At the moment we are missing a player like Swain, to lead us and inspire the players, Berrigan is class, but Swains leadership and tackling nudges him ahead for me.

it's funny but sadly it's so true, thats what kills me with this present regime how they have turned us from contenders to also rans

1 of the biggest reasons we are where we are is the fact that Paul Cooke who was a geniune match winner for us has never been replaced

Yes we did with Dykes. Hang on a minute....

Last time we was desperately short of a match winner we signed Jason Smith. Within months we labeled him 'God'. If only we could find another Smithy!

We just go after grafter nows, no flair no matchwinners

As for Smiths wouldn't say no to Brian Smith back

I don't think any coach worth his salt would sign under this regime.

And Matt Head



We just need to find a fit half back.

(No Mrs B I didn't mean fit in that way

)

we need to identify a player we want,that we think would improve us, that would get us around the park and the best in that position whether he be under contract or not

If we have to pay a transfer fee for the player we want then so be it, instead of just looking at the OOc players

Bingo!

I prefer the term 'plodders', I've seen plenty of match winners that were grafters too!

If we offer the right money to an OOC aussie that can do the job I'd be happy.

Your right people like Mcmenemy,Chessy could be match winners on there day but also do the hard work

And then you had the mecurial jason Smith pulling the strings

Compare this to Manu,Ticks and Radders it's no contest

That 2004 team was a brilliant attacking team. Was great to watch, just how nice would it to have Panther back. I will never forget his his BIG hit on Penkywiz (spelling) from Halifax. Smashed him mid air!



McMenemy was a great player too. Had a top kicking game for a back rower as Leeds Rhinos found out with his kick to Raynor. Was also a solid defender too.

Logan was quality and was a shame he got injured and left.

Smith well no need to mention anything about him. But I remember a quote from Stevo I think against Bulls and the KC along the lines of.
"When Smith plays, Hull have to start as favourites".
Thats how good he was.

A team full of flair but which would work hard for each other aswell. Nothing like we have now. A team full of grafters but which still don't work for each other.

TBF Manu would have been devastating in that 2004 side.

Fair and good assesment, thats what annoys me though

Through appointing the wrong coaches they have taken us backwards in term of recruitment

We can all see we have no genuine matchwinners in 6,7,13 which are 3 of the most pivotal positions

Adam Dykes would have solved this if he was fit, he was eaxctly what we needed as a number 7 just injury prone

I agree a fit Dykes would've been good but he wasn't in the same class as Smith, and he still wouldn't have made us anywhere near as good as the '04 team!

Can you imagine what we could do if we had the likes of

1 Horne
6 Lockyer
7 Finch,Cronk,Orford(any 1 of them 3)
9 Berro
13 Washy

What a combanation that would be and thats they type of quality we need, thet would have the fans flocking through the turnstiles

Specualate to accumalate

Agree was just saying what a difference an out and out scrum half would make

Lets sum up how shiite we have become in one sentence:

We are currently waiting for a former NZ international hooker to get fit after months on the sidelines so we can play him at full back.

Correct, with all the players coming out of contract we need to be very stringent with re-signing and recruitment with the balance of the squad


We need to get away from these utility player tags and get specialist players in there correct positions

My money would be that R Horne & Raynor will have to be extra fit to play in that game

and Yeamo will be upset not making the team after playing 27 out of 28 games that year

wonder if anyone whos going to the horney do tonight will tell agar and the players how e they are to there faces



doubt it.

that 2004 side has far more match winners

theres only really Eagar who was rubbish

Smith, Cooke and Barnett would have far too many tricks for our 2009 side of boring grafters.

Why wait til tonight, I have done on a few occassions this year.

So are you going to tell them how well they are playing then