Heard last night that they have been allowed to play in the Samoa vs Tonga game which is next weekend and will miss the cup game, anyone else heard this?

Yea I heard that too I hope Radders says no

I imagine they put this in their contracts, hull would have hoped for a championship side, I would hope the players themselves would choose to stay for our biggest game of the season so far.

Great honour for both as captains. Ellis and Mini to come in.

I thought April fools was the first day of April not the last!

Exactly, Mrs B.

Sounds like this is happening which isn't great for us but we've signed two current international captains.

I'd far rather have this problem than still be signing players like Ben Galea or Ryan McGoldrick (no offence to those intended).

The reality is it's a pain in the backside for us. But a pack, injury-permitting, of Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Ellis, Mini, Washy with Bowden, Green, Thompson and Hadley on the bench is decent. A few in there will be desperate to get through to the next round too, time running out.

I don't buy this honour argument, I'm afraid.

As far as I'm concerned, next week's game at St Helens is the most important match of the season.

Missing these 2 players so they can travel half way round the world to play in a game between Samoa and Tonga isn't going to improve my chances of seeing a Wembley victory.

Time is running out for me as well.

You need to accept it's never going to happen. Then if it does, it's all upside.

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.... to be honest, it doesn't bother me, but I don't see why we should be expected to play an understrength team next week.

There were a few injuries last night, and that's only the obvious ones.

Mini was out for some time last season with a calf problem. Let's hope he's ok next week.

This is were RU is better. Their huge squads (and the increased SC)allow for teams with internationals and injuries to still field a decent team. There's also no arguments about not playing unless a player is injured, and rightly so.
Think Leeds had 7 on international duty and still had a match at the weekend not that long back.

Our international game is weak enough as it is, we need to ensure the likes of PNG, Samoa, Fiji Tonga etc get to play their big stars even at the expense of someone elsewhere, especially since Australia/NZ poach the cream often as not.
As pointed out, we still have a lot of talent and we just have to look at it from a positive angle and the personal achievement for our players.
They might get injured in any case.

Big losses and probably takes away any real prospect of us winning

Probably going against the grain here but I think the league is now more important. We are in our best position for years and the kudos is higher for a grand final win now. I feel the cup has had its day to some extent, witness the decline in attendance for proof. Plus we've won the cup before. I would prefer us to concentrate on beating Wigan. Let them go. Just hope they return ready to rock

The Cup is still very important to me and a first win at Wembley is at the top of my bucket list. I remember the times when Premiership finals (Championship play off) decided the league and The Cup was always regarded as the premier trophy. Old fart maybe, but please give me the first Wembley win.

We should respect the players wishes in wanting to represent their countries, regardless of how it affects us.

Stamped with the usual Jakester modus operandi.

Indeed. There are a few club owners who would probably be whining on twitter about it

Yep!

Decades of watching FC have worn away any optimism I ever had

I agree apart from that neither of them were bothered about Samoa or Tonga when NZ wanted to select them.

This is a risk you take when you sign international players. How many other teams have two international captains in their squad? How would these guys react if they were told they couldn't go? We beat Wire on Easter Monday without either of them.

I think the main problem is the timing.

With only two major trophy's to play for, this is half of our season ambitions on the line on Sunday.

You can't knock the lads for wanting to represent their countries, I just think the organising of fixtures could be dealt with better, I mean, you wouldn't organise an international fixture during play-off time and this game is play-off rugby, so maybe they could have played the cup games at a more convenient time.

It's a farce, no way should they be travelling across the world to play a nothing game, to risk getting injured and been out long term for us. It's a joke, like the international game. Coventry and anfield for the 4 nations is a joke to, the rfl need to give their heads a shake. And Pritchard and Manu should of been told it's a joke and they ain't going

Are you joking?