Clifford isn't even close to Jason Smith level

Good player Clifford no doubt though

He's shaping up well and showing some great touches but for me Smith was the best I've seen in a Hull shirt.

100%

Yep agree jason was in top 3 best players from NRL. international class , mature senior pro . old school hard player - guess as near to knocker as we have had. Anyway i should have clarified clifford is the best signing ( NOT the best player yet !) . based on cliffords great rugby attributes , strong leadership , 25 years old and mentored by thurlston at newcastle knights a really good value signing /investment ( much cheaper and better than overpaid Reynolds) . I am pretty sure he would still be in NRL if not for plate problem in arm and we got very lucky he came. i hope his arm holds up and he gets a coupe of seasons with us to progress and challenge for the status of one of best players ever from NRL. He has the whole package - great passing , short and long kicking game , conversions %, speed , defence and strong verbal leadership we have not seen for a very long time at 7.I hope he sticks around as with trueman could be really special. Ironically unlike many seasons in SL we are needing a refresh in pack and dont have any real massive weakness in backs - but smith is deffo the right person to sort out this and the inconsistent mental attitude issue. looks bright future to me . probably next season back to serious contenders...

Whilst Cas aren't great, we have still won 4 on the trot and shown some big improvements on issues earlier in the season, particularly defense, also while still not there yet, our last play options are alot better, if we can get a good run of injuries and keep our spine intact, I see why we can't have a season that is better than the last couple and have a dig at the cup or the top 6. In would be good to shift a couple and try to bring in a couple of forwards.

In that run we have beaten Hudds who are much fancied the best side in the league and won twice away.

Really big test coming up at Salford, lots to prove after the home game, Sao and Taylor back, hopefully Carlos is fit and maybe chance Scott at wing and think we can give them a game.

Really happy with the spine, add some power and size to the pack and we are moving in the right direction.

Clifford is excellent, just hope he stays next season, if possible I'd be looking at get him on a longer deal with a payrise (make him marquee). Bit early to compare him to the likes of Swain and Smith yet, maybe even mini, Manu and Kelly, certainly looks the best 7 overseas 7 iv'e seen, he has it all, can run, tackle, kick and pass.

Hopefully the next time he goes the length of the field it'll actually be a try. 3rd times the charm and all that

I think Clifford should be our captain.

clifford is a good player and will get better,but hes not in the peter sterling class.ive seen every import since the 70s and sterling tops the lot.2 other players who dont often get mentioned are des hasler and greg mackay,2 excellent playmakers.peter sterling and brett kenny were the perfect halfback pairing.no wonder parramatta dominated in the early 80s.i watch mor nrl than super league and i knew cliiford would go really well.

Totally agree, Peter Sterling was ahead of his time, the first of the "modern" era scrum halves and his vision and , often overlooked, defense was superb. Jason Smith was very good, the second best 13 I have seen since watching Hull since the mid 70's, but in my opinion ,Peter Sterling trumps the list of great overseas players we have been lucky to witness, by a close margin from James Leuluai, who was the best strike centre I have ever seen at Hull.

The first thing I thought when I saw his claim was that he's got a bit to do before we can hold him up alongside Richard Swain. Then I realised that it actually is 20 years since he signed! So yeah maybe Clifford is the best for 20 years. Certainly amongst the spine positions.

Again. Smith signed for us more than 20 years ago.

Still think Kelly 2017 is alot better than Clifford

Kelly 2017 was unstoppable

Clifford is good but let's see if he can rip saints apart that's the challenge for him

Kelly was class, but compare the pack he played behind, compared to the one we have now, imagine Clifford behind that pack.

Don't get me wrong Kelly was good and some games unplayable at times but he would also go missing at times in games, was more of a maverick player rather than a team player/organiser plus he spent a fair amount of time in the stands. So in those respects its difficult to really compare the 2 of them however I would say that if we can keep Clifford for next season alongside Trueman with some size and grit added in the forwards and a quality player in the SR then I think Clifford would be another level. He is a very intelligent player, reads the game very well and leads the team around and is really growing in to the role and will only get better as he settles in.

Agree with that.

Kelly also worked well alongside Sneyd, as he was the opposite of Sneyd's very structured but slow play. Croft is doing something similar now.

Interesting piece in HDM by Dan saying NRL already noticed how well Clifford going and he does have the 'return to NRL ' clause in contract - no big surprise for guy of his potential. I hope he is having a good enough time off field with his wife/ young daughter to keep him interested to stay next season.I read he is interested in touring Europe while over here so if it helps I will put him up as long as he likes if he wants to pop into Switzerland !! He certainly looks like he is happy on field. Now whats needed is a plan to limit the amount of video getting back to OZ !!!!. COYH.

Hull v Saints has been chosen by the BBC and will be played on Saturday June 17th, 2.30 kick off.

Wigan v Warrington on the Sunday.

Cracking turnout.
Cracking weather.
Cracking result.
The Boot Room beer garden was awash with Black & White pre-game, enjoying a few beers in the sun.
Happy days.
As an aside Im slowly beginning to warm to TS.
Seems to show a bit more humility as he's aged.
Get the impression that he's really got the bit between his teeth now with the job.
Think he know's it a huge task ahead but also see the glint in his eyes, were he's thinking, mmmmm, if only I can get this club contending........

Some good match ups, the draw really has given Leigh fans something to be excited about; a dream start in SL and, what should be, a run to the semi finals of the cup, at least. Whoever progresses, the semi finals will be pretty evenly matched, with probably Warrington as favourites to win the competition right now, Saints and Wigan jointly fancied next, and then Rovers and Leigh.

BBC released viewing figures.
Over 600k. Very impressive.
No doubt a few dobbin posters on here where watching it too.

Early days for Clifford but he’s getting better but he needs with help of others to keep this going and hopefully turn Saints over in one or both of the games we play them at home. As I said before I’d offer him a bumper deal on Marquee money for another two years then if he decides to go back to the NRL I’d be happy with that.

He has demonstrated SL level skills in recent matches but Marquee wages? If that’s the criteria it could be applied to half the SL workforce.

Remember when Keith said Milnes was better than Clifford

To be honest based on recent form I wouldn't swap Clifford for any other 7 in the league (I like Harry Smith but he seems to have gone off the boil a bit) and I can only see him continuing to get better, especially as he now has another good half alongside him in Trueman. Will take some pressure off him having to do everything himself, and mot knowing who he's going to be playing alongside from week to week.
Got a much more well rounded game than just been able to kick a ball high.