had them?

Abduls on a good contract now at Rovers, Saints actually asked to buy him out of it, but Rovers said no.

I think he has more to his game than Sneyd personally.

I think Hull have been guilty of handing out big contracts to the wrong players, and not knowing when a players starting to regress and hanging on to them too long (hougton/Bowden) . The best teams get this spot on.

Hopefully Hodgson can.........

Nick Staveley at the moment seems a cant miss prospect, got the frame to hopefully fill out the more he spends in and around the 1st team too.

You could see him bent over in the 2nd half struggling to get his breath, was obvious he wasn't right.