Limiting the role of videos refs would help. Players are staying down cause they know it will give the video ref chance to look at it again, and also the on field official will see it on the big screen.
Let video refs check for try or no try and that's it. At a stretch let them check who shuttled a ball out of play (drop out or 20 metre restart) but they shouldn't be allowed to look at things themselves and radio down to the on field official telling them to change their decision.

The COHA is an intresting one, Hudds have had injury problems and have been playing the Senior twins who are 17. In the COHA there is outstanding halfback who is 17, I'm guessing as he isn't signed to either team then he couldn't play first team rugby?

Can't see it, registered with Donny and not sure w could fit him under the cap.

I'd think we'd look at Smith at Saints if Sneyd is out for the season, but I expect Radford to to stick with what we have.

Thinking about it some more, as fans we have to take responsibility too, and think about the point at which we don’t want to win ‘like that’.

One of the highlights of 2017 for me was when, defending a narrow lead vs Widnes, we held on in the tackle conceding a worthless penalty and wasting a few more potentially crucial seconds. Now, my joy arose from a very particular previous event and it was about laying a ghost to rest and showing that we could be hard headed. I remember it almost as fondly as Shaw’s long range try. But I was celebrating a professional foul, no two ways about it.

I think everyone thought the same about that professional foul

It was a hugely cathartic moment. But I imagine to Widnes fans it just looked like bad sportsmanship.

The thing with simulation now though is the amount of it - it feels like we’re well past the thin end of the wedge, and maybe even the point of no return, because it seems to work.

We did loads at the middle 8’s away game at Leigh too, and it showed we had learned a few lessons from 2016. Derek Beaumont saw it slightly different to me have to say.

Anyway back on topic. Our injury list appears to have been miraculously halved due to the intervention of the faith healer that is Gareth Westmorland. Everyone is apparently cured apart from Flash Flanagan.

On the flipside, Hull are so decimated that Radfords yet to be conceived grandchild is lined up to play half back. Our chances of avoiding humiliation are once again in tatters.

Obviously the HDM invariably goes with the Hull FC narrative nowadays. However, in fairness, after 429 consecutive derby defeats stretching back to 1754 (numbers are approximate), I suspect there’s an element of them just trying to drum up interest.

We’ve got to keep going up to August and the middle 8s now. The games until then still matter and it’ll hurt a little when we lose and it’ll be nice if we can pick up some more wins. They just don’t have any wider meaning, and to cope some degree of emotional disengagement is probably advisable.

That’s easier said than done when you are sat in a 3/4 empty stadium watching us take another beasting and all you have to amuse yourself is to add up how much the weekend just cost you.

Whenever I'm feeling down about the last couple of seasons I watch that documentary from the 90s in disbelief that our club was really in that bad of a state it makes me realise things aren't so bad after all on a side note I see Mrs B is going into overdrive on the injury front

Aye, I’m sure - and imagine being Hudgell and Crossland!

As NH said, the fun went out of it a while ago. Just about loyalty now. And that is easier for me, given my more limited time commitment, I readily admit. Think of me sunning myself in blissful ignorance as Hull run in their umpteenth try, won’t you?



I must say though, I just watched Sheens pre-match interview for the Wigan game, and I do prefer being responsible for my own expectation management. Used to start watching Sandercock’s thinking ‘with a fair wind, we’ve got half a chance’, and by its end ‘let’s just get it over with’. Other way round with Sheens.

Here’s to a better, or at very least more fun, future!

Have to agree with you there, I have a lot of respect for our management especially NH who I suspect was like a lot of fans but was fortunate to have been successful & had the chance to do something about it & many thanks to him. I suppose the reality & politics of the game take the glamour away from the dream. I am happy that we have Tim Sheens unlike the disaster Sandercock he has the team with him & is looking ahead as this squad with a couple of additions & all fit will be a different proposition next year. I only expect our team to do their best tomorrow! If that is not good enough then so be it. next week will be interesting for both clubs but we are in a different stage of development than the squad at FC who must feel cursed after the steady improvement over the last few seasons.

It’s amusing to a certain extent, but like a vintage comedy on Dave, you have heard all the punchlines before and know how it turns out in the end.

Crikey, Timely boosts, Cockle. Old posts dredged up from 12 years ago to score imaginary points. Same every Derby week. Work on the principle 4 or 5 of the supposed unavailable players will step out for both sides and you won't be far wrong.

wouldn't surprise me if 2/3 of our walking wounded play, taylor,paea,tuime,

I suppose a lot depends on any possible further injuries against the Pies tomorrow. Either way magic will be interesting.

The last derby she made a big point of Maguire and Lunt would definitely play and Houghton definitely wouldn't even though Radford said he would she's the queen of spin typical woman can't be wrong

Oh, rain on my holier than thou anti-sexism parade, why don’t you?

Anyway, as Mrs B can’t reply here, shall we move on from her spin on things.

Nobody on this earth wants to think of you sunning yourself! (unless it's like that final destination sunbed scene

)

There is not a chance you will take a beasting next week. For once, I think some of the injury exaggerations is really not exaggerated. It does look pretty bleak from our perspective.

I think our lads have shown a lot of heart and try their best. But we’re short on quality, power and composure. And we’ll be missing a few ourselves including, crucially, two of the four who’d get in most SL starting 17s (imo - Lunt and Carney, the others being McGuire (possibly still a doubt) and Masoe; honourable mention to Mulhern).

Last year was different, but at this level the disasterous has become routine. I rocked up again just in time for the fairytale years, so I can’t complain. But my expectation this year is now that against anybody but Widnes (who are in a similar position, but heading in a worse direction) or a team in a real slump (e.g. Hudds and Catalans) we’ll be well beaten on bad day and find a way to shoot ourselves in the foot on a good day. Whether your injuries will reduce you to the current level of Hudds or Catalans, I dunno. But i’m sure Radford will send out a team that is bigger than ours and has a bloody-minded determination to win. Remember, you not only beat us with playing with 12 for the large majority of the last derby, you outscored us after the sending off and the result only ever looked in doubt briefly.

Maybe we’ll beat Wigan today, and i’ll look daft. I very much hope so. But right now, i’d snap your hand off for us getting within 20 and nobody getting an injury that rules them out into the middle 8s.

Well we got within 20 despite a sending-off!

Any bad-looking injuries?

Mulhern knee looked bad

Crap.

Fingers crossed for him.

One day one of them might even kiss you.