Not sure I agree. Cator isn't a tackle buster but he has good hands and plays at the line well. Different skill sets. Lane runs better lines, but that is something that's better suited to playing wider imo.

Until we've seen a few games I'm happy to trust Hodgson's judgement. We don't know who has been standing out in training and exactly what they have been working on.

Can't see Lane as a middle at all. As you say his strengths are out wide. He's got pace and runs good lines. If Lane starts I would have thought Savelio would be more effective as the loose forward. Saying that he is more effective out wide as well.

After last season I thought Cator would be a on nailed on starter.

All speculation at the moment. Really looking forward to see how we are going to line up.

The York friendly starting 13 seems to be Hodgsons thoughts so Its looking like Lane will start at 13 but i agree he is better playing out wide
If thats the case and Taylor is fit then Satae will start in the front row with Sao and Bowden on the bench with Cator and Brown.
No place for Johnstone if Cator on the bench
To be honest it makes little difference whether we start with Lane as no doubt Cator will come on for Lane and Lane will come back on at some stage for Savellio or Mao

Agree, one of Sao or Satae to start with Taylor. Don't want to start with a lightweight pack and get ambushed like we did against Wigan in the cup last season.

Robert Hicks is the ref on Sunday.

I don’t know if it will work or not, if lane plays 13 for a few games we shall see, but I can see Hodgsons thoughts behind it if that’s the way he goes, probably thinking he can be our Murray from the south’s or radley from the roosters!!!

I have Cator as 5x the player Lane is

Hodgson is going to pick the players that have impressed him the most, which I like, He isn't going to go on what happened last season. I am keeping myself in check, I remember how I felt walking out of Headingley after winning 30-6, thought we were contenders.
FWIW in my opinion Bowden still has a hell of a lot to offer, he can be an absolute wrecking ball, hope we see that again this season.
On the Zoom call with Tag, Mint and Sneyd they all said that the whole squad will have to contribute this season and that BH will rotate the squad. So can expect Cator, Lane, Brown, McNamara, Scott all to get loads of game time.
Agree that Sao, Satae are going to be key against Giants.
Anyway hopefully in the grounds and singing OF in the near future.
I have backed Connor, Mua and Reynolds for MOS and FC for the Treble 300/1

Tend to agree with most of this and for me that is why I am looking forward to this season more than any other because of the changes that have been made with the coaching set up but also the changes that BH seems to have been making so far.

I think it is clear so far from not only the message BH put out prior to his arrival but also in his interviews he has spoke consistently about the same thing of players having to work hard and not just in games but in training.

I feel quite confident that BH assisted by KP & GE will be able to bring the best out of the squad and find the consistency we have been lacking.

21 Man Squad named: Jake Connor, Bureta Faraimo, Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave, Mahe Fonua, Josh Reynolds, Marc Sneyd, Scott Taylor, Danny Houghton, Chris Satae, Andre Savelio, Manu Ma’u, Ligi Sao, Jordan Johnstone, Joe Cator, Jordan Lane, Adam Swift, Brad Fash, Josh Bowden, Ben McNamara, Cameron Scott

Matongo and Brown injured.

I can't wait to see the action tonight, it feels like forever since we saw proper meaningful games, I just couldn't enthuse about last season and how the pandemic watered it down to a token competition , in my opinion , although the Grand final itself was a game worthy of any year.
I'd love to see us get off to a flying start with a resounding victory, but I'd take a close win with hopefully no injuries.
I think we'll see the best of Sao this year, of all our imports, he was the one who impressed me most last year and I feel he can be the main man in our pack this year, he has grunt and a bit of mongrel and looks a decent ball player too.
Going to exhaust myself shortly, starting with the SKY NRL games and the Super League marathon, probably be comatose by Saturday afternoon but what else is there to do?

Matongo injured again. Will he ever be fit?

Apparently Brown is out injured.

To be honest I think that we will see big differences in the performances of Sao, Satae and Ma'u. I think Satae particularly in the York friendly looked in great shape and looks able to play longer than the 10 mins he got used previously.

Feel quite optimistic about this year under BH, KP and GE.

I'm beginning to think already that its time to let Masi go, he needed to hit the ground running this season and as unfortunate as it is for him to be injured its just seems like deja vu. If he'd already proven himself to be worth keeping then fair enough but so far its all been about his potential but for me as much as I wanted him to break in to the team he hasn't nor has he achieved anything or he can be more than just a potential.

Disappointing that Jack Brown is injured as think he will be a player that lives up to the potential and performs above that.

I’d like to see Bowden & Taylor reach the very high standards they are capable of.

From an opposition supporter looking in , you are not a very good judge then .

Clean slate this season Chris, perhaps it shows the pre season has really tested our young front rowers, and for a change our squad will be fit and ready. Too early to write Massi off yet, this year is his must perform season. There’s another young prop Burrell who’s catching the eye in our reserves.

Don't disagree with that as generally I think the individual performances all round will be much better as much as I referenced BH in this I believe that Gareth Ellis with be an instrumental part and reason for this.

I'm not writing him of just yet and its unfortunate that he ahs suffered an injury as its something he can ill afford as he has to prove himself this season as he is no longer classed in the young up and coming bracket he is of an age where he has to show its not just potential anymore.
But it is a bit like deja vu again

It’s strange really we’ve lost quite a few players, yet just signed one, and yet the confidence seems better than usual, as we all wait in anticipation of the new coach’s influence.

[*


We already had a good team and in real terms we've swapped Kelly for Reynolds.
The biggest difference it appears has been the positive influence of Hodgson on the squad.
Looking forward to Sunday, Huddersfield will be a good test.
2 teams with something to prove.
COYH.

I just wonder how Ligi Soa will be used this season as at the moment it seems he will be used off the bench if Satae is starting.
For me he is a starting player but if he is used off the bench for his impact i hope he plays a lot more minutes than normal bench replacements.

Certainly looking forward to the game more after reading this [url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/no-holds-barred-fiery-contests-5229026interesting[/url

Exactly what I've been saying

Weve lost our 2 most dangerous attacking players in Kelly and Ratu and a leader in Ellis

And signed just Reynolds

We was poor apart from the final 3 or 4 games last season

And people forget we was given that final play off spot

If it wasn't for that it would of been classed a very poor season