Squad now good enough to win consistently & well - can't believe a lot of the negativity on here. MUST be top 4 at least & knock over top teams more regularly & eliminate those really poor performances. Silverware definitely on, do think much depends on injuries - not just to us but to our rivals, take out Gale, Hastings & Austin from their clubs & they are more depleted than we will be. I see us having strike all over the paddock & real depth in all positions ( except maybe prop ).

Nobody mentioning Ellis ??? I think with him Josh, Brad, Lewis & Masi we must surely have 4 decent props every week ?

Fully agree with the Purtell comments - the attack just has to be MUCH better, we have a pack of class ball players - surely we havent signed them to plough up the middle with the ball up the jumper ??

This is the most optimistic I have been since the mid 80's & can't wait..........

Ellis has been phenominal, but he is two years past it. Shaul has lost his awareness, as has been said, we lack grunt and Radford has never coached guile and style, if Purtill can build that we will go well. Give Connor a head bang and play his potential, likewwise Griffin. WE have the making of a GF win, I have no doubt, it is a lot easier said than done.

Looking forward to seeing Jamie Shaul behind this pack and if he doesnt switch off and keeps his concentration he could be one of our leading try scorers in 2020.
That said he is also one of the first players who could easily lose his first team place as Radford will be under pressure to find a starting spot for Connor.
The starting line up is going to be very interesting especially with Connor and Griffin.
My opinion is they will both start on the bench.

The last 2 seasons we have spent to the Cap
We have been utter garbage with many record defeats
Of course we can only hope for better
However the same coach is in charge so, as I said, we can only HOPE.

Anything less than top four and semi finals won’t be good enough for Pearson.

I think I read yesterday that Rugby League World predicts 6th place for us but can't find the tweet now.

If 5 teams finish above us then this squad and coach will have failed imo.

If we miss the playoffs then has to be the end of the road for Radford. This squad is way better than that.

Here we go again.

It's the best squad in the comp overall for me but the front row is weak which may end up being our downfall. Way too many outside backs and some of that cash should have been spent on another quality prop. Other team have better individual players but I dont see anyone with a better squad than us

Well, there are 4 bigger clubs than us, so I imagine they will all be demanding success too. And quite rightly so.

The only person demanding success is the club owner from what I've seen and he has every right to

The squad makes me optimistic
Last years squad made me optimistic

What I’m interested in is how the new players will go

Playing as a team can take a few seasons for the real
Team Bonds to form

Bonds are formed through adversity which is why signing
7 new players can mean there’s a time expected before they
really gel

It may be next season we see the fruits

This season for me is finishing 6th and a CC semi final

There's going to be a lot of poorly Hull fans when the "jam tomorrow" arrives.

We haven't passed a ball yet, lets at least have 10 games of hope!

Hope and expectation are 2 different things. Personally I'm excited and hopeful for this season. I've heard enough dissection of our head coach's shortcomings over an extended time period on here to realise high expectations would be ill-advised.

I’m hopeful of a good season with the recruitment that was done and the addition of Purtill to the coaching set up. As JTP has said the squad AP has given us is probably one of the best squads in SL. We are though one experienced/quality prop short I feel but that said we still have a squad to rival the big 4 imo.

The pressure is certainly on to perform and hit the heights they should be capable of reaching and don’t think AP will settle for anything less than a huge improvement on the past two seasons.

So you only think you read and now cannot find said tweet



Despite our opposing views there may be larger clubs in terms of gates or revenue but this season thanks to Adam we are competing financially on the field with the squad we have assembled.
Saints aside there is no better assembled squad then ours this season, putting your prop argument aside, even you must concede that.

Top 4 is a must with this team and the financial backing it has received, not only from most fans but our owner too.

If you want to argue against that and set your bar low again go and discuss it with Adam and see what he things to your hypothesis.

In my opinion we are in the mix for the top two
Would liked to have seen Ligi Sao at 13 but looks likely now he will be played in the front row.
One concern for me is that Radford is looking to find a spot for Jake Connor rather than playing players in their best positions.
Kelly should be our starting 6 even if it means leaving Connor out or a place on the bench but given the heavy grounds in winter i would rather have Griffin on the bench.

Kelly definitely best 6 we have. It's nice to have quality throughout the back line, nice headache selection have.
For me Connor is a starting centre, too good to leave out.

I enjoyed your use of bold, so will reply in kind.

I've checked. Rugby League World predicts us finishing 6th. I don't think it's as funny as you do, but I do think it's a fair appraisal from an independent perspective and understand their rationale. I follow a lot of people on social media, so scrolling back is a bit of a chore, but I was right.

Look, you can't tell me what I must and mustn't "concede", so please don't be so imperious. I'm not in the market for being "persuaded" by you in this fashion. You seem happy to sweep the front row issue under the carpet, which is your prerogative, but Taylor apart I don't think our props are Top 4 calibre. I suspect RLW don't either.

"Top 4 is a must". Not for me it isn't. Adam will have his own ambitions and perspectives, of course, and his are infinitely more important than mine (although not really to you it seems as a scan through your recent posting history shows a very high proportion of posts with the intention of directly or indirectly belittling my honestly held and moderate opinions). I don't feel I need to address him directly in this regard - what would I say exactly? "Hi Adam, decent recruitment, hopeful and excited for the season ahead, lots of stuff we can't legislate for as ever, but I'll back the team regardless as I've done for 30 years. Crack on and let's see what happens. Cheers." I mean, what is he meant to do with that?



We can continue this as long as you like. You getting cross and telling me what I should/shouldn't/can/can't think or say. Me listening and explaining why I disagree. But it's quite repetitive. Less entitlement, more enjoying the journey serves me very well. Honestly, I've never been more chipper.

For me, as is stands at the moment, Connor wouldn't get into my starting 13.
Griffin gives 100% for 80 minutes, as does Carlos, and then there's Fonua, so who starts at centre next week is going to disappoint someone.
Maybe not playing Faraimo is the easiest option.
Kelly at 6 is a must as far as I'm concerned.

I agree, but would be harsh to leave Faraimo out based on pre season. Griffin and Kelly must play.

You're probably right, but I suspect some players will be less happy not being picked than others.

Well they need to justify selection then..

Connor Griffin centres, Carlos im sorry but back up. Wings Fonua and Naulago, Swift & Faraimo back up, Kelly and Sneyd Halfs - thats your back line