I don't think the squad is too bad, definitely weakness in the backrow.

I'll be disappointed if we don't improve, but tend to agree it won't be by much.

Wigan have got a bench choose from of -

Cooper
Mago
Thompson
Dupree
Leeming
Hill
Nsemba
Walters
Chan
Eseh
Hampshire

Just shows for me how poor our squad is. We are either massively mismanaging the cap or we are nowhere near it. For me it’s the latter, despite what Adam says.

Hope I’m wrong but I can’t see much improvement.

When you have those two and Cator on the bench and Wigan have as their bench options (from the post above):

Cooper
Mago
Thompson
Dupree
Leeming
Hill
Nsemba
Walters
Chan
Eseh
Hampshire

Then I think that is a very lightweight bench (Pele aside) and will struggle to be a match for Wigan

Waste of time comparing us to Wigan, no squad in SL comes close, they have 3 marquee players amd fantastic youth system.

Not sure what Smith could do better for recruitment, think he did just about as good as he could do.

Aren't you forgetting Taylor??

As said above, most clubs will this season.

They can spend the same as anyone else baring 3 marquees which I don’t think makes that much difference over the course of a 25+ man squad.

Cooper
Mago
Dupree
Leeming
Walters
Chan
Eseh

All aren’t from their academy.

I don’t blame smith. I blame the powers that be, not a chance we are anywhere near full cap with our squad and if we are then there are serious problems.

Doom mongers started before season kicks off.Cricky let's give the lads a chance before writing them. Jeez

There's a difference between criticising and saying that Wigan have far more strength in depth / better bench options than we do

Agree. Scott should be competing for a centre spot at this stage in his career. Play him at centre or leave him out and start with another forward on the bench. Okunbor can be moved to the backs in case of injuries.

Desperately need another forward preferably a second row otherwise Sao or Ashworth will probably have to start there and weaken the front row.

Unfortunately we are just being realistic given our squad, can’t see much improvement on past seasons Im afraid.

Completely agree

Our cap management since the cup wins has been terrible. Reynolds, Gale and Evans being prime examples.

I'm sure Pearson said we are spending the full cap and if true I find that worrying.

I think on paper this looks the weakest squad we've had for years but in Smith we have a quality coach who hopefully will compensate for this and get us somewhere near the play-offs.

Depends what you mean by improvement?

Will we be bottom 4 again? Probably. If we lose, it's the manner of defeat

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ve-9069126 Balmforth is out with a shoulder knock

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ve-9069126 Balmforth is out with a shoulder knock

I don't think we have much chance of the play-offs but as long as we are there or there abouts going in to the final rounds I'll be satisfied.

Also as you say it's the manner of the defeat. Nothing wrong with a defeat but the capitulations over the last few seasons are totally unacceptable.

Agreed, I don’t mind losing if the effort is there and they are narrow defeats, but we take far too many hammerings. I’d love to be proved wrong but I think we will be 8th at best.

You'd think with Salford, London and Cas' recruitment, we'll finish at least 9th this year

With Wigan looking for an extra friendly fixture to give a couple of their players some game time and TS wanting similar i wonder if FC will be taking them on again during next week ?

Cas and Salford might be saying the same about ours.

I see BetFred's odds are currently

Wigan 2/1
Saints 3/1
Leeds 15/2
Warrington 8/1
Catalans 10/1
Hull KR 12/1
Leigh 16/1
Huddersfield 18/1
Hull FC 25/1
Salford 66/1
Castleford 66/1
London 150/1

Surprises me Leeds are third favourites...Catalan seems good value at 10/1

We know Balmforth has a minor injury but just seem to think there is something in Balforth that Smith doesnt like.
Cant play Sunday but will be fit enough for an arranged Reserve game several day later.
Unfortunately it does look like Houghton will be flogged again at nine then moved to 13

Cator said as much in a recent interview, that's why hes been training at hooker all of season, so that he can slot in at hooker when Houghton goes off or moves to 13. Strange if this is the path we go down given we've got Balmforth, signed a backup hooker in smith and also a current nz international hooker

I'm surprised about Leeds and Catalans as well. Otherwise the odds seem to be about right.

Something new for pre-match this season

[urlhttps://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fc-confirm-new-resident-9069626[/url