the squad announcement is only really a rough guide nowadays though isn't it. i expect hull to make a couple more changes on top of the three already announced. radders has form in this area

Maybe but we haven't really got many players who didn't play at wembley and aren't in the 19 anyway

We've got a healthy record vs Hull and that before that cup loss we had won 8 on the trot against them including putting 50 on them at home and winning at home after losing 2 starters after 15 mins.

Hull have been great in the cup but their league form and performances haven't been anything to write home about and including a number of heavy defeats at home and a battering at Magic so I'm not entirely sold on them yet in the league - in the cup they just had a confidence from winning last year that helped them massively like us backing up in 2015 and Warrington run of wins.

Still a big question mark that they even make the playoffs imo now with a tough run of fixtures to come. Obviously backing up this week is really tough and then Wigan will be out for revenge and desperately needing to win to keep their chances alive. Wakey away will be tricky also even if some on here don't rate them they've usually been a tough side to beat at home and finally Cas away.

We play Wakefield at Home. If Wigan lose to Saints on Friday, then that is there chances of the 4 realistically over, and the game against Cas, I would expect them to rest players with it being the week before the semi.

All season Radford has preached peaking for the big games, and so far we have done that perfectly whilst just doing enough to keep the points ticking over in the league. There was a point during last season where all 3 trophies were up for grabs and we seemed like we were treating every game like a final. That coupled with the euphoria of winning at Wembley just burned us out and we looked like a shell of the team from earlier in the year. At one point our record against the other top 5 teams in the league was something crazy like won 13 lost 1, and the loss was a one point defeat to Wigan that would have been a draw if not for a Liam Watts brain explosion in the last minute. Anyway my point in a roundabout way is that we were hugely consistent last year, and it got us nowhere in the end. The tone amongst the players was that despite the cup, last year was a failure. This year we have had some very good league performances (Cas at home with 12 men, double against Wigan, Salford away was as dominant as a team can be) but mostly we've just kept our powder dry and when we have had to turn up we have. All season the club has said that the GF is the goal and we won't settle for anything less. It remains to be seen how things pan out, but I think we are in a good place just now.

With that record V the top 5 last year it sounds like Hull's problem came against the 2016 SL dross such as their next opponent.

Not entirely sure what point you're making there? Yes you beat us twice, as did Cas, and Huddersfield beat us at their place. My point is that league forms counts for nothing if you can't do it when it matters, as we found last year, so I'm not concerned about our league record this time around, as long as we make the top 4.

I expect Leeds to win tomorrow. If this fixture comes again in the playoffs I know Leeds are more than capable of winning it, but given our performances in knockout games this year I would have to back my side. Ideally, if we can't get a home tie I'm hoping we get to go to Cas, but after that final my nerves are still settling down and maybe a safe journey to third place with no stress is better. Not sure I can take a scenario where we have to win our last two to make the 4.

I get the point about aiming for the GF it's just st so are the other teams you'll be facing and they've not had to play a Wembley final and have been able to get ready for this final run of games for a couple of weeks now. That's the difference with this Super 8's structure, before you might run into a few easier fixtures post Wembley but now you're facing sides chasing the GF also and they'll just be as up for it as Hull but fresher. Maybe Hull will break the recent run of slumping after Wembley but I wouldn't be surprised if they go W1 L3 like the previous two post Wembley winners.

Wigan are level on points with Saints ATM, a loss only puts them 2 behind so they'll still have all to play for going to yours, in fact they'll be in must win mode. I think Cas will rest players the next few games, for the final week vs you I think might want to go into the playoffs with momentum so will go strongest for that particular game more than any of the other remaining games.

I get your point, it's definitely not going to be easy for us, but I think we learned alot from our experience last year. And 1 win may well be enough for 4th. Especially if it comes against Wigan or Wakefield.

Looking at both teams after last Saturdays match ,Wigan looked the most shattered/spent/burnt out. Having to go to saints of all places this Friday is the ultimate nightmare. Still think to have the challenge cup final when super 8s competition is just hotting up is madness. If Wigan and hull receive heavy defeats this week and lose out on a decent position in the table, they will rightly feel that the system is grossly unfair

Is it easy enough to find a boozer down here to watch the game Thursday night?

Staying around Nottingham Marina so not far from city centre.

Hooters

On my own?

I'm not Doorbell.

McDermott says Garbutt will be on the bench and Keinhorst drops out.

Could've sworn Garbutt was going to be leaving



Also sounds like Walker will keep his place at FB so same as Saints barring that one bench change.

Garbutt returns, Golding & Keinhorst returns. Glad the dust has finally settled.

Walker
Briscoe Watkins Sutcliffe Hall
Mcguire Moon
Singleton Parcell Cuthbertson
Ablett Ward
JJB

Garbutt Burrow Mullally Delaney.

Edited for you

Moons going to be busy

Me neither. Re the post Wembley blues for the most recent winners - Leeds, Leeds, Hull a noticeable dip in results followed. Sounds like Hull will learn from last season but then so did Leeds from 2014 to 2015 yet it looked very similar to most Leeds fans until the last five mins at Huddersfield some four games later. Time will tell if Hull can buck this recent trend having thouroughly deserved their Challenge Cup retention.

Moon playing two positions is obviously impossible.

Shooters/bierkeller in the city centre (friar lane) is about 15 mins walk from you need is a sports bar. They should have it on in there

They don't like Garbutt that much they've named him as achurch on the team sheet.

hull been laying on all game yet we get penalised twice.

just for a change phil Clarke embarrassed himself by desperately trying to find a reason to disallow burrows try

Not sure what has happened with Child this year. Hated having him previous years. Certainly last six or seven games with him, he is constantly giving us the calls.