12000 tickets already sold! www.hullfc.com/news/2018-01-23-o ... son-opener Cudjoe out! www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/ru ... ne-1112219

12000 tickets already sold! www.hullfc.com/news/2018-01-23-o ... son-opener Cudjoe out! www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/ru ... ne-1112219

Looking forward to it.
Then we can seethe at all the lucky buggers going to Oz.


Consoled myself slightly by booking a hotel for our Cas trip game after the Aussie jaunt.
The Lion it is.

It seems a bit silly calling the first game of the season must win but given how tough the following month will be it kind of is. We need points on the board early.

Quote ="Sebasteeno"12000 tickets already sold! www.hullfc.com/news/2018-01-23-o ... son-opener Cudjoe out! www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/ru ... ne-1112219'" does the ticket sales include away supporters? hopefully the players will be focused, concerened after reading Pearsons' interview a couple of weeks ago, the players are looking too far ahead to st george and forgetting huddersfield and wigan!

Quote ="Sebasteeno"12000 tickets already sold! www.hullfc.com/news/2018-01-23-o ... son-opener Cudjoe out! www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/ru ... ne-1112219'" does the ticket sales include away supporters? hopefully the players will be focused, concerened after reading Pearsons' interview a couple of weeks ago, the players are looking too far ahead to st george and forgetting huddersfield and wigan!

With a fair amount of competition for places this year I'm hoping the players will see those 2 games as an opportunity to seal a place in the side against St George.

huddersfield and wigan should be more a priority than st george!

Don't think there any need to be concerned as I'm sure they players are focused on the task in hand. I would expect the players to be talking about the game against St George in Australia and the trip as a whole as its a first for the club. So does that mean I should be concerned as I'm looking forward to my holiday later this year and thinking about it? No of course not as I'll go about my job just the same.

It is a big thing for the club and players and I would be more concerned if they weren't looking at it.

Also as has been mentioned the fact that we have a squad now that means any of the 17 that have a bad game face the real risk of losing their place so have to be focused every week.

difference is, the players aren't going for a holiday(hopefully), the problem was Pearson said the players are looking too much into that game than he would like them to be

No but don't think it will be an issue, they can only prepare as they are guided by the coaching staff and it may just be a subtle way for Pearson to make sure that the whole squad and coaching staff keep knuckling down to the games beforehand. We have the best squad we've had for years and certainly in SL which is also a settled squad and has just won back to back Challenge Cups. So with taking all of it into account there is enough to suggest that the players can focus where its needed even with distractions.

Completely agree with this. If we don't get some points on the board, with the daunting opening fixtures we have, it could mean playing catch up all season and over anxiety towards games we would normally approach in a relaxed manner, which can lead to mistakes and pressure. I think Australia, although a good media and marketing opportunity could well cost us dearly, not just in terms of the results or possible injuries, especially if some of our prized assets are approached by NFL agents. They could be in any instance but this gives them a better opportunity to size them up first hand. Negative , I know but that's my fear.

I have to say that I'm worried the oz trip may cause us significant problems in the early season and may leave us playing catch up again

Without doubt it will

Last time you and Jake were so convinced by something it was that Hull FC signing Jake Connor was a waste of time and money.



It could be OK. Unlikely as it may be, there's a possibility we get a win and aren't decimated with injuries.

I'm pretty sure the context was based on his seeming indecision over coming and potential u turn at the time, not based on his obvious ability.

Now if we want to dig up some old stuff we could always get back to your hero worshipping of jimmy rule and blind following of the hetheringtons who weren't, of course (According to you) milking the club dry.

Quote ="Jake the Peg"I'm pretty sure the context was based on his seeming indecision over coming and potential u turn at the time, not based on his obvious ability. Now if we want to dig up some old stuff we could always get back to your hero worshipping of jimmy rule and blind following of the hetheringtons who weren't, of course (According to you) milking the club dry.'" Whoa, thought you loved James Rule as a top drawer marketing director? I did like Kath, that's true. When we won the cup at Cardiff she said it was all she'd ever wanted, surely that was sincere? I like the new James Rule account on Twitter btw https://twitter.com/JamesRulesOk/status ... 8404179968

Quote ="Jake the Peg"I'm pretty sure the context was based on his seeming indecision over coming and potential u turn at the time, not based on his obvious ability. Now if we want to dig up some old stuff we could always get back to your hero worshipping of jimmy rule and blind following of the hetheringtons who weren't, of course (According to you) milking the club dry.'" Whoa, thought you loved James Rule as a top drawer marketing director? I did like Kath, that's true. When we won the cup at Cardiff she said it was all she'd ever wanted, surely that was sincere? I like the new James Rule account on Twitter btw https://twitter.com/JamesRulesOk/status ... 8404179968

If we weren't playing a SL game there then I would be worried, but that should keep us focused, also I'd rather play the game against Wigan on a neutral ground rather than away, so that gives us an advantage. I fully expect us to win our first two games, Cas away will be tough anyway.

Onto the first game I think 15 players pick themselves. Think we all know the backs, frontrow, based on pre season I expect Hadley to be LF.

Bowden and Paea will be on the bench.

Other two spots are up for debate between Abdul, Fash, Turgut, Washy and Griffin.

I'd certainly have Abdul there, think he has earnt his chance and gives us an extra attacking option if we are struggling.

Can't decide on the last bench spot.

Folks need to stop ting their pants on here before a ball is actually kicked in anger.

If Hadley is LF then Washy or Turgut on the bench to spell the back rowers.

As we are expecting Connor and Tuimavave to start then Griffin goes on the bench.

Personally I'd like to see Abdull at LF but I think Radford's conservatism will overrule that temptation.

12.5K tickets sold now, one of our highest pre-sales in years (excluding the Derby and the time had a shot of winning the hubcap against Wire)

Surely they will open the North stand soon? only single seats left in many parts of the ground now.

Excellent news - can't imagine there will be a huge following from Huddersfield on a Thursday night either.

If all fit bar Green, I'd go:

Shaul
Faraimo
Connor
Tuimavave
Talanoa
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Watts
Minichiello
Hadley
Manu


Paea
Bowden
Fash
Abdull

Think all bar the last 2 bench slots pick themselves - got a few in the mix IMO - including Washy, Griffin, Masi, Downs, Turgut. That said I wonder whether Mini and Bowden will be risked with both having had fairly recent surgery.

Washbrook will either start in the 2nd row or be on the bench. When everyone's fit I expect he'll play watts at LF with the other 4 props rotating with hadley and washbrook fighting it out for the 2nd row interchange spot

According to sources our sales are going well (by our Thursday night away match standards) we've also got more bells this year

Au contraire, there may not be much recent history of English teams playing competitive games in Australia at the start of the season - just Wigan in 2014 in the last twenty years - but they didn't suffer too much. They won seven out of the next eight and ended up at Old Trafford.

Funnily enough they played Huddersfield at home before flying out and got beat.

Lets hope Connor, Shaul, Watts and a few others get homesick during the trip to Aus.

Would be surprised if the first two met the NRL physicality requirements, and Watts said once before he wants to play for Hull for the rest of his career IIRC. He may be due a testimonial in 4 years I think, he'd be 31 then.