Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:09 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

There's a difference between criticising and saying that Wigan have far more strength in depth / better bench options than we do

Unfortunately we are just being realistic given our squad, can’t see much improvement on past seasons Im afraid.

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:10 pm  

Marcus's Bicycle wrote:

Agree. Scott should be competing for a centre spot at this stage in his career. Play him at centre or leave him out and start with another forward on the bench. Okunbor can be moved to the backs in case of injuries.

Desperately need another forward preferably a second row otherwise Sao or Ashworth will probably have to start there and weaken the front row.

Completely agree

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:20 pm  

Cuddleclub wrote:

They can spend the same as anyone else baring 3 marquees which I don’t think makes that much difference over the course of a 25+ man squad.

Cooper
Mago
Dupree
Leeming
Walters
Chan
Eseh

All aren’t from their academy.

I don’t blame smith. I blame the powers that be, not a chance we are anywhere near full cap with our squad and if we are then there are serious problems.

Our cap management since the cup wins has been terrible. Reynolds, Gale and Evans being prime examples.

I'm sure Pearson said we are spending the full cap and if true I find that worrying.

I think on paper this looks the weakest squad we've had for years but in Smith we have a quality coach who hopefully will compensate for this and get us somewhere near the play-offs.

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:21 pm  

Depends what you mean by improvement?

Will we be bottom 4 again? Probably. If we lose, it's the manner of defeat

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:28 pm  

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ve-9069126 Balmforth is out with a shoulder knock

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ve-9069126 Balmforth is out with a shoulder knock

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:31 pm  

mwindass wrote:

Depends what you mean by improvement?

Will we be bottom 4 again? Probably. If we lose, it's the manner of defeat

I don't think we have much chance of the play-offs but as long as we are there or there abouts going in to the final rounds I'll be satisfied.

Also as you say it's the manner of the defeat. Nothing wrong with a defeat but the capitulations over the last few seasons are totally unacceptable.

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:43 pm  

mwindass wrote:

Depends what you mean by improvement?

Will we be bottom 4 again? Probably. If we lose, it's the manner of defeat

Agreed, I don’t mind losing if the effort is there and they are narrow defeats, but we take far too many hammerings. I’d love to be proved wrong but I think we will be 8th at best.

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 3:55 pm  

You'd think with Salford, London and Cas' recruitment, we'll finish at least 9th this year

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:27 pm  

mwindass wrote:

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/tony-smith-shares-update-denive-9069126

Balmforth is out with a shoulder knock

With Wigan looking for an extra friendly fixture to give a couple of their players some game time and TS wanting similar i wonder if FC will be taking them on again during next week ?

Re: Pre-season. : Wed Jan 31, 2024 4:33 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

You'd think with Salford, London and Cas' recruitment, we'll finish at least 9th this year

Cas and Salford might be saying the same about ours.

I see BetFred's odds are currently

Wigan 2/1
Saints 3/1
Leeds 15/2
Warrington 8/1
Catalans 10/1
Hull KR 12/1
Leigh 16/1
Huddersfield 18/1
Hull FC 25/1
Salford 66/1
Castleford 66/1
London 150/1