Whilst our first 2 games is very much a tough start to our 2025 season I always feel it better playing the better teams at the very start as its a bit of a leveller as teams haven't had chance to hit their stride and everyone is naturally a little ring rusty. I'm not expecting to come away from France with the 2pts available but the minimum requirement has to be for us to be a tough team to beat, show significant improvements in our discipline, fitness & structure and play and compete and work hard as a team from minute zero to the 80th. Catalans so far haven't looked a team that gelled yet so there is a slight opportunity to upset the odds, however slight that maybe.

Cats 1/4 on...FC getting 14 start....

[quote="Chris71":1t3tu9r4]Whilst our first 2 games is very much a tough start to our 2025 season I always feel it better playing the better teams at the very start as its a bit of a leveller as teams haven't had chance to hit their stride and everyone is naturally a little ring rusty. I'm not expecting to come away from France with the 2pts available but the minimum requirement has to be for us to be a tough team to beat, show significant improvements in our discipline, fitness & structure and play and compete and work hard as a team from minute zero to the 80th. Catalans so far haven't looked a team that gelled yet so there is a slight opportunity to upset the odds, however slight that maybe.[/quote:1t3tu9r4] Its certainly a good time to play at Catalan We should be using our two young wings and not go with this play Briscoe for his experience rubbish. if we play Barron on the right and Martin left then both of them have experience at centre with Hardaker and Rapana Briscoe will get game time as i think he will play centre when the coach moves Rapana back to full back. The least said about Fash the better

Fages could be out for Catalans too. Broken ribs

[quote="FC Callum":c5to1lai]I don’t even know who Fax’s back rowers were at weekend but I know they’ll be better than Fash.[/quote:c5to1lai] Apart from a couple of disciplinary issues last season l don’t understand the Fash bashing. He’s highly thought of within the club. Watch the Cas video

[quote="TnT":2rulbopv]Apart from a couple of disciplinary issues last season l don’t understand the Fash bashing. He’s highly thought of within the club. Watch the Cas video[/quote:2rulbopv] Couple of disciplinary issues? His discipline was awful every week at a time when we needed long serving players to step up.

[quote="bonaire":1liin3hm]Its certainly a good time to play at Catalan We should be using our two young wings and not go with this play Briscoe for his experience rubbish. if we play Barron on the right and Martin left then both of them have experience at centre with Hardaker and Rapana Briscoe will get game time as i think he will play centre when the coach moves Rapana back to full back. The least said about Fash the better[/quote:1liin3hm] Agree with you re Martin & Barron as both have impressed so far, and as you say with Rapana & Hardaker there’s plenty of experience next to them. It’s a long season and no doubt Briscoe will get game time but right now Martin & Barron have earned the chance for a starting place on Friday.

[quote="TnT":3h9dnv1h]Apart from a couple of disciplinary issues last season l don’t understand the Fash bashing. He’s highly thought of within the club. Watch the Cas video[/quote:3h9dnv1h] If I’m being kind, he’s below average, championship player at best. Worrying that Cas video with Last saying he’s a good player. Should be nowhere near the best 17 especially at back row.

[quote="TnT":1udcafsz]Apart from a couple of disciplinary issues last season l don’t understand the Fash bashing. He’s highly thought of within the club. Watch the Cas video[/quote:1udcafsz] Completely agree with you.

[quote="FC Callum":2cgv489o]If I’m being kind, he’s below average, championship player at best. Worrying that Cas video with Last saying he’s a good player. Should be nowhere near the best 17 especially at back row.[/quote:2cgv489o] He won't play back row, it was just to get minutes into him at weekend. Carty, Lane, Holmes, Jebson and Kirby all in front of him

Kendall is the ref

[quote="Irregs#16":36xl0vyh]Kendall is the ref[/quote:36xl0vyh] Can be squeaky clean but no doubt he always sees something nobody else does

[quote="Irregs#16":1q7f70na]Kendall is the ref[/quote:1q7f70na] Red card roulette anyone?

[quote="Yippee try yay":1zw1uq8d]Red card roulette anyone?[/quote:1zw1uq8d] Be nice if it wasn't us for once. I'll go TPJ for them

[quote="mwindass":1n209thd]Be nice if it wasn't us for once. I'll go TPJ for them[/quote:1n209thd] No chance with Kendall reffing Hull he always finds something, minimum 2 cards coming for Hull.

[quote="Yippee try yay":2ngr07nk]Red card roulette anyone?[/quote:2ngr07nk] I'd say it's unlikely, we'll thar based on the three challenge cup games I've watched, seems ti be alot more sensible and realistic than last season. Definitely be a red now

[quote="Irregs#16":3ithkqvt]Kendall is the ref[/quote:3ithkqvt] Thought it would have been Tomkins again

Its confirmed now that Fages is out. I don't really follow NRL but I thought captains challenge was coming in this season. Can you challenge a card ?

[quote="Ellam":armxlfyr]Completely agree with you.[/quote:armxlfyr] I think Fash is one of those no flash good pros that teammates appreciate and fans don’t understand. He wasn’t perfect last season but I have him in my squad anytime. Fans seem to be unhappy unless players make every tackle do 10 tackle busts and are mistake free. It’s unrealistic.

Fash was awful last year, but most where and he has been a good solid player for the previous years. Hopefully not guaranteed a place in the 17 like previous years. Deserves a clean slate this year.

Worried about the prospect of him playing backrow though.

I can see why Fash would be liked by his coaches and teammates. He is a grafter and he's as tough and brave as they come. The problem is he just isn't very good. My main gripe about him last year was his discipline. How many times did we see him getting involved in niggle or doing something stupid when he should have been one of the senior pros leading by example? Frustration isn't an excuse, you need to be better than that. I'm ok with him as a squad player, but if he's first choice in any position then that is a problem.

My two penneth of Fash for what its worth, he like most last season was pretty poor and don't think that's unfair to say. I do believe his form and performances reflected the general malaise and half d attitude that stemmed from an experienced Coach who thought training a few hours a day was enough before he was sacked. Fash is no world beater but in fairness he will do and can do a job, we aren't flush with top class talent but all those that remained at the club prior to pre season have been given a clean slate by the new Coach. It's pretty clear from what has been said about the type of Coach JC is & what he expects plus what he's said himself that unless you bust your nuts and do what he asks you won't be in the 17 at the very least. If Cartwright Snr as a highly regarded Coach with his experience working with the best of the best in the NRL & Origin sees Fash as part of the squad or in the 17 then think we have to trust his judgement as he knows far more than any of us combined. Also think the likes of Fash & Lane should have the bit between their teeth to put right the wrongs of last season at the least. On to Friday, cant decide if Fages missing for them is a help or hinderance, though we certainly have an opportunity to hopefully catch them cold, whether we do or not all we ask for is 80mins of effort with structure and discipline. Looking forward to seeing the first meaningful 21 man squad and the final 18 man squad of the 2025 SL season.

[quote="Chris71":rm6qf36i]My two penneth of Fash for what its worth, he like most last season was pretty poor and don't think that's unfair to say. I do believe his form and performances reflected the general malaise and half d attitude that stemmed from an experienced Coach who thought training a few hours a day was enough before he was sacked. Fash is no world beater but in fairness he will do and can do a job, we aren't flush with top class talent but all those that remained at the club prior to pre season have been given a clean slate by the new Coach. It's pretty clear from what has been said about the type of Coach JC is & what he expects plus what he's said himself that unless you bust your nuts and do what he asks you won't be in the 17 at the very least. If Cartwright Snr as a highly regarded Coach with his experience working with the best of the best in the NRL & Origin sees Fash as part of the squad or in the 17 then think we have to trust his judgement as he knows far more than any of combined. Also think the likes of Fash & Lane should have the bit between to put right the wrongs of last season at the least. On to Friday, cant decide if Fages missing for them is a help or hinderance, though we certainly have an opportunity to hopefully catch them cold, whether we do or not all we ask for is 80mins of effort with structure and discipline. Looking forward to seeing the first meaningful 21 man squad and the final 18 man squad of the 2025 SL season.[/quote:rm6qf36i] With Fages and Tomkins out for them, it means that Mourge will probably start in the halves, with Rouge at FB - which I think plays into our hands. Also, Garcia at hooker doesn't look a good fit for me at all

Holmes confirmed as the only "senior" doubt ahead of the trip. Would expect it to be Lane and Cartwright with Chamberlain off the bench. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... bt-9935801

Holmes confirmed as the only "senior" doubt ahead of the trip. Would expect it to be Lane and Cartwright with Chamberlain off the bench. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... bt-9935801