100%, we have just let our best player go for free to a rival, as it stands we have no replacement, we have this before, players rumoured to come and then last minute change their mind, I'd like to see this confirmed to ease my concerns

Exactly this especially when fan frustration and apathy is at all time high due to the dismal stuff served up for at least the oast 4 seasons.
With the club wanting/needing membership renewals and to attract new ones then releasing your better players and not having replacements to announce at the same time is hardly going to help increase the numbers or engender positivity in the fan base, more so it increases negative thoughts and feelings.

Jack Walker looks like he’s off to Bradford

In different circumstances would like us to have kept him, but looks like Hoy is the full back in waiting, Shaul still here & Litten looks the part as well.

Wish him luck, he’s a good player.

https://twitter.com/Giantsrl/status/158 ... zT1kw&s=19 4-6 month injury to Connor. Maybe it was 10 months with our old conditioning team...

https://twitter.com/Giantsrl/status/158 ... zT1kw&s=19 4-6 month injury to Connor. Maybe it was 10 months with our old conditioning team...

Think that reinforces the decision to let him go was the correct one. 4-6 months will most likely be if all goes well with his recovery and rehab with no set backs and Watson seems to be going on the earliest possible recovery time. Even at 4-6 months he's likely to miss all of pre season so which for us would have been an issue with him not being fit or fully for the first 3 to 6 games of the season given we will already missing Truman at the start. As good a player as Connor is he has never struck me as being the most dedicated of players in regards to putting the effort in at training.

Definitely S/L standard but the Championship will be very interesting next season with three or four teams recruiting hard to make it into S/L for the last time .
Hope Toulouse make it back but can see Bradford making a major push

Completely agree, good move and few FC players seem to have wished him well either which I guess speaks for itself. however over the past few years he was the quickest healer in our squad, and invariably back before his scheduled recovery date (which perhaps with our past rehab team is hardly surprising) so he might reduce that a bit.

Always said not sure he's super league class and was proved right

Hearing Clifford could be announced tomorrow, here’s hoping!

wouldn't get too excited if its the fc fan page tweet!

Tomorrow is the only day without a WC game on. Ideal time to make an announcement

Exactly this especially when fan frustration and apathy is at all time high due to the dismal stuff served up for at least the oast 4 seasons.
With the club wanting/needing membership renewals and to attract new ones then releasing your better players and not having replacements to announce at the same time is hardly going to help increase the numbers or engender positivity in the fan base, more so it increases negative thoughts and feelings.

Anyone in Hull FC's marketing should understand the fans' anxiety over the Connor replacement situation. It breeds an air of apathy and some hostility , as if the Club doesn't care about its fans and has an arrogance about them that they will do things in their time, despite the anxiety it causes. Even if we cannot name the replacement, at least officially comment on how far on negotiations are, rather than leaving it to the HDM. If they want to retain and expand their paying membership schemes, to be silent on this issue has probably had the reverse effect, with people waiting and keeping their diminishing free cash spare for other things. I know the Club doesn't actually operate with that intention, but it does feel like the gap between fans and the management is as wide as ever because of this. Fans do have a right to be impatient, why not? They have as much right to be that way as those who choose not to be, and the number that are suggests that something is triggering this. Time for someone to spread calm rather than panic. FWIW, Smith I believe will have his plan in place, and I don't think for one minute it will include a Reynolds type of panic buy, but it'd be beneficial for someone from within to confirm this, officially.

I really hope Smith improves the way we handle recruitment and retention other ubs announce things much quicker and are much more proactive with retentions like Saints, getting their better players to sign on well I'm advance of their contracts running out, I know we have at times given out long contracts early, but we should be looking at extending the likes of Brown and Satae now rather than waiting until layer in the year.

They cannot comment on ongoing negotiaitons, that is ridiculous. Who does that?

If any supporter is feeling anxious or hostile about a lack of news then they need to get a grip, FFS.

But it shouldn't have cone to this, the deal should have been complete before we announced Connor going, as supporters losing our best player for free that's the least we deserve and know our main signing depends on other teams releasing players, just wait two weeks announce Connor leaving with his replacement signed.

After the last few years and our generally poor recruitment I think that's the least we can expect.

Im sure it will work out, but I don't think we have handled the Connor leaving very well at all.

On another note, looks like Shaul will be here next season, as no one wants him. Giving him a new 3 year deal in 2020 after his injury is nearly as bad as signing Reynolds.

Of course they can, without naming names "negotiations with a replacement half are ongoing" etc. You get a grip, people are anxious, we were rubbish with our best player in the team, he's gone, no comment from the Club, purported to be in negotiation with Jake Clifford, all hinging on Luke Brooks leaving Wests. Anxiety among fans is understandable, given that with Jake we were ninth and awful, and he alone probably kept us from relegation, so lets all be jolly calm now he's gone. Ho hum!

Strange one that Dave Wakey were really keen on keeping him at the end of last season and they are certainly light on players I wondered if they were gong for Walker but obviously not. I sincerely hope we aren't hanging out for a fee. For if Jake doesn't warrant one then Shaul certainly doesn't. We need that cap space to beef up the forwards. Perhaps Wakey were not offering enough against what he is getting or maybe he is due a Benefit soon and thinks he'd be better placed doing that at the FC. perhaps Trim have signed Hardacker. whatever the reasons he's certainly surplus to requirements with our current in coming players.

New coach probably stopped the deal, not really surprised as think they already have a better fullback than Shaul at Wakey in Jowitt. Can't see him getting a SL contract now and our only chance would be to release him to a championship club with us paying most of his salary.

I suppose like others he gets a fresh start, can Smith do what no other coach has managed and get Shauls passing and decision making up to the level of other top fullbacks.

Sounded like Shaul and Hodgson really didn't see eye to eye, in Shauls defence he wasn't the only one. He is a decent player to fall back on should injuries hit. Hopefully a new lease of life under a new coach etc.

To be honest I wouldn’t be surprised if Shaul starts the season at FB with Hoy going in the halves until Truman is fit.

With Connor we havent made the play offs for two seasons . Hes being a good player dont get me wrong but he doesnt make or break our team. I genuinley wasnt bothered he was going.

Infact I was excited Smith had some cap space to play with

HDM confirm Shaul move to Wakey has fallen through.

Probably means to English or Longstaff now.....

I see your point

Good chance we would have finished bottom without Connor last year. Let's be honest no team with Reynolds, Gale and Houghton as their pivots are never going to finish in the playoffs.

Connor couldn't do it his own, we should look alot more creative and balanced if we can sign a good quality 7.

If Connor was on marque money, there must surely be a pot left to sign Longstaff and Clifford?