So Houghton is not a captain, you cannot recall the last time we had a true captain (er, Gareth Ellis?), Taylor is overrated and Connor has an ego problem but you knock Mrs B for being negative.

You really never change, do you?

Good post Chris hard to disagree with any of that.

I know we all want to see a Ratu replacement and possibly someone with experiance and leadership to replace Ellis's presence. What I will say though is under Last we seemed to change our mentality and stop looking for excuses such as Ellis not being on the field, or quitting when errors and decisions went against us, it was the biggest leap forward I saw whereas the players seemed to really start concentrating on their own games and taking accountability instead of bickering and pointing the finger. Listening to Brett this should continue and improve.

Il also say I think Cators emerging as a real presence and leader in the way he plays, I think he's inspiring his teammates in the way Ellis used too by leading from the front, long may it continue. Future captain material?

I think we're stronger with Connor at fullback so don't really see Shauls absence as a huge negative, I'd be interested if anyone can find Connors try assists from Fullback, I know I saw 7 in two games back end of the season, I'd hazard a guess that's more in two games than shaul made all season.

Reynolds should shine, I think he has a better mentality than Kelly in that when the going gets tough he l compete harder. Whereas Kelly at times was guilty of going missing when errors/decisions went against us, injury wise from what I read he had trouble with his hamstrings but seemed to be fine after surgery but just couldn't get passed benji marshalls form, fingers crossed we have luck with injuries .

I agree about Jones, we barely saw him so will we miss him? Something tells me Manu Mau will have a big season, showed some good form last few games of last season. Along with Lane improving a lot too.

While I'd love to see us make a couple more signings, I like the way Brett's not signing for the sake of it like we've been guilty of in the past, seems he's being very shrewd in recruitment and will only sign quality when it becomes available, I'm hoping this approach will help take us to the next level. Let's see if any clubs need wages off their books and a couple of good additions pop up.

The facts are that we finished 5th, have a weaker squad while others have strengthened, a coach who has 0 first grade games and Shaul is out for most of the season. Make it nasty and personal if you like but maybe you can't handle these valid points. Our squad is good but it isn't great IMO, our prop selection is average and we have the slowest backs in the comp with Ratu, Shaul and Kelly not around. I like Hodgson and Reynolds' energy and chat more than anyone of course, I love the club and hope like everyone that at some point we may break into the Big 4. Pointing out the factual reasons this may not happen is expressing an honest opinion. Why be so bitter about the facts? It's so unnecessary.

As for the financials, we're still in a global pandemic. Times are hard.

... and only in excess of £2m in debt.

Bumpy will be one of the first to shout for heads if things don't pan out.
He's got form.
Like everybody, I hope Reynolds can move us up a level but its by far from a done deal how effective he'll be after NRL underperforming. Passion is great but its got to be a whole lot more than that.
Pretty sure the new coach and player(s) will get plenty of time from the likes of me and Mrs B.
It'll be others, with history, that take part first, in the rush to judgement.

Mrs B. Isn't it time you realised that a woman with reasoned and intelligent views should have no place on a man's Rugby League forum. I can see a time when women will actually start playing the game. Crazy world we live in.

Casual misogyny has long been a defining feature of some posters. I'm sure I'll survive. The harsh reality is history, an inexperienced coach and known gaps in the squad support the fact Skybet has us as 7th favourite for the LLS. I'm going to hope for more as ever, enjoy the highs and anticipation and count our blessings that at this point we still have a club to support.


.

Sneyd as captain

Hard to disagree, but, I have been thinking, in modern sport, what does the captain actually do, is it purely a 'ceremonial' idea?

ZZZZZZZZZZZZ, I call for improvements and address issues that constantly raise their heads that coaches don't address, just like other fans want. When a coach is seen to be out of control, no ideas and we are making the same old mistakes season in season out yet spending to the cap and in some seasons beyond such that we have back loaded contracts and a weaker squad the following year then yes, i and many others will call for something to be done, the question is why would you constantly back mediocrity?
I've already commented with positivity that Hodgson has said what he intends, we shall see how that pans out, if we finish mid table I'll be very disappointed, wouldn't you with the squad we have?
If we go backwards at a rate of knots as we did under Radford in his first two years (and should have been sacked on the back of that) I'd be calling for a change of the coach absolutely
Sentimentality is why we are where we are, players handed contracts they never deserved, Radford was ridiculously guilty of that, an owner who rather than admit he was wrong regards his choice of coach continued to back him despite Radford shgowing he was well out of hisr depth most of the time, squandered a fantastic set of youngsters in favour of paying big salaries for players from outside the club at every avenue and failed to develop those youngsters on an epic scale.

Yeah, we won the CC twice, that's great and we did it with admitted by most the best squad we'd seen since the early/mid 80s, but it papers over the other failings and the longer term damage done by Radford including the overall finances.

But you keep banging the drum for mediocre playing and coaching standards, I'll support the coach and the players but they have to hold up their end to show us that they are doing the ob that they're been very well paid for.

Yes and no, sometimes you want someone who can lead by example on the field and off it, someone who is a good communicator to the players, can motivate when the chips are down but keep a cool head and not go into a rant/lose control if things go wrong.
does that person have to be called the 'captain', absolutely not, but someone who can interact with the officials in a reasoned manner and talk to them such that it helps rather than hinders would be useful.
Who that is currently I couldn't honestly say, I wouldn't mind if being Tuimavave actually, he's been such a solid player for us since he arrived and seems to a good character/no previous baggage regards refs.

Trust me, I want success just as much as you.

I don't necessarily see our squad as weaker this season.
The players we have lost did not play many games anyway.
For me last season we had the best recruitment but massively under performed, a team of many good players but not a good team.
You could also argue that if Ellis and Jones had played would we have seen the development and emergence of Cator and Lane? I think not.
We saw an improvement in the team towards the end of last season, typified with the improved performances of Ma'u and Savellio.
I think in Reynolds we have an improvement over Kelly and in moving Connor to fb we have more than covered for Shaul's injury. Also with Connor now at fb we are no longer trying to shoehorn him into the team just for the sake of it.
We have lost the pace of Ratu but at least Swift will now have more of an opportunity to showcase his speed and talent.
I think we are light in the forwards still but that was the same last season.
It'll be interesting to see how BH goes but he appears to have the backing of all of the faithful.
A young hungry coach with a team eager to impress, improve and perform consistently is an exciting prospect.
Saints and Wigan will be streets ahead again.
We just need to ensure we're the best of the rest and there's no reason why we can't be.
Whilst not as pessimistic as some on here I still appreciate there is much work to be done on defence, attacking structure and to undo the muscle memory created by Radford is a must.

There's a bit in the HDM today about the opening results of Hull's recent coaches. Sharp won his first five. Wonder what might have been if we'd kept him.

Good man was Sharpy.
Was head of recruitment at Eels last I knew and think he's still there.
If not he'll be sat on his Manly Beach House patio.


Would be statement of intent if Brett could match his start
Think we'd all settle for him winning our first 5.

In hindsight after what followed he should have been given more time to turn things around. He was a very good coach.

The Manly Beach comment wasn't very wise.

I can see your point in the fact we finished 5th which for my mind was more down to the same mistakes the coach was making and not resolving the basic errors. I’m not convinced the team where a united unit either. Then the issue of the coach departing then hitting a lockdown within days. Towards the end of the season despite everything the players under Last dug themselves out of a hole, which means there’s something to build on. In that time we hardly had Jones, Ellis, Kelly and latterly Shaul playing. As I said previously which is just an opinion is that I actually think we are stronger than before. Reynolds is an improvement on Kelly, Ellis for me his impact has been off field which now in a defined coaching role again only helps not weakens. Jones well quite honestly he was a waste and it’s clear he didn’t gel with the club or his team mates. Connor apart from lacking the pace of Shaul gave his much greater attacking options and showed the flaws in Shauls link play. The only one that is a miss is Ratu.

I’d wouldn’t say BH was lacking coaching experience as he’s coached for sometime now admittedly not as a head coach but neither had the likes of MacGuire, Holbrook, brown etc and they didn’t do too bad.

He seems to be quite a technical nerd when it comes to RL and the comments from people who have worked with him rate him.

We are lacking some speed on the edges and a back row or forward but I certainly don’t think we are weaker than last year.
I really think we are in a much better and stronger position than we have been for years. I think the impact of BH & JR will be significant and will only improve us.

Then add in whoever BH thinks is suitable as a winger, back row of forward again is more stength.

Let’s not forget we turned over a highly fancied Warrington with the players bar Ratu missing in the semi’s so I think top 4 is very much achievable with the current squad.

Agreed.



Why?
It's gonna be sunny and 24° there this afty?

Oh I agree there are grounds for hope and as fans we will anchor in the potential of Reynolds, more cohesion, better defence, fewer injuries and a miraculous first season as head coach. Why not? Just saying the reality is that some bookies have us 7th favourite for the LLS because it's unlikely all those things would come true at once and other teams already have better squads, established coaches etc. I like our spine, centres and back row a lot. We showed some character in the closing stages of 2020 and a new coach will bring a different energy. I just don't think we have the front row options to dominate teams nor the pace to beat them out wide. The squad is weaker than last year. Just look at the ins and outs and add Shaul to the outs for all intents and purposes Hopefully BH will bring the plan to leverage our strengths but he's only had 5 days with the squad. We'll need some patience.

Sneyd probably in line but he may play safe and not rock the boat and leave it with Houghton

I agree Mrs B we need another experienced front row but encouraged by Brett Hodgsons latest interview when asked if any player had impressed during pre season and he said Masi Motongo so possibly we will see his potential under this coach.
Would really liked to have seen the development of Bienek under this new coaching set up.

I’ll repeat my prediction from a few years ago, a cheeky top 3. I don’t see that we are weaker or thinner team wise. Ellis, Jones and Kelly didn’t play many games between them and Beinek only played 8 games in 3 years.
Hodgson’s new broom wielded by Reynolds, will sweep most before them. Mau, Sau and Satae, will tear trees up, as will the rest of the squad, especially the young guns, in response to the new regime.

I agree. We need to change things.

Radford said the same thing about Matongo last pre season or the season before but he never really delivered. He's got all the physical attributes to be a a regular starter but seems to lack confidence in himself. He had personal issues which have probably hindered his progression. As someone said on here before he lacks aggression and gets dominated in the tackle to often. Pivotal season for him.