Shaul chips the defence and regathers. Sneyd converts 62-0.

Gutted I didn't have time to go to this. Both games sound very good from a Hull POV. I really hope Radford plays Shaul for one half and Naughton the other next week so we can see both and compare for ourselves. Looking forward to Sneyd being in our side. He showed loads of class at Castleford last season.

In games like this where nothing is at stake and you are always going to win its easy to throw the ball around and play exciting rugby. What is much more important is the attitude of the players. Can you keep the intensity up when you're 40 up with half an hour to play when 5 subs have just come on? It seems like we did, and that is a good sign.

I agree with other posters, it sounded incredibly positive, certainly didn't turn off the intensity and was especially impressed by the younger players in the first game, future looks bright for us in terms of youth development!

A few points on reflection
If we assume it was mainly Donny's first team (no idea) it's a really good result. Standouts for me were Naughton (pace and chiming into the line) and Abdull whose reading of the game and late drop goal were excellent. Green had a decent couple of short spells too.

Regards the York game, clearly a mismatch of personnel quality. We fielded a very strong line-up and got some big minutes into them. Forwards all worked hard, standouts were Shaul and Sa. Sneyd played very well too, mixed up the options and took the line on, some good bombs and chips and 9/11 conversions.

Good to see Pryce doing plenty of talking to the younger players, Ellis set the tone at the beginning and was clearly taking it seriously. A real shame for Rankin though. Looked like a dislocation from afar. His injury apart, Radford should be happy with the afternoon's work.

To put the youngsters result into context. Salford, with probably a stronger side out than ours, lost 28-12 to Dewsbury (a team probably not as good as Donny). I think we have great squad depth with these youngsters.

Shaul sounds like he's had a good un. Gonna have some real depth at full back. I'd heard Prior to today that if team was picked on pre season training shaul would have been 3rd choice as other 2 have been killing it in training. Maybe reflected in selections today? But then shaul comes in and does that.
Other exciting thing about today was how Sa sounded like he went. My twitter was full of pals who'd gone and even saw a York perspective tweet mention him.
Wish I could make the game at weekend to see for myself but it's looking like Wakefield before I'll get to see them myself.

Also Rovers well beat at home with a stronger team, about 7/8 of the rovers starting line up will be in their 17. Very impressive result for the team that played Donny, some Donny fans taking the mick about the drop goal, but it's all about getting all our players into winning mentality.

Going to be some tough decisions, I honestly think we have the most balanced squad since 2006 and with the young players coming through also out strongest squad in years.

Most people have completely written us off this year but I'm confident we can do good things. I read a couple of comments on the VT that our first 17 is okay but we don't have depth. If anything it's the other way round, we go as deep as just about anyone.

Forgot to mention Bobby Tyson Wilson who played in the York game. Played well and looks in good shape.

I would agree with all of that, this may seem a strange statement but based on limited evidence I think Rankin actually offers more options at full back with his ball handling. Shaul had a great game, slipped out a couple of decent passes and was devastating in broken field but the opposition was a bit poor.

Pryce and Syned were encouraging and we were able to move the ball out wide way faster than last season.

Strange use of Cunningham though, got plenty of game time but wasn't used as a hooker as far as I could see. Wonder why.

Mini was loving the crowd singing when he came back on for his second spell, he was up for it.

Never went but really pleased with what ive heard about the performances. All the sounds the club have been making have been backed up with a two decent hit outs. Now we need to back it up against Rovers. Getting the players used to winning again so they don't like losing!

Very different styles. Shaul looked effortless today though due to his pace albeit against a team two divisions below. I'm a fan of both. Thought handling by all four teams was good to say it was a first hitout and pretty cold.

Photos of the Doncaster friendly (from a mainly Donny POV though ) r82photography.photoshelter.com/ ... aQUQCS3dFc

Photos of the Doncaster friendly (from a mainly Donny POV though ) r82photography.photoshelter.com/ ... aQUQCS3dFc

Quote ="Donny"Photos of the Doncaster friendly (from a mainly Donny POV though ) r82photography.photoshelter.com/ ... aQUQCS3dFc'" First pic of 2 old friends 2gether is nice, (what ever you think of the guy with the beard that is)

Quote ="Donny"Photos of the Doncaster friendly (from a mainly Donny POV though ) r82photography.photoshelter.com/ ... aQUQCS3dFc'" First pic of 2 old friends 2gether is nice, (what ever you think of the guy with the beard that is)

I was worried about the team we had out against Doncaster, as last year when we had a spell with mainly the youngsters on they really got a roll on against us, but this year they really stood up well against them.

As said by others naughton and Abdull were the stand out players.

I like the fact we put a strong team out against York, yes it was a miss match but the guys need to be playing together so they gel.

Distribution from the halfs looked good a dare I say a kicking game the chip to the corner from
Sneyd for tally's try was lovely.

Lineham picked up a knock, so I wouldn't risk him next week.

Maybe give Naughton a run on the wing.

Blimey. Bit injury-prone is Tom.

And if Naughton is sat on the sidelines for most of the season (when we needed an extra prop much more) doing knack-all then yes, pointless signing..or did you not bother to actually read what I'd written?


It's got nothing to do with Radford, it's got everything to do with having a balanced squad and where we need cover most..Naughton's position/s isn't.
If we've kept Rankin, Cunningham and signed Michaels plus having 2 Academy wingers that have already had 1st grade experience plus Logan and Yeaman for cover in the centres then what was the point in signing another utility back (accepted he's primarily a FB). Jordan Thompson has being given the utility back tag by the club so can you not see that we have too many back and not enough props??

No, because neither of you two can see past your petty childishness instead of focusing on a good player and team performances..pathetic

Naughton seems a little short and stocky to be a winger, hopefully will get to see him at FB for at least 40 minutes next week. Lancaster should play if Lineham's a doubt.

Got a chin to rival Gaz Ellis too!

But a good player is a good player. We saw he had great potential, and he was fairly cheap, so we took a punt. What if he turns out to be a superstar and plays for England for 10 years, and we've let him go to sign a 6th choice prop?

Anyone know how Mini went today? I'm expecting big things from this guy.

Only got on for the last 20 mins. Could be a fans' favourite judging by his interaction with the fans when he came on. Seriously solid looking player will add much physicality to the right side.

First game standouts for me were Abdull (who looks real class) and Naughton while he was on. Tough for the young lads up front against some big championship forwards but they stood up well. Second game was men against boys and it's tough to glean too much however our halves looked fairly fluid. Shaul was class and Sa was unstoppable for any York player who attempted it. Talanoa looked in great shape also. Sneyd has a kicking game we haven't seen for years. If he stays fit it will transform our attacking options.

whisper it quietly but we might just have found 2 half backs. thought they had an excellent understanding today and got us round the park efficiently.

shaul was superb today, lightning out of the back line. hope our halves can give him some running opportunities this season, but it is in broken field where he truly excels

like the look of minicello - reminded me a bit of paul rose

rocks and diamonds from the younger players in the first game. great start but perhaps predictably donnys more experienced players got to grips with the ruck resulting in a lot of penalties and field position conceded for holding down/interfering. abdul was terrific, clear man of the match.

there is a chance rankin might not be too bad, possibly a hyper extension or a stinger type injury, we'll have to wait and see

the games also featured perhaps the worst stadium pa announcer of all time