Couldn't agree more !! That "shoulder drop and step" every time he gets the ball is just painful to watch.

Listen this comment is not a "Bash richard" comment but I have to say now that all the games he has played thus far he has been the odd one out, not doing anything unusual , BUT has stood out for his lack of pace again and now his tackling is well to be fair awful at best !
He was pushed off on so many ocassions yesterday I lost count and to say he wasnt supported by other players is silly , what point is there supporting a player that plainly is not going to make a break !!, the chap sat next to me ( Crusader fan) said he looked like he had never played professional rugby before and commented how at least two drives in every six they pinpointed Rich !!
why did they do that ?? because they know through Sharp that he cant tackle anymore and the old show and go is somewhat painful to watch these days as it fools no one anymore!!
I hate to say this and am most definately not blaming him for yesterday but its nearly time to go Rich , you are clearly not confident anymore!!

I'd disagree there Paul, personally thought our forwards laid down a great platform in the second half.

After the last two seasons, I was so pleased we signed a creative half in Sean Long after lacking in that department for so long.

As a number of other posters have written, this is no way a Horne bashing post. However. I was pleased as punch that Rich had a great testimonial as it was richly deserved and was glad to be a part of it. I did comment after the match that hopefully, we wouldn't see him in the 17 that much this season. My reasoning for this is that he just cannot cut it when required to be the creative player. This was highlighted yesterday I gather. He'll do ok when playing alongside Long but solo is a different matter.

I read with interest some of the other writers about post injury form and think all were valid points. Last season we had no option but to play who we had but this season is different. The longer we persevere with Long (and Washbrook in the halves for that matter, as all he has is the ball turned inside), the longer we will struggle. Horne is not going to get any better and he's a shadow of the player he was. Time to look at the longer term issue and see how some of the youngsters shape up.

Horne's injury and illness over the last two seasons have been a tragedy for him and for Hull, and I'm not sure we'll see the end to it

Me neither, partly because of the large contract he will be on !!

I really cant see us having a 100K+ player sitting in the stands and as I've said numerous times I dont think Agar has the bottle to make the really tough decisions. Horne will continue to play at SO for the forseeable future. Its hard to be so tough on Horne but he has never been able to pass a ball with any great degree of skill and his long distance kicking has always been poor. He made up for these deficiencies by having a devastating step a great fend and the ability to find a gap. Unfortunately all of his weapons have deserted him and we have been carrying him for the last couple of years. The really sad part is we will have to live with this situation at least until the end of NEXT season.

People keep saying this, but he was injured for the whole of 2008 bar one and a half games.

Pedantic, possibly, but true nonetheless.


I'm not so sure we will TBH. Agar can't afford Horne to be a passenger, and I don't think that situation will suit Rich either. I wouldn't be surprised to see him retire before the end of his contract, especially if a potential replacement can be found.

To a degree they did, once we got to their line everybody just stood there waiting for someone else to do something.

I think to continue to play horne in the key position of 6 is hindering the team. His lack of confidence lack of creativity and lack of energy is on show for us to see and now does nothing more than try and take the defensive line on. I do not dislike Horne and have grown up watching him and joined in with the HORNEY HORNEY HORNEY chants on occasion he has done something special, but sadly these times are to few and far between Maybe centre or utility man is now more suited. We need a dynamic 6 to take the creative lead when Longy is injured. washbrook has played in the position after numerous injuries to Horne and washy grows with confidence the more he plays the position with his short kick through on the angles or timely off the shoulder runs. Turner has been touted as a potential 6 with his speed and good hands could be greatly used in the stand off role (bit of a leon pryce).

I think Agar should maybe bite the bullet show he wants to play the strongest team and not let salaries dictate. Give washy or turner a run in the position it would be then theirs to lose!!

I could not agree more - I did not go to Wrexham so dont usually give an opinion if not at match but could not believe we went with that partnership again. If Rich Agar persists with this I am amost feeling robbed of a season already, Why did we sign Turner if we are not going with him. I hope for changes on Friday. We all love Rich Horne but I agree with most - he should not start.

If people are insistent on moving tansey up to 6/7 then why not move Horne to FB and see how he gets on in a position he has played well in before and also gives him the luxury of coming in when he wants to.

He was distinctly average at FB. Poor ball returns

Unlike the 18 clean breaks the miraculous Tansey made? I like Tansey at f/b, but his ball returns are not particularly impressive. His positioning has been good and he's been good at joining in with the line.

I agree





Although as the poster above says Tansey's ball returns are no better. Thankfully being a fullback isn't just about catching/picking the ball up and acting like a prop for a few seconds as some on here make out.

Seems to me that Horne will be fit top play on Friday so he will still be in the halves without a doubt.

If so then Tansey to 7, Whiting to FB and Hall to centre with Calders on wing for me.

Put him in with Turner and see what happens.........be intresting to hear what our 2 whingers will have to say whilst the match is on...

Tend to think Washy and Horne will get another go.

Funnily enough...someone at work made the same comment about Tanseys ball returns..........

Agar talks a good game,shame he hasnt a clue how to implement it on the pitch

Unfortunately only those with black and white glasses on cant see that RH is a spent force, he has had a serious injury that not only broke his body but his confidence , his speed has all but deserted him and since the first friendly he has to be fair done very little!! he has made zero breaks unless in the clear, his fend has gone and his tackling has becaome woeful at best hence why all teams thus far run at him all the time which also explains why he looks knackered by half time..
Add this to the D illness and I am afraid we have a very expensive passenger now in the team ..
5 games gone and 5 average or below performances.

and it saddens me to say it too but he is no more Hull FC through and through than Paul King was and the big shout was made for Paul as it has to be done soon for RH although he will be with us till the end of next season at least I am afraid

I hate to say it, but he's just not good enough anymore.

His tackling, his handoff, his pace, his support play - were what got him into the GB team afew years ago. Now, looking at those four attributes, he's gone backwards.

I don't accept the excuse that 'he's never been an organiser'. He's played SL at halfback for 10 years, played with and against some great halfbacks and under some experienced coached, and is now a senior member of the team. He should by now be able to shout and execute some plays to his teammates, and be relied upon to do so.

Maybe it's a confidence thing? Maybe he's just incapable of thinking of plays? Maybe it's his illness? Whatever it is, it's down to him and Agar to sort out, and if they can't, he needs to go.

Washy and Horne is over. Rip it up and start again.
Just watch some of the videos from a few seasons ago of Horney, watch the Saints away cup game for example where we narrowly lost and RH was MOM. Look at his frame - much bigger, oozing confidence and causing havoc with his step and handoff. Such a massive shame, but realisticly it's gonna take a turnaround of mammoth proportions to rectify his form now.