Thanks for putting my thoughts, the morning after, so eloquently into words. The assassination of Mini is so unfair and smacks of scapegotism by the usual suspects. He ran his blood to water!!! We lost a semi due to a skinny ten and 2 mistakes and played out a tremendous game in wet conditions that the same usual suspects claimed we couldn’t do. Pointless carping on about last years recruitment, this is what we’ve got and this is where we’re at, 3rd in the league and beaten semifinalists. Pretty good going with this shoite squad. The dissection was probably done from the armchair in front of the TV because my nerves started as soon as I woke up Saturday morning and lasted until after the drive home. I get so involved, the day becomes a blur, without the aid of alcohol, and spend most of the big games with my head in my hands and sincerely hope FC give me many more days like it, hopefully this season, that is of course our shoite coach and his shoite team can do it!!!!!

A tough physical game in very wet conditions, that was always close on the scoreboard. We made very few errors, which gave us a platform to put pressure on Hull by making them start many sets from close to your own line. I wouldn't blame individuals for mistakes, as it's just one of those things and it happens to all players on occasions. As for taking the two points on offer in a tight game, I don't see anything wrong with the tactic. There will always be some who will question the decision if you lose, but you need to keep the scoreboard ticking over to keep within a score of your opponents.
The game was proper cup tie that could have gone either way, and the effort put in from both teams should be applauded.
There will be another significant rematch (perhaps two) before the season is done. Still plenty to fight for.

Agree with your points about slow line speed and the forwards not pulling their weight.

Steve Price knew it would be a conservative game given the conditions and drilled into his players the importance of field position and aggressive defence.

A high percentage of the games at the top of the NRL are tight encounters decided by who gains the territorial advantage going set for set with each other.

At the end of the day Price is a coach with NRL first grade experience, Radford is not. Not to say Lee should be blamed, we just need to realise his limitations.

Just to clear up what I was saying. Mini never cost us the game but his all to predictable error while in good field position & his complete failure to compete for the ball when Currie scored certainly never helped. He has been a quality player for us & by all accounts a top bloke but that doesn't put him above criticism. This year's been a season to far for him in my opinion & at times he tries to hard to make something happens which usually results in an error.

For Jesus H Christ’s sake!! This forum is becoming the “Doom and Gloom” squad’s personal crusade against ONE poster. Can’t you all post things FC related!!!!

I agree that criticism when warranted is necessary but too many have jumped on him. I’ll say it again, he ran his blood to water and gave his all. You could see he wanted Wembley. A pity a few others weren’t up to it.

As a Wire fan reading your posts I’d just like say gracious losers and class fans.You’ve got a good team and a good coach imo and with few more signings you’ll be bang up there again next season and it’s not over yet and that game yesterday could have gone either way up until last min.Fine margins and all that.Good luck for rest of season.

We left that field giving everything, as supporters it’s all we can ask for.

You had to be there, and as you have alluded to, unfortunately the opinions of many on here are from armchair supporters, who don’t have your passion or heartbreak, the best decision we made on our journey down, was to return home should we lose, and not stay for the Saints game.

It gave us the opportunity to get in the pub early in ull, and dissect the game as the John Smiths went down.

Cheers and good luck in the final, it took a good team to knock us out

Totally agree with this as another wire fan I'd like to say we just did enough to get over the line..even we lost I.d be a hull fan on Wembley day..hopefully a meeting at old Trafford would be great..good luck for rest of season

Game was absolutely even & could have gone either way without complaint.

Sneyd should have been allowed to retake the half time penalty, Austin delayed & even after being spoken to the next delay was the pillock water carrier in luminescent yellow running across the line !!

Yes we made errors, yes we defended kicks poorly, yes our line speed was not as quick as theirs & yes we rely too much on our backs taking many carries in our own half.

BUT we hung in there & with a modicum of luck with a bounce of the ball or a refs call could have been planning Wembley again. Credit to the players & the coaching staff, lessons are being learned - sure we will be a different team next year hopefully with a different style of play.

Think Mini criticism outrageous - he gave absolutely everything yesterday and was mainly excellent. Timing of his error was unfortunate but sure he felt it more than any of us !!

My concern is that that was our best effort yesterday
Full salary cap
Full strength
Maximum motivation

And just look how poor we were compared to the 2016 semi final v Wigan

Can’t you see how far we’ve fallen in 3 years ?

For those of you who went or watched in wonder you’ll know what I’m talking about

I’m sorry to be negative for some of you but I’m just being realistic

Please remember the 2016 semi when reflecting on yesterday

I’ve always said, I don’t mind getting beat, as long as we put an effort, the effort was clearly they, just not good enough on the day. Hopefully with some fresh faces next season we will improve. Would love to get back to old Trafford this season, really need to push on now, starting Thursday

Loads of effort but we didn't actually play very well and still could have won which for me is disappointing. If others feel that's enough for them and enjoy a spirited loss then fair play to them , we're all different. I don't think wire could have played much better but I do think we could which gives me plenty of encouragement for the rest of the season if we don't let our heads go down

Can't argue with that . Next season our pack will be better. To bounce back from where we where this time last year is a positive. Our pack imo is getting old and it's the end for some. But hoping we have one last swansong for them.

Pointing out that someone is constantly trolling does not constitute a "personal crusade".

Mrs B is entitled to her opinion, however, coming out and labelling those who have a bit more ambition and provide constructive criticism as "Doom and gloom" is nothing more than a childish attempt to derail the debate and elicit an emotional response.

I also note that far from bringing things back on topic you perpetuate the distraction by using the same emotive "Doom and gloom" terminology

I've posted several posts analysing yesterday's game. Feel free to engage with me in constructive debate.

You your ilk are the ones derailing topics. Put her on your foes list or just ignore her. I did reply to you and everyone else who posted but you completely ignored my posts regards the game and chose to comment on a post borne out of frustration from you and others carping on about 1 poster. Put me on your foes list or carry on ignoring me. We all have a personal view on life, if you don't like it ignore it but don’t try to influence anyone with yours. Far too much of that going on in this country at the moment.

Does anybody know if the stats for the game are available anywhere?

Good post Jake.

Firstly, I'm not childish enough to have a "foes" list, if such a thing exists.

I actually posted a similar sentiment to Mrs B that the lads all played their best for Lee and he did the best coaching job he could, he was just out coached by a better coach.

Having said this I saw no value in adding to your defence of Mini. I made it clear I thought he gave everything.

What do you think the difference was between the teams yesterday?

Already said a skinny 10 and 2 mistakes. They made the most of all 3. Personally I was disappointed with taking the first penalty. We’d built up momentum and was on there 20? It gave them much needed respite and IF we’d gone onto score maybe after forcing a drop out we’d have won.

The penalty decision is a tricky one. I agree it was our first chance to sustain a bit of pressure but I think the team were a bit gassed after defending our line so the idea was to allow them to recover.

To be fair the effort and determination from the team kept them in a game they had no right to be in late on. There was such an imbalance in field position Wire should have been much further ahead.

In the end it was disappointing to lose but if we play them again we need to be much more aggressive in defence.

You recognise that it was the Saints fan that made the doom and gloom comment, don't you. I'm chipper as ever.

Agreed but my point about the skinny 10 operated by Hicks allowed Wire to swamp our attack from an offside position at the get go, not a complaint about the ref more about us not adapting. In fairness their number 15, Philbin? spent most of the game in FC’s attacking line, preventing the ball going out to Griffin/Connor, probably why he scored the late try.
On a personal note, my lucky underpants and Jack Harrison shirt have been in the wash this morning, onwards and upwards.