Houghton wouldn’t get in any other SL side baring the likes of Salford/Wakey/Toulouse. It’s frustrating to see a player like Lovodua play out of his skin whilst out of position and not even get a sniff at playing in the position we actually signed him for. Levi ripped us up today, can’t recall the last time I could say that about Houghton

I wouldn't say anybody 'hates' Houghton, just hates how he is used. We signed Lovodua as a hooker and yet Houghton has still been getting flogged for 80 minutes every week. Circumstances with injuries have dictated that to an extent, bit yesterday we had both starting halves available and 3 hookers in the squad but Houghton still played 80 minutes. It just nullifies his attack cause of the amount of defensive work he has to get through. Having said all that, age is catching up with him and he's not the player opposition fans seem to think he still is.
Disagree about Connor not trying to create anything. I'd say the complete opposite. He was almost trying too hard, throwing long balls and flick passes that weren't expected by the receiving player (everybody needs to ALWAYS expect a pass when Connor has the ball).

Pretty much what I'd go with assuming Carlos is fit. If not I'd be tempted to stick with Mitch in centre rather than Wynne. SKD is a handful and think Mitch would he more physically capable of handling him. Rovers pack is poor so our forwards definitely need to step up.

Won't happen, as no chance he will move Houghton to the bench, however unless he improves how he uses his bench and hooker, he will lose his job, Radfords favorites, cost him his job IMO.

Savelio looked pretty bad, if he is put move Griffin to the backrow and bring in Mitch.

Also agree with Mrs B, Hudds ate a very good side, recruited really well by brining in 4 very good SL players in key positions. Not a fan, but Watson is a good coach, they just easily beat Catalans the week before, think they have a better squad than us, particularly in the youth that they have invested heavily in.

Expect them to finish 3rd or 4th.

I think Giants are a very average team, in a very average SL, barring the one standout.

Saints are well ahead agreed, still Hudds are decent though.

Although had we scored from when Griffin dropped the ball, which we should have, a think we would have gone on to win the game. Hard to put it down to one moment, but that was massive, first 15 minutes of 2nd half we were in control, but failed to fully take advantage

Spot on.

Maybe. I thought we were bang average all game.

Great turnout from us, that stand holds 4k so close to 3k in a crowd of 3637. Wonder how much they'll take to the Semi?

Standard in Super League is poor and getting worse by the week.

Not an enjoyable watch these days.

You can’t blame houghton for the coaches choices. But those saying he’s past it are off the mark. I would certainly have him in my side and I think he’s still capable of 80 minutes- but others need to do their share. I would say looking at your side there were many others that looked more tired who’d done less by that second half.
As for Connor that trying too hard is the problem too, not level headed enough on the pitch. Instead of focusing on what he needed to do in the team he was trying to win the game himself, by whatever means. Not a team player. His ego and arrogance whilst it can win you some games with a flash of brilliance, when it comes to games where there’s an arm wrestle involved it doesn’t.

Equally concerning, as a result of Hull's poor performance, were the encouraging number of our fans that don't usually attend away games. They won't be supporting any away games anytime soon.....and this won't help Adam's situation. Very concerning.

who takes over though?..could we afford to do it,

Probably not, I'm not giving up on him yet, but have we improved at all under Hodgson?

yes we have id say,,this is his 1st season with "his" team aftr a covid and mikey taking players debut season,,change doesnt happen overnight..look at sts with holbrook and they was worse than a few teams....see this site hasnt got better for armchair wayne bennetts

I'll get jeered but we needed someone like Brian Mc to sort out the poor culture in the club imo.

why criticise Swift?
Playing outside Griffin woulndt help any wing
Griffin needs to be dropped
Possibly cost us this game and cost us the game against Saints last season

odds on that Gaz Ellis will take over as coach

Taken you long enough

Now that the dust has settled on our cup exit for me it was all too predictable as once again we promise so much yet deliver so little. look at Wigan today what a focussed and determined outfit they looked yet we took them so close away from home last game out, but once again when it comes to the crunch too many players play below par in the next game and once again our coach confirms what we all thought in that we didn't have the same 'head's on'. How often have we seen that. Wee simply can't show any sort of mental consistency and on that front nothing really has changed for years. It was almost predictable, when players were commenting about 'how well we always raise our game in the cup' during the week, that some wouldn't be on it mentally. . I think on reflection the performance on Saturday can be summed up in one sentence really . After the previous weeks showing, in such a critical game for our season, the 2500 or so travelling fans expected at least 80 minutes of focus and commitment to the cause and the club and really did deserve better (as they have so often before).

I have my sources

Holbrook is likely a bad example for you as it did change pretty much over night.

Before Holbrook; Warrington 40-16 Saints
After Holbrook; Hull 0 - 45 Saints

And I’m still utterly convinced if a) Percival could kick a goal in Castleford or b) Morgan could not give away the worlds stupidest penalty or c) Castleford weren’t allowed American football style blockers for their drop goal taking out two of our chasers, then we would have gone on and won it in 2017.

Unfortunately for Holbrook, it massively played into the psychology at the club at the time, that we had forgotten how to play in big games, which was subsequently compounded by Barba-gate seeing us out at the first opportunity the following year, and Hicks-gate in the cup the year after (annoyingly both to Warrington) after struggling to see off Halifax in the semi. In a lot of ways we were incredibly lucky in 2019 GF to be playing someone as overawed by the occasion as we were, as it helped reset the narrative.

How much of the transformation was down to Holbrooks ability and how much was him simply not being Cunningham who had created such a toxic atmosphere players were actively frightened to play is obviously up for debate but the effects were pretty instantaneous.

Of course Woolf has been able to come in and build on this legacy, finally seeing us win the cup last year, and the Catalans game this week is the most assured I have seen Saints in a knock out game in a very long time.

I presumed Lane was injured, but just read he wasn't selected, no way in any kind of world is Johnstone a better option at 13 than Lane.

Disgraceful decision by our hapless coach.

Indeed you do