keep injury free and we are right in the mix

More unimaginable than the treble winners of 2015 playing in the 2016 middle 8s?

There's no reason why Hull can't continue to grow and evolve as a team in the coming years. But this season offers as good a chance as any to win something. Next year, other teams are likely to imitate Hull's and Catalans' big is beautiful philosophy, even with the reduction in interchanges. That means more will be able to fight fire with fire, and the more teams that play that way, the more teams will become familiar with it. They'll still have some catching-up to do, and won't themselves benefit to the same extent, but maintaining that specific competitive advantage over years, is unlikely - if not quite unimaginable.

People seem to have this obsession with our supposedly massive team but IMO it's a bit of a myth. Our props are no bigger than most teams, our back rowers (pritchard apart) the same. We have the likes of washbrook, thompson and hadley playing regularly. ellis, manu and mini are the same size as most back rowers in SL and smaller than plenty. bowden and taylor are pretty big but no more than props elsewhere, green is big but probably the least effective of our props and watts is actually quite lean for a prop. In the backs we only really have the bin man and fonua who are bigger than average but no more than the likes of hall, sau, lineham, carney etc.

Where we seem to have an advantage is in technique, fitness and conditioning. We're not dropping off intensity towards the end of games and we play at a high tempo which is hard for most teams to live with. I don't think we're really doing anything much different to what the rest of SL are trying to do, we're just doing it more effectively

Absolutely. How many teams have won the title from 8th the previous year? Leeds decline is a function of poor recruitment following the release of Sinfield, Peacock, Leuluia, Aiton and excessive injuries. Year over year our recruitment has been good but frankly we've not had injury crises for a few seasons, so that's not a material factor in any progression. It's unimaginable. FWIW I think Catalans and Wire will win the trophies this year, but am simply delighted to have seen such a great string of performances. Even more satisfying on the back of receiving fees for players and at the same time trading up the squad.

So, Catalans, who were 8th after 23 rounds and 7th after 30 last year, will win a trophy, but it's beyond Hull?

I can understand if you're just reluctant to say something that might jinx it.

Or maybe the accusations of arrogance, have hit a nerve, just as you (hull fans generally) do have something to be confident about?

But rationally, on current form, it's very possible. I can imagine it happening, so it is definitely imaginable.

Most supporters I know are just enjoying the moment and not looking too far ahead.
Think we have acquired a cynicism over the years, and it seems to be going too well at the moment!

Washbrook, Hadley, Naughton, Talanoa and a few others look bigger than last year to me. Mrs B had a picture of Callum Lancaster at one point and he seemed to have bulked up considerably. They look fit and well conditioned too, though by the hour mark that might reflect more on how trampled the opposition are. Powerful rather than, big, if you prefer.

I fancied Catalans pre season, but then I have done for several years. Their recruitment for 2016 has been fabulous IMO. Totally accept the point on 2015 finish comparability, but I guess where I'm coming from is that they (in my head, might not be backed up in fact) have been a lot closer to the top than us in recent seasons. Maybe on the basis we've been miles off since Agar.

On the jinx/arrogance point, all I can say is that after a decade of disappointment, these are great times - in the moment - that realise feck all. History tells us it'll go tits up imminently, so whether it does or doesn't nothing can detract from the brightest three months in a decade. Those hoping and praying for us to fail can project unrealistic expectations onto us and joyously sneer at failure to deliver, but it matters not. I've got a dozen marvellous performances to keep me warm this winter and meanwhile we're top for another week and still in the cup. If others want to claim not winning a trophy is failure that's up to them, certainly not for me.

'Bravo.'

I'm not suggesting that not winning a trophy from here would be a disaster or embarrassment or anything like that. The way the competitions are structured means that you could play well in every game to the end of the season, but if other good teams play well and beat you narrowly in a couple of knock-out games, that's the brasso back in the drawer for another year. Although there's always the plate, of course.

I think it's more likely you won't win the GF or CC than that you will. But you've got as good a shot as anybody and better than most.

Most interesting season for a long time, IMO, and there's certainly not that feeling of inevitability that it'll be two of the perennial Grand Finalists at Old Trafford in October.

Nice try Jake but your team is massive no myth your wingers are bigger than our props

Agree with all that. The whole treble tipping thing was more about the likes of Easty than you, you're a bit too smart for that.

According to the club websites, your 2 props are 6Kg heavier than Watts and Taylor.
On the subject of weight, has Kelly really lost 8Kg since the beginning of the season?
Makes you wonder what sort of condition he was in early season.

We have the same conditioner rovers have had for the last few years so I doubt he's suddenly found a new ability to bulk players up. Our players are no bigger than anyone else's, it's just an excuse they give themselves when we beat them

naughton and michaels are tiny, smaller than dixon even

It makes you look smaller when you're shiit

Interesting thread from the start on the year, I think we are well on the way to achieving everyone's expectations. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=591488

Interesting thread from the start on the year, I think we are well on the way to achieving everyone's expectations. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=591488

This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=588705&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.

This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=588705&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.

Quote ="Dave K."This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=588705&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.'" Oh yeah, forgot about that. Slightly awkward. Quote ="UllFC"As fan of over 20 years it pains me to say this, but this is he point our years of decline are in danger of becoming a terminal spiral. Yet another disappointing home display, the team didn't even turn up for about 20/30mins, gave a distinctly average Catalan a head start, and somehow allowed them to win when they've been hammered every week when visiting the UK. Same collection of issues that have dogged us for years, no attacking game plan, poor kicking, awful conversion attempts. Failure to turn up for 80mins. No different attacking moves to all the other 'close but got no points' games we've had in the Radford era. I think most fans are realistic and didn't expect a classic today, 7th versus 8th in a dead rubber was never going to be, but we do expect effort for the full game. The young kids did better over the last few weeks than the experienced pro's on display today. Catalan's were also a lot smarter with their play, often playing for penalties and slowing the game down, something we never seem to do. Crowds and the atmosphere are at their lowest point, Pearson admitted there was only 6,500 in the ground last week and there can't have been any more than that today despite some free/cheap tickets in the North stand. The fans are voting with their feet, in increasing numbers. I can only plead with Pearson to admit he made a mistake in hiring Radford, and go out and hire an experienced head coach, which would restore confidence and most fans would renew next year and give the team a chance. I had already decided not to renew my pass next year based on poor performances over the last year and a half, but today really was the final straw, after yet another week of hype in the media 'going to end with a bang' we went out with a whimper. We have signed some quality players next year but it's backs we need more than forwards. We are also losing Lineham and Paea who are quality players who we will miss. Some posters on here may be glad to hear that after over 20 years of support and approx 11 years posting on here this will be my last thread. This isn't the club I fell in love with, it's a badly managed sinking ship and I can't see anything changing anytime soon. Over and out!'"

Quote ="Dave K."This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php?f=34&t=588705&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.'" Oh yeah, forgot about that. Slightly awkward. Quote ="UllFC"As fan of over 20 years it pains me to say this, but this is he point our years of decline are in danger of becoming a terminal spiral. Yet another disappointing home display, the team didn't even turn up for about 20/30mins, gave a distinctly average Catalan a head start, and somehow allowed them to win when they've been hammered every week when visiting the UK. Same collection of issues that have dogged us for years, no attacking game plan, poor kicking, awful conversion attempts. Failure to turn up for 80mins. No different attacking moves to all the other 'close but got no points' games we've had in the Radford era. I think most fans are realistic and didn't expect a classic today, 7th versus 8th in a dead rubber was never going to be, but we do expect effort for the full game. The young kids did better over the last few weeks than the experienced pro's on display today. Catalan's were also a lot smarter with their play, often playing for penalties and slowing the game down, something we never seem to do. Crowds and the atmosphere are at their lowest point, Pearson admitted there was only 6,500 in the ground last week and there can't have been any more than that today despite some free/cheap tickets in the North stand. The fans are voting with their feet, in increasing numbers. I can only plead with Pearson to admit he made a mistake in hiring Radford, and go out and hire an experienced head coach, which would restore confidence and most fans would renew next year and give the team a chance. I had already decided not to renew my pass next year based on poor performances over the last year and a half, but today really was the final straw, after yet another week of hype in the media 'going to end with a bang' we went out with a whimper. We have signed some quality players next year but it's backs we need more than forwards. We are also losing Lineham and Paea who are quality players who we will miss. Some posters on here may be glad to hear that after over 20 years of support and approx 11 years posting on here this will be my last thread. This isn't the club I fell in love with, it's a badly managed sinking ship and I can't see anything changing anytime soon. Over and out!'"

Quote ="Dave K."This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php? ... 5&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.'" "The Slow Death of Hull FC" post was frankly embarrassing. Also good to see that we are very close to securing a top four spot meaning that Radford avoids bumpy's firing squad.

Quote ="Dave K."This is another good thread, I have noticed a couple posters who said they were finished on here have started to re appear, maybe hoping nobody would notice. viewtopic.php? ... 5&start=80 And yes I am bored on a Sunday night.'" "The Slow Death of Hull FC" post was frankly embarrassing. Also good to see that we are very close to securing a top four spot meaning that Radford avoids bumpy's firing squad.

Wondsr if Bumpy wants to heap praise on Doctor Radford for seemingly finding a miraculous cure for the [icancer[/i afflicting our club?

He will let Radders run whilst he counts to 10 before he shoots!

Reckon he'll go for a blowpipe and a paper dart created from his pathetic petition as opposed to a shooter.

Got a vision of ace Ventura!

I'm thinking more Norman Bates stylee.
Top floor attic in a rocking chair with a wig on and one of mothers frocks.