Enjoyed the Hardaker interview, had his off-field issues but there is no denying he speaks about and understands the game very well. A proven winner pretty much everywhere he's gone who I think will be a big asset for us during his time here.

Heard Rapana has picked up an injury now .

Can they please focus on Discipline ! Stop the bastud penalties We saw this in the last game of the season v Dragons in the first half We were on course to win the game then gave away 6 penalties as in 6 again etc Dropped the ball 3 times as well and boom we lose the game by half time !! We must focus on the small things - penalties 6 agains and drop balls ! Also touch finders must improve massively as they are a gift to you and we don’t use them ! The small things make the most massive difference I watch Storm regularly and they are the masters of discipline They complete at about 85% plus most game sometimes they complete every set until mid way through the second half and that’s the discipline we need

anyone notice a reduced number of first team pre season matches, looks like most teams (apart from the leeds/wakey boxing day money maker) are only playing once vs SL opposition

[quote="number 6":2s5xp3qc]anyone notice a reduced number of first team pre season matches, looks like most teams (apart from the leeds/wakey boxing day money maker) are only playing once vs SL opposition[/quote:2s5xp3qc] I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.

[quote="B0NES":1ilq43f6]Heard Rapana has picked up an injury now .[/quote:1ilq43f6] It’s not a bad one. Will miss Catalan and Wigan should be ok the week after.

[quote="Faithful One":39yp8819]I wonder whether friendlies count towards the number of minutes players are allowed to play with the new rules coming in this year. Could be a factor potentially? There's also the guarantee of Super League clubs playing a lower league team in the Cup as the first competitive fixture, so clubs may look at that as an additional semi pre season match.[/quote:39yp8819] Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

[quote="Rugby Raider":bmu08yys]Not sure if the playing minute guidelines are the same as those proposed for 2024? Those were primarily for forwards playing 25 games (totalling 80 mins) and backs 30 games, per season. Therefore, it is unlikely any player would get near those numbers when considering most forwards only play 40-60 mins per game, plus most players will miss a game or two through injury/suspension.[/quote:bmu08yys] Remember reading the below article how a few players would have met the threshold this year. Will take some thinking about for some clubs, can you imagine a player being unable to play in a Grand Final because he's played too many. Probably not going to be a problem for us though, maybe one day https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ore-target

If Rapana is out, hopefully not serious, no issue with Moy starting at FB, have heard he is really impressing in training and some of the new overseas players have been shocked how good he has been.

Yes Moy will have a lot more experience and more quality around him this season, so JC can drip feed the likes of Moy, Martin, Barron, Charles, Jebson, Staveley, Westerman.

Cust and Sezer then [url:1v8jlpnz]https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/jordan-abdull-injury-update-worst-9835883[/url:1v8jlpnz]

Who'd have thought that the injury prone abdul would be injured again? Is this the same knee injury that has plagued him in recent years? Who the hell signed off a marquee contract for him? We all know that in a month or two we'll be getting him operated on. It should have been done when it happened

Not ideal, but good to have Cust, better than Smith and Brown at halfback.

[quote="Jake the Peg":1sxiges8]Who'd have thought that the injury prone abdul would be injured again? Is this the same knee injury that has plagued him in recent years? Who the hell signed off a marquee contract for him? We all know that in a month or two we'll be getting him operated on. It should have been done when it happened[/quote:1sxiges8] its why catalan wanted rid and didnt want any part of him for 2025 this is classic JA and he will average 7-10 games if youre lucky great player but riddled with injuries and ill self discipline

Rovers and Catalans refused to get his knee cleaned out as he was off. Not sure why we've chosen not to get it sorted though.

I doubt Abdul will see out a year at hull never mind three.

[quote="B0NES":2k7b0pqd]I doubt Abdul will see out a year at hull never mind three.[/quote:2k7b0pqd] Laughing his teets off then on a 3 year marquee contract. Madness

[quote="Jake the Peg":1dlduv5a]Who'd have thought that the injury prone abdul would be injured again? Is this the same knee injury that has plagued him in recent years? Who the hell signed off a marquee contract for him? We all know that in a month or two we'll be getting him operated on. It should have been done when it happened[/quote:1dlduv5a] In Ritchie Rich we trust Wont be the last of this Saga squad

[quote="Jake the Peg":3bsh7hty]Laughing his teets off then on a 3 year marquee contract. Madness[/quote:3bsh7hty] Does it matter if he's marquee? All it does it keep his cap value lower, especially if he's our home grown marquee

[quote="mwindass":30rqz0or]Does it matter if he's marquee? All it does it keep his cap value lower, especially if he's our home grown marquee[/quote:30rqz0or] but a three year contract does just like the other average Joes on 2/3 year deals

[quote="bonaire":122zw8pm]but a three year contract does just like the other average Joes on 2/3 year deals[/quote:122zw8pm] Depends on what the 'average joes' are on doesn't it? We've obviously got spare cap space for this season with us signing Salabio and ready to sign Cross if/when Salford go belly up.

[quote="bonaire":3raxv8if]but a three year contract does just like the other average Joes on 2/3 year deals[/quote:3raxv8if] Wondered when you'd pipe up. Any negative news and your like a rat up a drainpipe

[quote="bonaire":1xoa871s]but a three year contract does just like the other average Joes on 2/3 year deals[/quote:1xoa871s] Depends what's in the contract though, doesn't it?

If we had a team full of "average Joes" wouldn't we finish mid-table..?

[quote="ComeOnYouUll":bxsgvteh]If we had a team full of "average Joes" wouldn't we finish mid-table..?[/quote:bxsgvteh] A team full of FC Joe's would be a great off season thread. 1 2 3 Joe Arundel 4 5 6 7 8 9 Joe Lovodua 10 11 Joe Cator 12 13 Joe Westerman I'm struggling after that.....