Cas are probably thinking they need another win to be sure of avoiding relegation and I reckon they will be targeting Friday as their best opportunity to grab the necessary 2pts.

Given our return in the last two weeks to a somewhat lacklustre mood, we don't look like the stiffest opposition right now. Having said that, Cas looked shot at the end of the Wire game on Saturday and will need some picking up off the floor by their coaching staff.

So, who knows! Anything could happen. From our perspective, even though we basically have nothing worthwhile to play for, I think it is imperative that we don't have a repeat of recent years whereby the season dribbles to a close on a run of defeats. We all know how some of the shocking displays and results at the back end of 2018/19/21/22 drained what little energy and enthusiasm was still remaining in the fanbase. It puts everyone on the back foot for the following year before we've even reached that point.

I'm just hoping for a bit more energy on Friday, compared to the last two weeks. At least it's not on telly.

Litten, Mcintosh and Carlos all to be back in the 21, sounds like Sutcliffe will be 50/50.

Sao could yet play again this season and Trueman expected back late February, which isn't a terrible result in the grand scheme of things.

Watching Wakecoke on the reserves highlights I would like to see him included this week.

Looks a very good prospect and not too much pressure in this game?

Any decision by the panel with Cullen involved makes me very cynical. Teams due to play Warrington appear to get some rough treatment.

Agree there's definitely a conflict of interest, but wouldn't expect anything else from the incompetent RFL.

Litten
Mcintosh
Carlos
Sutcliffe/Scott
Swift
Hoy
Houghton
Taylor
Dwyer
Fash
Savelio
Scott/Lane
Cator

Brown
Satae
Lovodua
Staveley

If Sutcliffe doesn’t play who is going to take the kicks at goal?

Hoy or McIntosh.

McIntosh kicked a few last year when Connor and Gale were both out.

Wouldn’t risk Hoy with his hamstrings?

Yeah I guess we'd go with Darnell. Kicked 4/4 against Salford last season.

Does show the importance of a good goalkicker next season.

That and he's not a great off the tee anyway. He had a go when he was at the knights and missed more than he kicked

Let’s hope we can score nearer the posts this week to make it a little easier (whoever gets the nod) to convert instead of kicking from the touch line.

Be surprised if Hoy given the job with him just coming back from hamstring issues.

Id be happy with just scoring, beggars cant be choosers



Cas' pitch is small so the kicks arent ever far away!

Think the bigger question is, will we score any tries to necessitate the need for any kicks at goal!!!






It may end being a largely irrelevant question as the night progresses.

Let's hope not.

Hull Fc end of season games, how wonderful they are for the faithful eh!!

That's a really depressing 7 and 9, tried and failed, much rather see Harman at 7, Houghton at 9 and Dwyer on the bench (rather have Balmforth, but thats not goign to happen).

I agree Dave but Staveley is the only one who i think has a chance of playing this week.

I am tiring of these squad selections and of this season to be honest.

It shows massive cap mismanagement as the only explanation i can think of is that we can't afford to have new youth wages going on our cap.

Shows the release of Griffin to be a poor decision when you can't play an 18 year old as a replacement if needed

No accouability for poor performance, bet Dywer amd Lovodoa both play on Friday.

Disappointing squad from Smith.

Pearson gave up on the season in June, could have replaced Evans with a quota player and kept Griffin, could have made all the difference in a few games and we could be still in the play off race

No issue with this, buy then play the likes if Staverley and Balmforth in place of leaving or underperforming players.

what is it with hull coaches of the last 20 plus years,they seem terrified to bring young scrum halfs in.its that bad i cant remember the last young 7 we brought through the ranks that was a success.we havent had a top class local scrum half since chris davidson.last one of any note was probably phil windley.both years ago.

pretty dejecting knowing it'll be Hoy and Lovodua/Houghton in the halves, and it must be pretty dejecting as a young player seeing underperforming players playing out of position getting a crack over yourself.

My prediction.
25. Davy Litten
5. Darnell McIntosh
,3. Carlos Tuimavave,
4. Liam Sutcliffe
2. Adam Swift
1. Tex Hoy,
14. Joe Lovodua,
30. Scott Taylor,
9. Danny Houghton
13. Brad Fash,
17. Cam Scott,
11. Andre Savelio
15. Joe Cator

12.Jordan Lane
10. Chris Satae,
20. Jack Brown, ,
33. Brad Dwyer

Smith has been quite consistent in his messaging about young players tbf, he has to feel they are physically ready for the rigours of SL rugby. Perhaps he doesn't feel some of them can handle it yet, you just have to trust his judgement.
That said, both Gardiner and Stavelely have featured so they must be considered ready so I really hope to see both of them in the team.

Having watched Dwyer, Lane and Lovodua, I'm sure they are ready for SL.

Will certainly be interesting to see who makes the 17 from the 21 man squad. Again disappointed that the club haven't brought Balmforth in to the fold to give him an opportunity considering we are without both Clifford & Trueman this week. Lane has been abject all season give or take the odd glimpse and Lovodua who unfortunately offers very little and Dwyer who other than the odd game as been disappointing yet still seem to be selected by TS.

Maybe there a reason that Balmforth isn't been selected due to the cap or other financial reasons but TS has consistently spoken about giving the young players an opportunity this season yet with 3 games to play and looking at the 21 squad there little evidence of it.

Maybe I'm just getting cranky but just starting to all feel a bit deja vu.