Sa has another year I think signed a 2 1/2 year contract, must improve his injury record though.

50/50 on Rankin, Shaul is our long term option at FB, no good having a stop gap player.

I'd release Feka if Paea stays.

Michaels has to really improve to earn another deal.

I'd go all out for two overseas centres, then Sa or Talanoa could be used off the bench in the backrow

Micky P to Leeds has been done I've heard today.
Also, could we be in the market for another hooker if one of ours decides to chance his arm abroad?

2 on the radar. One courtesy of Fitz.

Can imagine many NRL teams trying to sign Howarth.

I'm not saying Paea to Leeds won't happen, but it definitely isn't "done."

We should sign another hooker regardless, but I don't think we will. Houghton going to the NRL could be great news for us if we replace him properly, although that's the first time I've heard anything about it.

I think Houghton (if used properly) is a massive asset for us and we would miss him massively if he left.

There is no way he will leave Hull as long as he is wanted.

Houghton as bench hooker is fine, but we need a starting hooker who can control things for us.

Howarth has been roundly mocked by everyone since we signed him, and I agree he is bang average. But look at the highlights from the Saints game. Howarth's pass for our first try is an absolute bullet which gives us a load of width and allows Westerman the time to do whatever he likes. When was the like time you saw Houghton throw a pass as good as that?

I was taking the **** after our recent recruitment drive. Ellis being the only player I would consider to be a top signing or marquee in the last few seasons. You would then have to go back to Berrigan, O'Meeley or Fitzgibbon unless you would want to consider players like Sneyd and Price as top class players

Like a few have said I would like Cunningham to be given a chance.he could turn into another hodgson for all we know

i heard from a very good source,paea and his family want to go home.

He's not good enough to be our starting hooker, simple as. If he's happy to drop to interchange hooker then fair enough.

I reckon a lot of overseas players will look at how the season progresses before signing on to teams (With the exceptions of the bigger teams) the last thing they want is to sign for a team that then ends up being relegated.

I disagree, if used correctly and given a rest he is fine, he does too much defending and plays too many minutes, thus makes mistakes.

Surely better as a starting hooker with his good defensive attributes. You then bring on the 2nd hooker with the better attacking attributes. Worked well when we interchanged with Azza.

Hull fans have obviously seen a lot more of Cunningham than me but from my limited viewing of Cunningham, mainly at London last year he impressed me, especially playing with a poor team and out of position. I would have thought he would have been given more of a chance this season to prove himself TBH.

Houghtons distribution is dire sometimes. Slow, predictable and often lofted too high, losing a valuable second and ground.

As a defender, he's top-drawer, but if I'm honest, I'd rather have Burrow for the options he gives.

In fact, I think we are sorely missing Azza.

Ah - I should have spotted that, there's been loads on here recently.

The most honest player in the league but from acting half i don't think there is a less threatening hooker in Super League near the opponents line which is the main reason of our blunt attack,IMO.

If Houghton was told to leave there would be no shortage of offers from other Clubs ,why some slate him is unbelievable.He has to be one of our most reliable players,always give 100% never lets the side down

We need more than reliability from our number 9,most 9's run the show.

I agree that he always gives 100% and never lets us down. I think that the criticism is more to do with his attacking attributes (defensively he's great) perhaps not being as good as they could be.

100% agree.

Sometimes, if he kept it short & simple, he would be more effective.

a bit of a general question here. as we have been rubbish for a while now, have our ambitions as fans lowered in terms of the quality of signings we expect? are we now satisfied with players which a few seasons ago we wouldn't have wanted anywhere near the team?

His distribution is laboured, his passing poor, and his option-taking sub-par. Starting him puts us on the back foot right away. Better to bring him on against tiring defences when he can use his scoot to some effect.