Surely low error/high set completion rugby is what sets out the great teams from the rest, it generally puts pressure on the opposition by its very nature, it should allow you to get into positions on the field where you don't need flambouyant rugby but just well thought out, structured attack to score.

The overly simplistic viewpoint of it's okay if we lose because we look exciting/are throwing the ball about being better than a boring win is wrong IMO, winning by its very nature builds all sorts of positives, losing does not. The sad fact is we were boring AND losing, then went to boring and winning and the Warry/Cas game another step forward that we have been aching to see.
knowing when to push and when to stick to basics to achieve the end goal is the job of the coach and the halves/on field generals.

sacrificing solid basics for flambouyancy and losing is no way to go as you lose so much more in the medium to long term.

Let's hope this is just a one off but the coach needs to balance things so that we aren't pushing too hard at the wrong times.

Talaonoa has been a revelation at centre, he made a few poor errors last night (3 I think, when on the wing), but Rankin and Mini made 2, should they be dropped?

Despite his errors Talanoa was still our most dangerous players, made numerous breaks particular when paired with Sa and Whiting (Who was excellent) in the last 20.

We certainly need to sign another centre, but I'd keep Talanoa there next season as he is just the type of centre we have lacked, with Sa and Logan as back ups.

I have been a Hull fan for 40 years and since day one there has been some conspiracy theory about poor refs....guess what folks, the game last night was there for the taking and we are just not good enough. "Talanoa a revelation at centre" lol....no Kallum Watkins is a revelation at centre...Talanoa is another average player who is not top 4 class but because he puts in a stint he becomes the latest subject of the happy clappers adoration. Look up mediocre in the dictionary....you just may see a Hull Fc badge. We should not have an untested and unproven coach at the helm, we should not be battling for the middle 8, we should not look for excuses for every "narrow" defeat and point the finger at the man in the middle, we should not have the slowest back line in Super League and continue to play a player who had a cracking season 9 years ago but would get caught by most prop forwards these days....but we do.....because we are Hull....zzzz

How good was that 1st Saints try, outstanding. Got to be SL try of the week.

How many people have blamed the ref on here?

Agree about Yeaman, I think everyone else does, your part about Talanoa is rubbish, who does more than a shift, he causes loads of problems for defenders when played at centre (not on the wing) like he has the last few games.

If we cut out the basic errors we did last night ( which I hoped is one off, as I don't remember it being that bad this year, particually in our own half) we won't be far off the top 6 this year.

Two massive games coming up, must win 2/4 IMO.

It was, but still disappointed with it from a Hull point of view, twice we failed to jump for and let Saints either catch the ball or pat it back.

Missed Lineham last night for his catching ability as both Talanoa and Micheals are poor and it cost us two try's.

Disappointing result but regardless what some have said we showed we are a decent side and make no mistake Saints were made to work hard for their win, Without doubt some handling errors cost us but the referee made it more difficult though not totally to blame for the loss. Losing Naughton left us short on the bench and with a really tough forward battle it made it harder.We played some really good rugby and have to laugh when some are now criticising because we did to much ??? I dont see why Talanoa should be dropped because of a couple of dropped passes he was not on his own and overall had a decent game. Minichello was outstanding and was our best players closely followed by Pryce.Thought Rankin had a mediocre game and would give Shaul a go next week against Rovers and give him a chance to claim is spot back.Did not take long for the radford out (spegs) to start his pathetic views.If you think the ref had no bearing on the result and it was all Radfords fault shows after watching for over forty years you still no nothing

saints aggressive defence was excellent and I only thought we got on top in the forwards in the last 10-15 minutes of each half as they fatigued. We, on the other hand, stood and waited for them for most of the game. Having said that, they never troubled our line other than from the kicks they scored off

You can't win with some people.

The same moaners a few weeks ago, even after a win, that the rugby was boring, are the same ones saying now that 2 points and a win is all that matters.

Fantastic.

I don't really think that was the case last night. It was a really poor refereeing display which failed to both keep the sides sufficiently apart and allow a reasonable speed at the ruck. The result was that saints defence (which was very aggressive) completely swamped us in the middle. For once we didn't persevere with ploughing up the middle and tried to go around them with some success. With more composure and better handling we'd have scored another 2 or 3 tries IMO. We're still pretty disorganised at times and didn't have too much threat in their 20 but it's a whole lot better than it was a few weeks ago.

Not sure we'll make the 8 now and my worry is we could easily lose the next 4 games but if we carry on playing as we were last night and improve our ball control we're in with a chance and I wouldn't have any worries in the middle 8's anyway

I don't think we win enough games for people to say it's boring when we do. Maybe you can link to some of them?

Always wondered what a "happy clapper" was.....

Maybe I could, but I'm not going to. the saints, salford & Widnes games were good examples.

Maybe you couldn't because they don't exist? There's always room for improvement and fans will debate things after a win or a loss but I don;t remember anyone complaining about us winning because we're boring. Maybe they were in your head

My favourite bit from when people have these public meltdowns, is that they always start with "I've supported Hull for x years..".

Maybe "maybe" is your favourite word?

Nobody complained that we were winning! They complained at the manner in which we did so. Are you suggesting that nobody complained at the standard/style of rugby after the saints, widnes & salford games?

Now, those same moaners after last night are now saying "only the two points matter", not you by the way, although you seem to have taken exception

Papering over the cracks is my fav.

What is a public meltdown? I thought this was a Hull Fc fans forum....you can't beat a good "cliche" in an attempt to vindicate a completely irrelevant point can you?

Let's start with some breathing exercises to relax you Spegsy.

And inhale for 3 seconds, 1, 2, 3, and sloooooowly exhale.

....or an even weaker attempt at irony.

Never understood where this arrogance that we should be winning super league every year has come from? Why shouldn't we be battling for the top 8? Because 40 years ago we were winning things consistently? Times change, see Bradford...

I am over the moon when we get to finals, and when we beat the big boys in big games. I love watching Hull play, its engrained into me! If that is accepting mediocrity, then fair enough! I'll still be there to watch the team, whatever league they play in. The thing I like about this new set up is the fact that now getting in the top 8 actually means something. Its exciting striving to stay up, and securing another year of playing the best teams in the country. We've got to 4 finals in the last 10 years, winning 1 of them. Yes its disappointing when we lose, but we move on.

I like it when you put in your dots, like the opening post on your ref thread.....

Let's start again Spegle. Deep, slow breaths. I'll put on a 'sounds of the ocean' cd, close your eyes and imagine yourself in your happy place (probably the mid-1980s).

Dots are ace....

Disappointing loss as if we'd just held the ball better we'd likely have won. That said we looked a bit disorganised again at the end of our sets - thought Cook's summing up of the game was pretty much spot on. Ellis was immense.