They are spoiling the event IMO. I was the wrong match with 3 more fixtures already to go at in the season. Worse still the teams weren't even at the same stage of their preparation. Undervalues the fixture completely and it's the reason I didn't go this week. Looking forward to next week's game instead.

I think Bratfud will run you ragged.

I can't believe you called me the c-word for squabbling in Tokelau!

After all thats gone on at the club in recent years i dont understand what the club was thinking by having a friendly against our most hated Neighbours and making it our first hit out is even more stupid imo. Yes each club has raised £50K+ but the down side is Rovers got a load of injuries and we ended up looking no better than we have done for four years because it was too early (I hope) in our preperations for the new season meaning the stay away supported like myself may think twice about spending loads of money supporting the club again when it still seems to be the same cack on the field as before.

If ever there was a must win friendly its against Bradford because if we dont then i can seriously see myself (and five more) staying away from the Warrington fixture which was gonna be our first game back and instead waiting and seeing what happens.

I will put my hand up and say being beat by Rovers in any game miffs me, but on the other side of the coin I could never get excited about friendlies in rugby or football, and for that reason alone I stayed away.(good job as it happens.

)

Bizarrely, I've been to Tokelau!



See you next Tuesday (the one after the the one after the next, after that), Valentine's ball?

Its all part of a cunning plan,can`t you see that??
We play crap in the pre season, lull the opposition into thinking we are pants,then unleash ourselves on S.L. like a coiled spring.

Hope so, not a lot to be gained meeting an undercooked team in a friendly.

You're probably the most even-tempered person on here, so I'm wondering what you're like when miffed - pursed lips and a frown, but cheering up quickly when you recall you've got something nice in for your dinner, is how I imagine it.

You`ve met me then?

I can imagine Rovette reacting well to that - especially when I tell her I'm going with somebody called Sandra. And she is a he. Come to think of it she's going to be away - Coombe Abbey could be on again.



Apologies for the extended survivor game in-joke.

Valentines is plop though. Crap if you're single, PITA if you're not. Married but alone this year - is that the best or worst of both worlds?

Back on topic... Hull FC; way way too early to judge. The result wasn't important - and to convince us you feel the same stop trying to explain it away. Could easily have gone the other way and on another day it no doubt will.

I think you missed the Wigan game but that was only a friendly

Rightly or wrongly, I'm still well pee'd off and think, despite the payday (after costs) it could be an own goal for the club. Getting ted by Rovers has been the defining principle of disappointment of the last 4 years at FC. After the incredible, even by FC's standards, PR hype around the "New Dawn" and talk of being miles ahead of target, to draw a crowd of 10k home fans, and essentially replay most previous encounters between the two sides is just inviting disappointment and risking alienating the floating voters IMO. Could well impact the gate for Radford's testimonial and put some off paying £23 to watch the Warrington game too.

I'll be there as usual on Sunday, but the club are drinking in the same saloon as Martin Aspinwall in the view of many fans (as Pearson has alluded too) and patience will be in very short supply this season for a fair proportion of the 8k (or whatever it is) passholders and shirt-purchasers.

Stop worrying Mrs B the fans will rally round because we

our team

Anyone who thought that it would be turned around in a matter of a few weeks pre season training has probably been in one saloon too many.

Which is fine, but the club marketed the @rse out of this game as the first of the New Dawn era. "One Winner" was the strapline. Would have been better playing Saints IMO.

Of course we would I said as much in a thread last week. Derby friendlies are a waste of time. Even the marketing didn't fool me.

No one likes a smart @rse.

Well they got that one right.

In that case a lot of posters on this forum had better bog off then.

Can't understand why people are questioning playing Rovers. The players and coaches got out of if exactly what was needed imo. You can train all you like and look good but its in the high pressure game situations where the your preparation is tested.
physically I thought they stood up quite well which must of been pleasing for the new conditioning team.
Defensively once again their were some good signs which I know sounds odd on the back of 36 points but I think we're not too far off.
Attack wise it is difficult to say as the 14-3 penalty count limited our time with ball in hand in attacking positions, however I think Mckinnon could pose a real threat and score a lot of tries once people read his runs down the central channel. Martin looked quite sharp and I think he'll do a good job. The halfbacks kicking again pretty poor.
mentally I honestly think we were still in Tenerife admiring how well we'd trained. Our intensity and speed were off and when rovers pressured us our decision making was poor.
Thats what I got out of it and I honestly believe this game has been good for us and the coaches/players got a hell of a lot out of it, which I don't think you would get playing any other club first hit preseason.

Good point about Mckinnon.......Sharp had the chance to put him through a hughe gap early on but just didnt read his run.....he looks a very very good full-back indeed.

Reminded me of Briscoe when he first came and I we always got a good Try return out of him.

Excellent post. You can't underestimate the fact that the penalty count meant we did a huge amount of defending which eventually told as you would expect. Considering how little we had of the ball when we had it we looked dangerous. Just need to improve the kicking game, Horne did too much and I wanted more from Seymour and Heremaia on that front.

Pen count was 5-12. Otherwise, excellent post.