https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1 ... SvfWw&s=19

https://twitter.com/AaronBower/status/1 ... SvfWw&s=19

need to change the testing rules

For me the answer is easy. Genuine first teamers are never going to feature in reserve grade anyway in my opinion.

Therefore leave the under 18s fixtures as they are and play under 19s/20s fixtures on the alternate weekends. The high performing 18s can step up to play alongside the 18s/19s that were kept on from last season.

Why should, for example, Hull FC suffer because some clubs don't want to run a reserves side? Hull have invested heavily in your excellent rising stars programme. Why should that investment be wasted due to small minded clubs trying to save money?

This is a cash issue, not a Covid one. Certain clubs have been trying to pull out of the reserve league since it was reinstated. If they choose not to run one, penalise them.

Heard were adding to the coaching set up possibly the Academy ,someone from Wire .

Not much being said about Michael Shenton of late, he still hasn't even got a mug shot on the club website.

Hopefully I'm just making it up.

From what I've heard , Shenton is doing very well by all accounts .

..... that's what I thought, I just thought it odd that he doesn't show up on the coaching setup. www.hullfc.com/team/first-team/coaching-staff

..... that's what I thought, I just thought it odd that he doesn't show up on the coaching setup. www.hullfc.com/team/first-team/coaching-staff

Quote ="ccs"..... that's what I thought, I just thought it odd that he doesn't show up on the coaching setup. www.hullfc.com/team/first-team/coaching-staff'" The club just announced Pete Riding as the new head of youth and club statement says he’ll work with Shelton who’s made a notable impression. [url=https://www.hullfc.com/blog/2022/01/14/peter-riding-appointed-hull-fcs-head-of-youth/Club press release[/url

Quote ="ccs"..... that's what I thought, I just thought it odd that he doesn't show up on the coaching setup. www.hullfc.com/team/first-team/coaching-staff'" The club just announced Pete Riding as the new head of youth and club statement says he’ll work with Shelton who’s made a notable impression. [url=https://www.hullfc.com/blog/2022/01/14/peter-riding-appointed-hull-fcs-head-of-youth/Club press release[/url

Sounds like an excellent piece of recruitment from the club. Glad to see us continuing to invest in the youth development side. Hopefully we'll see it start to pay off in the next 3-5 years.

Wire have lost Anderson and now Riding over the last few weeks from their youth set up.

https://www.totalrl.com/hull-fc-appoint ... -of-youth/ Good article

https://www.totalrl.com/hull-fc-appoint ... -of-youth/ Good article

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... th-6535075 Sounds like some ambitious long term plans and with the appointment of Riding and Shenton feels like a bit of extra investment in this area.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... th-6535075 Sounds like some ambitious long term plans and with the appointment of Riding and Shenton feels like a bit of extra investment in this area.

I think the investment in to the youth/academy set up by AP since the start of his ownership of the club is now starting to show the benefits of all that work and investment that been done behind the scenes. The appointment of Riding is certainly one that will take it up another level from the work that Danny Wilson has done. I think the way the game has been impacted due to covid clubs that have stuck with investing in the youth and the reserve grade will see an get the rewards compared to clubs that have lacked the foresight to invest in the future.

The futures bright the future is Black & White

After losing to Wigan last week a better result. https://twitter.com/hullfcofficial/stat ... jZ9dQ&s=19

After losing to Wigan last week a better result. https://twitter.com/hullfcofficial/stat ... jZ9dQ&s=19

https://twitter.com/hullfcofficial/stat ... pEoUA&s=19 Another good win.

https://twitter.com/hullfcofficial/stat ... pEoUA&s=19 Another good win.

Impressive try by no 9, Balmforth... https://hullfc.mysportsonline.uk/video/ ... ademy/3989 (PS can you change the title to thread rather than threat? ) (I think I preferred threat to threaD. )

Impressive try by no 9, Balmforth... https://hullfc.mysportsonline.uk/video/ ... ademy/3989 (PS can you change the title to thread rather than threat? ) (I think I preferred threat to threaD. )

he looks really good out of 9

People talked about Balmforth's size when we signed him but he has quickness and pace too.

Can definitely see where the Cunningham comparisons started

For all the bleating about our production line, so far this year we're averaging 7 homegrown in our 17 (can't remember whether Scott is technically ours but still

). We've also contributed to other clubs eg Abdull, Litten, Hadley at Rovers, Lyne at Wakefield, think we might have classed Westerman as ours once upon a time, Briscoe at Leeds etc. With Shenton and Pete Riding on board to give fresh impetus maybe we can keep progressing in this area.

Wakefield 6 Scott, Houghton, Fash, Lane, Wynne, Brown
Saints 7 Shaul, Scott, Wynne, Houghton, Fash, Lane, Shaul
Salford 8 Scott, McNamara, Houghton, Lane, Fash, Brown, Bowden, Shaul
Cas 7 Shaul, Wynne, McNamara, Houghton, Lane, Fash, Brown
Leeds 7 Shaul, McNamara, Houghton, Fash, Brown, Cator, Bowden

Will be interesting the decisions around the hooking role for next season. Especially with Houghton out of contract.

With Lovodua looking an absolute find, will he secure the starting hooking spot, and if Balmforths looking ready for a bench spot by the end of this season, we could save a big chunk of cap on Houghton

Interesting to see how Hodgson manages the situation

I'd think he'd take JJ place in the squad.

Would still like to see us sign another 9 for next season.

That’s quite possibly in the clubs thinking especially the way Lovodua has started at the club and imagine an extension will be made to his current deal soon too.

Think may well see a 1 year deal offered to Houghton while progressing Balmforths development in the first team next season.

I'd rather us take another punt on a Lovodua type signing than re sign Houghton. No offence to Danny, he's been a fantastic servant but just think we need a change.

Can see JJ going and I'd give Houghton another year and renew Joe's deal 2/3 years to work alongside Danny who still offers a lot for me but needs to do a Roby role where he plays 40 minutes max.

I think JJ will be gone and Houghton will retire , with possibly a conditioning or youth role within the club, I know there are people already in those roles, but having DH on board, in either set up, would be a bonus and he certainly has a part to play at the club he loves.
Ironically, this season, we haven't seen much of Joe at 9, through various reasons, but having a player like him that can step into most positions and improve on or two of these positions, is priceless, much like Rich Whiting was to us during his stellar career with us.
I'd agree with previous posters that have suggested we should be looking at the "not quite made it " types down under, if there is no obvious homegrown talent coming through.