Been saying it for months - that right side for Hull is very weak.

Crookes & Arundel aren't brilliant in defense and dealing with kicks - they were targetted in the first half and it paid dividends for Rovers. Neither players have the x-factor in attack (although they didn't get too many opportunities in that first half). Crookes did score but that was more down to Seymour's vision and decent kick.

Lineham played really well when he came on. He gets some great yards running out of his own 20, and seems really confident despite his age and coming back from a bad injury. I reckon he'll have a starting place by the end of the year year, if not sooner.

Ellis was class - great to see a player of his ability playing rugby in the city.

two weeks to sort out the fact we need a fullback and a quality half back, we knew that in September.

I agree Ellis is class, his defense is awesome and I am sure he will just get better & better.

Bollox.

No settled halfback combination = No threat.

Yep...

We're obviously going for an all round faster team, with more emphasis on a quick play the ball and getting on the front foot. While Manu was a beast he did slow our attacks down by slowly carrying two or three on his back, which allowed the defence plenty of time to get set. Moa we will miss big time, but O'Meley wouldn't have been offered a deal if he'd stayed.

Nevermind, we'll forget this year and focus on 2014

Their can be no hiding the fact that you'll miss Manu, the Manu-yeaman, Briscoe partnership was very strong both in defence an attack, Gareth Ellis as good as he maybe is a simple attacker, not a tackle busting creative runner like Manu. Think you'll have to hope holdsworth can link well with that left hand side otherwise the threat of a great player like Tom briscoe is going to be nulled massively imo. See how it goes.

Bigger , faster , brighter? Than who? We certainly looked smaller than Rover's pack and got bullied , we were woefully slow especially at the ptb with Houghton looking dreadful ( not sure whether that was his sideway shuffle dummy and pass or the forwards being on the back foot that caused that) and there was very little if any signs of any organisation from our pivots or the experienced players brought in.
The only time we looked anything like was when Seymour and Holdsworth/Horne occupied the halves and Heremaia was running quick and straight at 9. Huge amount of work to do but we've got to play people in their proper positions from now on.

Just reading Gentle saying your in a similar position now as you was last season yet I read not so long back that your pre season is way ahead of schedule.
Unless you can find a partnership that works in halves you will not be as strong as you where last season, the squad has just not been improved enough.

Standee in moaning shocker.

tommy in accepting second best, no shock.

please tell me where I've accepted anything?
Was impressed with McDonnell in attack, needs work on his kick takes. We have at least 4 options for the halves, were we tried a number of combinations with yesterday. As far as I'm concerned we now know which one is the best. We know we what areas we need to work on - stopping easy offloads, defending kicks. I take that as what a per season friendly is all about. But that's just me.

we may now know what the best combination is that we have available, but is it good enough?, and we knew McDonnel was suspect under the high ball already, but that's just me.

I dont think you have that many areas to address to be honest. The problems seemed more structural than an actual issue with the personel. The easy solution is to let Heremai (sp) share the hooking duties with Houghton. Let Seymour have first stab at the 7 shirt and start Pitts at 13 to bring a bit more stiffness to your pack. God knows what has happened to Westerman. Lineham must be nailed on for a wing spot and Tickle will be back to give you more go forward and spell Galea.

We can only wait and see if it's good enough. When we were on their line, we looked like we could score, and when we did, it looked easy. Problem was the amount of time we didn't have the ball. Seymour's short kicking was dangerous. With time him and Holdsworth have a few things to art out but I'm confident they can improve.

Not seen a lot of McDonnell so I was only going from what I've heard. He looked good in attack, which is what we need, sorts out his kick receiving then I'll be happy. I'm sure it's something PG will be looking at.

Can't read this anymore without adding my take. Heard some utter bilge since yesterday. Crooks Arundel have played 1n half 'friendly' games together ever. Also neither has played much at all in a 12month period. Also Ellis is new inside them as well so a new right edge. So this may explain a few questions in both attack n defence. None of the above is weak 1 on 1. Just rusty to each other's game.
Without Manu this without Manu that. Until the last 2 season's Manu was always inconsistent, between games and also within them.! Yet some are having digs at Ellis after 1n a half 'friendly' games for not being Manu! If some have set him as some super human that will run the length of the field each carry and hospitalise attackers who dare to run at him they need to get real! Ellis is a better line runner, better offloader, gets a faster play of the ball n a better defender than Manu. Will benefit the team more than Manu but won't be as exciting on the eye.
Fullback~will worry at times but will excite going forwards and score plenty. Modern day full back. Billy Slaters are rare. Look around, Eden very similar to Shannon, Tompkins is ropey at times but anybody would take him.
Never cease to be amazed at what people think they can see in friendly games and blow out of all proportion!
Some people need to brighten up. Me, I've more optimism than for a long time, I'll worry if things haven't improved by Easter ish time at not before. Gonna take a little while to hit our peak with so many new faces in key positions. Not after 1 and a half pre season games!

I hope you are right, as has been said, it was only a friendly and a fortnight before anything meaningful (well, just short of a fortnight). I'll be more than happy to be posting my apologies and holding my hand up if Holdsworth proves me wrong.

We really have not got 4 h/back combinations, we have Holdswoth & Seymour with Horney as back up & that is it...Hookers covering h/back is not an option as the last few seasons have proved.

You're setting yourself up for severe criticism if you come on here talking sense. I agree with everything you said.

We have the options. They're just not necessarily all good ones.



More seriously, you have to admit that our alternate h/b options in case of injury are way better than they have been in past seasons.

I disagree I think the situation is just as bad, from what I have seen so far we really do lack playmakers, so far Seymour is the only one who has shown us some glimpses, the only time we really threatened their line was when Seymour was on, otherwise we looked pretty clueless imho.

First choice is still an issue, which is why we were trying to get a new 7 for this season. My point was more that our second-string options are not as far behind our first choice as they were when Washy was getting games in the halves.

We have to hope that Seymour steps up from last season and Holdsworth improves, otherwise I agree that we're in for another season where we don't create enough.

Fair point that, I think if given time together Seymour & Holdsworth could prove to be a handy combination although I think the dryer pitches will suit their games so just a case of bedding in through the next couple of months & doing the best we can.

Didn't go yesterday but have spoken to some who did. Hard to compare half backs between halves yesterday as in the first half Hull had so little possession but more in the second. That said I'm pleased Seymour had a decent run and he and Holdsworth will likely be the starters against Leeds. What we need from our halves is for them to play at the opposition line and not miles in front of it which has been a massive problem with Hull halves for a few years. The exception in recent times was Sean Long who didn't mind taking a shot in return for being a ball player at the line but unfortunately didn't play much.

Listening to RH yesterday between the pointless reading out of inane tweets I was most disappointed with the way our forwards seemed to be beaten in the early exchanges for speed, strength and enthusiasm. That needs to change first before we worry about who plays in the halves or whether the fullback is any good. That said I always chuckle when I read about "Modern day fullbacks". Top fullbacks have always been able to catch, tackle, run and link up/pass whatever era they've played in - modern or prehistoric.