Martin. Balmforth . Severs.Jebson. Staverly. Could certainly play some first team rugby this year. Watch out for Dawson to maybe make an appearance. Not all the youngster's will make it but certainly a few are looking the business.

While any youngsters who end up making it to regular first team rugby is a success story, we really need some joy with a young half over the next few years in my opinion.
The benefits to been able to successfully bring through a quality young half are massive, and while we've had a few young players that have done well it's been an awful long time since one of them was a half, despite a few names been mentioned as very promising players in the past.

Whilst I don't see the hype with Gardiner either, sometimes players especially forwards develop a bit later, I'm sure he has only been at Hull about a year, compared with some others who have been at the club a number of years.

the last really top 7 we have produced was chris davidson in the mid 60s.

Depends what position you define Cooke and Horne as.

Like the look of Charles coming through and really like the look of Harman and Medforth too - hopefully they can push on

Not watched the whole game (skipped the first half) but from what I have seen I thought Gardiner showed some neat handling skills.

Sure he never made any breaks or looked particularly strong but he passed the ball more than I have seen before?

Maybe TS sees potential as a loose forward?

Not sure Gardiner has ever had any hype or buzz about him.
Realistically he is 7th on the depth chart at prop and only played 86 mins last season.

He is outstanding at reserve grade level but his game is all about work rate and having a great engine which I don't think transfers over to the higher standard and he's never had the chance to show this.

Loved the commentator’s spoonerism of Zack Jebson, he became Jack Sebson, quite a lot. Yes the lads struggled first half but with the Bradford changes they won the second half easily. As others have said Bull’s Jamie Gill looks handy. Hope Harmon can carry on his development.

Hallelujah to that.
He's one of our own.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-9038804 Tough one this. Do we extend Mcintosh, bring in a new winger or back Martin/Barron to break through. When he's full of confidence he's a decent winger but he does go through rough patches of form.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... fc-9038804 Tough one this. Do we extend Mcintosh, bring in a new winger or back Martin/Barron to break through. When he's full of confidence he's a decent winger but he does go through rough patches of form.

Needs to have a really strong first few months, he did improve the 2nd half on the season, but still not up to the standards we should be aiming for.

If I had to make the choice now, I wouldn't be keeping him, would be looking at recruiting a new winger if the young wingers don't look ready yet.

Danny Houghton named as captain.
Brad Fash vice captain.

Presume that means we're going to flog Houghton one last time rather than using Brown/Smith/Balmforth more...not sure on Fash as a vice captain either, is he a leader??

I'd say this is the sort of sentimental mentality we need to move on from, he can be a good player but he's not been consistently good enough to be a starter in a team that wants to compete for the title. We should be going all out for Tom Johnstone for 2025

Let's not panic and presume things, this doesn't mean he will play 80 minutes, I'd be amazed if he did, if he does I'd expect him to move to 13 and Balmforth play 9.

Not sure we have great options to be captain as it it stands, no one really stands out. He certainly leads by example on amd off the field, still think he starts at in our current squad, until we can at least test the likes of Balmforth.

Surprised Houghton has been re appointed but as we've all discussed, we don't seem to have any stand out candidates.

Thought Ese'ese might have been selected personally with the way he was talked up in a few articles.

Agreed it's a surprise, for me regardless of the good service Houghton has given the club it would seem a backwards step particularly as its his last year before retirement. I'd have thought it would have been an ideal opportunity for a complete fresh start and look to the future by appointing some one like Ese ese. That said it may be that there are no real candidates for the role which if so would be a concern in terms of leadership within the group.

The cynical part of me see's this as more of a sentimental move more than anything.

We've lacked leaders since Ellis retired. That's one reason why we have been so poor in recent years.

As you say there doesn't seem to be any stand out candidates which is a concern.

I think Danny is the right choice most professional player we've got and a leader too. I think Brown will be 7 all season with Houghton/Smith/Balmforth sharing the hooking role.

The risk with an overseas appointment in the first season is that they already have alot on adapting life in a different country and should they get homesick it would be a disaster.

We know we are work in progress and im sure next season we will know better in 2025, Ive always thought the 2025 season will be the one where we would see of Smith has really turned the club around in an upwards direction.

Houghton will be suffice for the season.

I think people read far too much into who is captain. It's just someone to talk to the ref. If there are leaders in the squad they'll step up and take responsibility regardless of if they have a label or not.
If there are aren't any leaders in the squad then it doesn't really matter too much who is captain anyway.

imo giving the captaincy to Houghton is out of sentimentality, last season as a pro, wouldnt have been my choice, but hey ho i aint the coach!

Surprised at both the appointments. But as I often say we don't know what's said behind closed doors. More surprised with fash as might not even be in the 17 to start with . But the proof is in the pudding let's see how it goes

I'd doubt Smith will be giving out the captaincy with sentiment at thought. He will have given it because he thinks rightly or wrongly he is the best person for the job.

Smith's reputation and potential job is on the line this season, he has to make the right decisions.