Massively disagree Geoff, he's a huge strike weapon on the wing, because of his aerial threat and raw pace when put into a gap.

I also don't think he's shown any of those particular traits that you describe to any degree of excellence.

A full back in the modern game should never be one on one with anyone, and Sio did this no better than Dixon.

Sio and Mantellato can be employed in kick returns, they just need to switch as we did at times last season.

Dixon is our most dangerous broken field runner by far, and if we don't exploit that it will be to our detriment.

Totally disagree sio is a world class winger imo and a very average full back you've got to remember he played full back in the middle 8s against poor sides and still didn't stand out just because he wants to play there doesn't mean he should

I agree with you both, Sio has the potential to be a world class Winger, but unfortunately the role of Full-back is far more important than the role of Winger …..A Full-back needs to have an awareness of defensive positioning, needs to be able to tackle one on one, needs to be sound under the high ball, needs to be able to run the ball out strongly, and needs to be able to offer a threat when joining the attacking line ……Unfortunately, our only other candidates for the Full-back role are Ben and Dixon ……Dixon is exciting, but he has shown that he is just another Eden regarding reliability, and Ben is average, a lower to mid-table Full-back at best ……Out of the potential candidates for Full-back, to me, Sio is the slightly better all-rounder out of our current options ……How sad is it that we are currently discussing who is the best Full-back at being slightly better than average after 10 years in Super League?!

Oh well, only another few days to go to the start of our Super League …….If we are poop or not …..I can’t wait! …..Haha!

Completely agree, I never saw anything special in Sio at full back, he made some bad errors and his handling wasn't great.
2 things made him seem better than he was -
He was fortunate we were playing against teams that the errors didn't have a detrimental effect.
People wanted him to be a top class full back so they concentrated on the good things.

For me playing Sio at FB and Dixon on the wing just weakens both positions, we scored something like 50 tries with KD at 1 and KS on the wing, that's not what needs changing.

Cockayne should be on the bench on Sunday, bring him on in case of injuries to the back line and to spell Boudebza.

Last season when people said Dixon wasn't a full back and people said on here at the time Dixon should be given time to improve and grow into the role, so why shouldn't sio be afforded the same time instead of a odd half here and there?

Because it's waste it turns an excellent winger into an average full back

Play Sio on the wing and Shaw at FB
Sio is a better option on the wing than Dixon
Shaw can't be any worse at FB than Dixon
Dixon on the bench as cover for the backs.

How do you know? Maybe could turn a top class winger into a top class full back lets be honest nobody knows our best side not even the coach he has not done to great of a job on the squad in my opinion

Because I've seen him have poor games at full back against championship sides yet as a winger he was one of the best on the league if it isn't broke don't fix it

And yet given time he probably will turn into a good full back, and he is the best option at full back we have

Irrelevant now as Chester said cockayne is playing full back and sio on the wing to combat castlefords threat in the air

That's re assuring as the bigot has always been great under the bomb.

So to recap. Sio begins the pre season at full back. The bigot is put on the wing for the derby with Dixon not starting....a 20 a try a season player.....

Each game Sio doesn't finish playing full back.

The bigot plays shockingly on the right wing in the derby as hull score for fun down our right, particularly as he jumps in off his wing each time. He moves to full back making no difference to the defence as we ship 30 more.

The bigot is identified by our coach as our best bet under their kicks.....despite a career being dodgy under them.

It appears it came as a surprise post our pre season that Cas are a threat in the air for our first game.....despite the fixtures coming out a few months ago...

The Sio plan at full back is then abandoned..despite him and Mantellato being our best players under the bomb.

Why the f#ck bother with trying Sio at full back in the first place.

It all sounds desperate with no long term plan.

Sio went well for me at full back. He's a fantastic winger but we can get him in the game more at full back. He's more of a future there than the proposed pick for Sunday.

It may all be a master stroke of deception with Tilse picked at full back to counter their kicking game and Dixon as the front row interchange.

Jesus I'm having a meltdown before a ball has been kicked.

Shame it's not on TV but hopefully I'll get to the game. Very difficult one to predict. Despite your poor off season and missing Campese It wouldn't surprise me if Rovers won. Rovers have been written off by all and sundry which should be a massive motivation for the players. Don't forget your home form was pretty good last season even without Campese and a weakened pack. I'll go for a high scoring close game with Rovers just nicking it.

What is/was the point in handing Sio the No.1 shirt if you move him back to the wing before the season has even begun? Cockayne wasn't even good enough at fullback in 2007 when he had pace & energy. FFS!
This season is going to be a motorway pile up in slow motion.

It appears we were thinking the same thing though you put it much more succinctly.

I'm afraid I can see the twisted metal too Stan.....

Ps the new kid the rfl ain't having any of it.....quota spots full. Another proposed square peg round hole job. WHEN Chester goes he's leaving a grossly unbalanced squad. All those loans last year were a give away. It make take a while to unravel this mess.

Well how extraordinary is that? Just when I think it's not possible for Rovers to show any further level of incompetence they somehow manage to take it up a notch. I have been saying for weeks that non fed = non fed no matter what your bloody passport says. Clearly Mr Typowriter doesn't understand the rules of the competition we are happy to boast we have been part of for 10 years.

The car crash just crept forward another yard.....

Looking at the weather forecast for Sunday afternoon. Very windy (25 to 30mph) and showery. Factor in the swirl effect off the River and it makes for a more interesting contest.

Wouldn't want Dixon, Shaw or Sio at FB in those predicted conditions, given what's at stake. Cockayne the most experienced FB option for crap East Hull weather, despite his limitations.

Was delighted when I heard Sio was to move to Full Back for this season, but this current car crash calls for a game by game reappraisal, especially given the threadbare nature of our resources and their proven inconsistencies.

I agree. It is a complicated rule - but not that blooming complicated. If true, it'd be poor, as it was questioned pretty much immediately. While I don't expect the club to pore over the wisdom offered on the forums, but if we realised, surely they should have (again, if true).

Is this incompetence about a player Rovers have never even mentioned?

Yes.

Its getting desperate now players are getting picked according to the weather

So, Rovers have never mentioned said player but have shown great incompetence in not signing someone they have not mentioned they were trying to sign?

Yes. I officially nominate Charlie as our bad weather fullback. Essential if we are to win 30-0 as per your prediction. I thought I would show some solidarity with you, Frankie, and try and shoe horn in an equally absurd post under the radar. Epic Fail.

Yes.

I actually think that is a consideration.

I still wouldn't select Cockayne though.

CP is a horrible ground to play full back at, the wind swirls all over the place and the modern balls and spiral kicks are seriously challenging to deal with.

Other least favourite grounds are Mount Pleasant and Post Office Road, I remember fielding a kick in the corner at Fev and having two massive props running down the slope at me. Bad times.