ONE CHANGE AS SHAUL REPLACES SHANNON

Challenge Cup finalists Hull FC have been forced into one change ahead of their return to Super League action against Widnes Vikings on Friday.


Young starlet Jamie Shaul returns to the squad for the first time in a number of weeks, replacing senior full back Shannon McDonnell who was cruelly injured during Sunday’s emphatic cup success against Warrington Wolves.


The 21-year-old former academy youngster made his debut on Easter Monday and has scored five tries in two senior appearances this term, including a hat trick in the cup against North Wales Crusaders.


Otherwise, it’s the same group of players that booked their place in the Tetley’s Challenge Cup Final with a win against the reigning cup champions last weekend, but unused Chris Green and Jason Crookes are once again pushing for an inclusion.


Squad: Arundel, Briscoe, Crookes, Ellis, Green, Heremaia, Holdsworth, Houghton, Lineham, Lynch, Miller, O'Meley, Pitts, Shaul, Tickle, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman




Denis Betts has today unveiled his 19-man squad for Friday night's game versus Hull FC.

Going into the game, Widnes are still seeking their first victory at the KC Stadium but having seen his charges dispose of London Broncos in their last outing, the Vikings Head Coach says that he is keen to see more of the same in the Rd. 23 clash and indeed, throughout the remainder of the weekly rounds:

"Our performance goals this year have been about getting better week in and week out. We're hitting some targets this year and when you look at the team and our position on the table, it doesn't tell the whole truth of how far and how much better this team is with the minimal changes that have occurred since the last off-season.

"We're talking about 20-30% gains in attack, defence and missed tackles. When you put that into the perspective of being a business - if you can get anything between 5-10% year on year, then you are in a very strong position.

"We're quietly confident and we know that we have got to enhance the squad moving on to next year, and we believe that we have done that with a couple of people we are bringing in, and carrying on developing some of the younger players within our team.

"Overall, it doesn't look fantastic and we're not competing in semis and finals at the moment, but we're climbing the table and making percentage gains in every area of the field that we need to.

"And that is what is going to continue through these last 5 games. This is a really important part of the year for us. We've talked about how we finish and the perception moving forward again for the whole squad."

from: Ah Van, Allen, Brown, Cahill, Clarke, Gore, Hanbury, Hock, Isa, Joseph, Kavanagh, Lawton, Leuluai, Marsh, Mellor, O'Carroll, Owens, Phelps, Winterstein

Jesus....has Betts got Cullenitis.As for us....Shaul in and keep same team.

What's happened to Paul Johnson?

Surprised that we haven't used Johnson and Bowden.

Personally, I would have brought in Bowden and Johnson in addition to Green in order to give a few of the forwards a rest after last week's game.

A couple of weeks back Wigan played Wire on the Monday night, it was a great defensive effort in defeat. On the Friday Cas went to Wigan and stuffed them? I think after the defensive display on Sunday, it must have taken its toll, and surely a wise course of action would be to bring in Bowden and Johnson, who for me played well against Wigan, Wire, and Leeds.

Tomkins missing. He makes that much difference to them

Gentle really can't rate PJ as he's barely played all season.

For me I'd bring in both Green, Bowden and PJ.

He's played in 17 out of 26 games.

Have to say I was worried when I saw he'd only picked one real prop on the bench for Sunday's game. Must win game so I can see why they are playing the best team but at some point in the next 4 weeks we need to be resting some of the forwards IMO

Surprised at that to be honest, thought it was more like ten. When was his last game can't say I remember him playing for about 8 weeks.

Wakey 5 games ago.

Wakefield at home. He didn't play prior to that at Cas but had played in the eight games before that one.

All 17 appearances have been off the bench.

Seems a big turnaround from gentle after he was pretty much an ever present before then

I really like Paul Johnson. He's impressed me when he's played. I'd definitely be giving him more game-time.

Hull can make changes to the 19 so I wouldn't read alot into it. I think myself PJ, Green and Crookes will all play.

Shaul
Lineham
Arundel
Yeaman
Briscoe or Crookes
Holdsworth
Miller
O'Meley
Houghton
Green
Ellis
Westerman
Pitts
Subs
Johnson
Whiting
Lynch
Heremaia
Think Watts had a knock before Wire game, Tickle got banged up last week too.

So, you a halfback then??

???????

I didn't understand that either?

I presume he's refering to you saying "I think myself PJ, Green and Crookes will all play."

Haha, grammar not my strong point.