It’s a funny old game!!! Not so much Rugby League but more this being a fan business. The word itself depicts a fanatic and so we are all are really, because even after watching the club into my sixth decade I never cease to be amazed by how the pre-season hype, marketing and general talking up inspires me each year and convinces me things are back on track, a miracle has occurred and we will do well in the coming season. Last night we sat there and witnessed a visiting team as good as anything our competition has produced that would hold their own very well in the NRL. I’m not saying Wigan would win it but boy, they’d give it a good go and were they good last night? Stinging after a defeat as they were, it’s unlikely any other Super League club would have beaten them. However biased I am towards the club I love, however much I want a magic wand to have been waved you have to admit that and I have to be a bit more realistic as to just how far we have to travel to get anywhere near that level of performance. Had we kicked on from 2017 we could have been up there but it’s hard to see how our attaining that level again will not take several seasons of building a team and developing the squad. How far we have been allowed to fall is the real disgrace really and yet we pitch up in our absolute thousands full of hope for a new beginning yet with many of us knowing in our hearts, through bitter experience, that it very likely that disappointment will continue to haunt many aspects of the season ahead. I’m trying to not let the disappointment that comes with losing to a brilliant opponent on the night, colour our judgement for there were positives. We hung in, there the resolve to be better was there for all to see, the line speed was OK the ruck was a lot better we never gave up on what was a lost cause, we have tons of potential, we had some bad luck and tough calls but everyone tried. And at last facing a big defeat heads didn’t go down. I can hack it as long as that continues, but it’s a shame for those less case-hardened individuals who want to see a winning team and turned up fuelled by the hype and expectation, one win at a very average Catalan brought and who have not wintered and summered the almost unique experience of being an FC fan ‘till I die’. The team isn’t good enough is it? WE have signed as well as an ailing club could have, but it remains to be seen how signing older players for their experience will impact on out injury situation going forward. That was always a worry for me, but by and large we have recruited pretty well. I also think the coach is good enough (his post-match interview was succinct honest and realistic) and I’m of the school of thought that if he can’t do it no one can!!! I rate our football manager thus far too. In addition, anyone who has had a chat with the new owner will know that he is in it for the long haul really passionate about the club and very realistic about the task ahead. Some players we fielded last night wouldn’t have got anywhere near the 2016/17 squad 1 to 30, but we are building and we have to rely on those less gifted both in ability and size to do their best and let’s face it last night they all did. Brad Fash is a point of question on this front. He’ll never be a second row forward, he’s not tall enough, he doesn’t have the hands and he's short on speed. Nor is he big enough for a prop, but he put his hand up, he’s FC through and through he gave his absolute all and ran himself to a standstill. He’ll probably knows that he’ll be replaced in the fullness of time, but in the mean-time we can really ask for nothing more. I think that can be said for most of the others too, well beaten but certainly not unbowed. How a few more disappointments will impact on that resolve remains to be seen. But last night Wigan were just too good. When power was needed they had, it they showed patience, discipline, had pace to burn and so much skill through their spine. We chased the game throughout and weren’t at the races, but we tried and never gave in and that for me is a massive plus on last season. All we can now do is stick with the team as we always do, but let’s take heart in the fact that a lot looks different now and we have to take that build on it and move forward. It’s going to be a long hard season but the fact the players are hurting because they felt they let us down is proof enough that things have changed. Let’s just hope for a bit more luck than we usually get on the injury front!!

Great post. Reflects exactly my views on where we are and how I interpret what I saw last night

Well last night wasn't as bad as we've witnessed over the last few seasons, we now look like a rugby team at least, but last night was simply a team in transition against the best team in super league, Wigan were outstandingly good. Few points, why do we constantly use wingers to drive the ball in from tackle one, where the hell are the forwards - Wigan don't do it? We used to do it 20 years ago and it worked but we did it once the forwards had put a stint in, now they're stood around and we still use our wingers which I'm is having a negative effect on them, possibly resulting in why Barron got caught on his break. Looking at positives, Sezer is looking a great addition, Briscoe played well and I'm his biggest critic due to his age now, Fash not great first half but actually did better in the second half when I think playing second row. Salabio at times looks lazy, at times looks class, Barron growing in confidence all the time, Rapana you can see his quality but was a bit ineffective imo. Looking at negatives, Chamberlain was poor and doesn't lol a great signing, Aydin and Cust quiet but both got hammered defensively I didn't walk away too disheartened, just disappointed that all these fans who obviously want to support fc witnessed another tonkin, christ I've been taking my sixteen year old for a few years now and hes rarely sees a dominant class fc performance, surprised he wants to come tbh

Anyone know the completion rate and errors for Wigan? Wouldnt surprise ne if they were around 90-100% both halves, plus you could count on one hand the number of errors last night from them, not including penalties either....that how good they were.

[quote="number 6":2w99jxb0]Anyone know the completion rate and errors for Wigan? Wouldnt surprise ne if they were around 90-100% both halves, plus you could count on one hand the number of errors last night from them, not including penalties either....that how good they were.[/quote:2w99jxb0] According to the Super League website they completed at 99% whereas we completed at 66%. They made nearly 1000 metres more than we did.

[quote="Hasbag":81tj533i]According to the Super League website they completed at 99% whereas we completed at 66%. They made nearly 1000 metres more than we did.[/quote:81tj533i] Wow! If those stats are correct there is no wonder the game unfolded as it did! Looking back on last night in the cold light of a new day, Wigan were nigh on perfect throughout the whole eighty minutes. Power, pace, teamwork, inventiveness, they had the lot. We worked hard, stuck at it the best we could, and didn't let our heads drop too much which is a big improvement on past seasons, but last night was a sobering reminder of how far we have to travel if we wish to compete again at the top. Hopefully we won't have to witness too many more games like this or the effects will begin to have a detrimental impact on the season. They need to file last night under 'experience' and move on to games where we may be able to compete on a slightly more even footing, here's hoping so.

I agree with most of the above reviews. On the plus side, I thought we did show improvement in defence, especially the wrestle. Our discipline was much better (no cards!!!). Although limited opportunities, our attack does look more direct, and has more zip in the passing. On the downside, our squad depth is too thin. With last week’s injuries, we’d all but lost this game during the week. Add Ligi to the list mid-game and we had no chance. Wigan were very good and didn’t really need to break sweat. Jai Field looked like he could score when he wanted. Saying that, it’s only small console, but last season our team would have thrown the towel in, had players sin binned and conceded over 60-70 points. Still not disheartened. This season is all about improvement and realistically we are targeting 8/9th spot. Beating Cats was a plus and we’ve already shown what we are capable of. The next few games are winnable, but we need some bodies back and we need at least a couple of signings to strengthen the squad.

Re: Wilf's post above. Think that captures what most of us are feeling this morning, perfect summation of last night We're in it for the long haul (we have no choice really but to do otherwise!). There were positives, negatives, talking points galore from last night, all perfectly encapsulated by Wilf, as always. There's a long road ahead of us if we are to get even remotely back to where we all wish to be and I think we all knew it's going to be a long hard bumpy road, last night simply reinforced just how much work is required to set the ship sailing once more. Let's hope that a few of the floating voters who turned out last night see the game for what it was (a lesson by the very best in the business), can see a couple of the green shoots of recovery and don't desert us for another twelve months or until the next cheap ticket offer! As Wilf so eloquently states above, the long suffering hardcore are well used to knocks and disappointments when it comes to our club, we will be here no matter what, let us hope a few of the uncommitted/unconvinced stick by us as well. If last night's game had been against anyone else, it would have been a joy to watch Wigan play in that manner, but as we were the opponents it made for a painful night's '[i:15jhqykm]entertainment[/i:15jhqykm]' It's a strange feeling admiring someone as they are giving you a good kicking!! but that was how last night felt to me. We simply need to be realistic here, chalk up last night to experience and move on to the (ongoing) job in hand, the long rebuild of Hull Fc, which is happening but only slowly right now. Hopefully there are better times ahead and I get the feeling that virtually every poster on here recognises that it will take time to right some many wrongs the club has made in the recent past, but the road back has begun. I just hope I get to witness the better times before I'm fully into my dotage when I may have difficulty remembering the previous night's game anyway!!! Hopefully before I reach that state of affairs!!

Lets hope Catalans wasn't a false dawn , There was some small glimmers of hope last night to suggest we wont be as bad as last season .

Expected result was just hoping we kept it tighter. Wigan were ruthless and would have put that score on a few teams in the league. Hopefully Myler can get 2/3 players in soon. The likes of Fash, Lane and Chamberlain aren’t gunna cut it if they are regulars each week but we already knew that.

[quote="The Dentist Wilf":3roo8nni]It’s a funny old game!!! Not so much Rugby League but more this being a fan business. The word itself depicts a fanatic and so we are all are really, because even after watching the club into my sixth decade I never cease to be amazed by how the pre-season hype, marketing and general talking up inspires me each year and convinces me things are back on track, a miracle has occurred and we will do well in the coming season. Last night we sat there and witnessed a visiting team as good as anything our competition has produced that would hold their own very well in the NRL. I’m not saying Wigan would win it but boy, they’d give it a good go and were they good last night? Stinging after a defeat as they were, it’s unlikely any other Super League club would have beaten them. However biased I am towards the club I love, however much I want a magic wand to have been waved you have to admit that and I have to be a bit more realistic as to just how far we have to travel to get anywhere near that level of performance. Had we kicked on from 2017 we could have been up there but it’s hard to see how our attaining that level again will not take several seasons of building a team and developing the squad. How far we have been allowed to fall is the real disgrace really and yet we pitch up in our absolute thousands full of hope for a new beginning yet with many of us knowing in our hearts, through bitter experience, that it very likely that disappointment will continue to haunt many aspects of the season ahead. I’m trying to not let the disappointment that comes with losing to a brilliant opponent on the night, colour our judgement for there were positives. We hung in, there the resolve to be better was there for all to see, the line speed was OK the ruck was a lot better we never gave up on what was a lost cause, we have tons of potential, we had some bad luck and tough calls but everyone tried. And at last facing a big defeat heads didn’t go down. I can hack it as long as that continues, but it’s a shame for those less case-hardened individuals who want to see a winning team and turned up fuelled by the hype and expectation, one win at a very average Catalan brought and who have not wintered and summered the almost unique experience of being an FC fan ‘till I die’. The team isn’t good enough is it? WE have signed as well as an ailing club could have, but it remains to be seen how signing older players for their experience will impact on out injury situation going forward. That was always a worry for me, but by and large we have recruited pretty well. I also think the coach is good enough (his post-match interview was succinct honest and realistic) and I’m of the school of thought that if he can’t do it no one can!!! I rate our football manager thus far too. In addition, anyone who has had a chat with the new owner will know that he is in it for the long haul really passionate about the club and very realistic about the task ahead. Some players we fielded last night wouldn’t have got anywhere near the 2016/17 squad 1 to 30, but we are building and we have to rely on those less gifted both in ability and size to do their best and let’s face it last night they all did. Brad Fash is a point of question on this front. He’ll never be a second row forward, he’s not tall enough, he doesn’t have the hands and he's short on speed. Nor is he big enough for a prop, but he put his hand up, he’s FC through and through he gave his absolute all and ran himself to a standstill. He’ll probably knows that he’ll be replaced in the fullness of time, but in the mean-time we can really ask for nothing more. I think that can be said for most of the others too, well beaten but certainly not unbowed. How a few more disappointments will impact on that resolve remains to be seen. But last night Wigan were just too good. When power was needed they had, it they showed patience, discipline, had pace to burn and so much skill through their spine. We chased the game throughout and weren’t at the races, but we tried and never gave in and that for me is a massive plus on last season. All we can now do is stick with the team as we always do, but let’s take heart in the fact that a lot looks different now and we have to take that build on it and move forward. It’s going to be a long hard season but the fact the players are hurting because they felt they let us down is proof enough that things have changed. Let’s just hope for a bit more luck than we usually get on the injury front!![/quote:3roo8nni] Brilliant post Pete, The analysis of Fashy is spot on, he never stops, frightened of nothing, but endeavour is always beaten by quality, and we need to replenish our squad as I said pre game. Hopefully we can find the available personnel asap. We did show some good shape last night, just didn’t have the strike to finish it. Rapanas hit on Field was worth the attendance ticket alone, and Young Pablos got some talent. Just waiting for the good old RFL to put the usual boot in now.

I'm not a fan of breaking up the spine but with the plaudits Moy was getting preseason I'm really thinking we should move Rapana into the centres. Chamberlain is just poor and it's mind boggling we offered him a 3 year deal. Having said that, I still think he would do a better job in the second row than Fash can. I just think we'd be a bit better balanced and I know that Rapana isn't a established centre, I just think he would actually add an attacking threat there and sharpen things up defensively. OR I'd be happy to see Westerman given a chance but I feel like I've read either Carty or Myler say they think he's still a year away from been ready. He maybe could handle a couple of games just until Hardaker is back. It was quite painful watching Chamberlain have open space in front of him and his winger outside of him (might have been a 2 on 1) but then kicking dead for a 7 tackle set (which Wigan I think scored from?).

[quote="Hasbag":1s1gpgex]I'm not a fan of breaking up the spine but with the plaudits Moy was getting preseason I'm really thinking we should move Rapana into the centres. Chamberlain is just poor and it's mind boggling we offered him a 3 year deal. Having said that, I still think he would do a better job in the second row than Fash can. I just think we'd be a bit better balanced and I know that Rapana isn't a established centre, I just think he would actually add an attacking threat there and sharpen things up defensively. OR I'd be happy to see Westerman given a chance but I feel like I've read either Carty or Myler say they think he's still a year away from been ready. He maybe could handle a couple of games just until Hardaker is back. It was quite painful watching Chamberlain have open space in front of him and his winger outside of him (might have been a 2 on 1) but then kicking dead for a 7 tackle set (which Wigan I think scored from?).[/quote:1s1gpgex] I wouldn't argue with any of that, the only positive with Chamberlain is that he finished a game.

[quote="FC Callum":29tenr14]Expected result was just hoping we kept it tighter. Wigan were ruthless and would have put that score on a few teams in the league. Hopefully Myler can get 2/3 players in soon. The likes of Fash, Lane and Chamberlain aren’t gunna cut it if they are regulars each week but we already knew that.[/quote:29tenr14] The worry is Fash and Chamberlain are under contract for 2026 and I can see Lane's slightly improved form winning him a new deal and the club doing a '2024 player of the year resigns' announcement. With Sao and Ashworth also out of contract we need to unearth several players for the pack. Ashworth looks good when he plays but we need to assess the injury record (this week was just an illness however)