No they are not.

Well now Thorman`s gone,another scapegoat is needed.
(Not that I am sorry Thorman`s gone b.t.w.)

With Whiting and Calderwood injured Hall had a great chance to claim his place in the team and earn a new contract.

Frankly he blew it. He was very poor on Friday night, although probably not the worst player out on the park.

However I think his FC career effectively ended when Agar took him off. It reminded me of Thorman at Cas last season.

I think he's a gonner now. Right or wrong? Only time will tell.

Apparently one of the Rovers directors is saying that they're ready for Hall with all the paperwork organised, just waiting for the signature. Justine has seen the lads potential and is confident of coaching some decent defence into him.

Good luck to him. It's quite clearly not working for him here and it's time to get rid. He's too small to be a SL centre and any half decent centre would just walk straight through him. Ultimately he has potential though and I hope he fulfills it because if there's anything England is devoid of it's a decent centre.

IMO if craig hall was going to be a success at our club then it would involve a much better coach and a fully fit halfback pairing

the team would be playing with more cohesion and confidence and the ball would get shipped out to the wings alot more

in the last couple of seasons craig has been regarded as one of our best attacking players and he would take his opportunities better by being introduced into the team more effectively by a better coach who would monitor his progress more efficiently and try to nurture his talent

therefore there's a few factors that contribute to his bad form hence peoples short sightedness in slagging him off. just look at how youngsters improve at leeds & wigan - it doesn't compare to hull fc

i'm not trying to knock agar or the team but consistency would inspire success and then confidence. with the injuries to longy & fitz it has made that goal unachievable but then again even michael maguire can't prevent injuries, he just deals with them better (maybe their squad is structured better).

our "misfortune" has been caused by knock-on effects which result in players like craig hall struggling for form and he doesn't get chance to play his best position every week which would also help

That's one way of looking at it. Another is that not every promising youngster goes on to make a SL standard player. Some inevitably fail to realise their early promise (for a whole variety of reasons, coaching being just one) and must instead forge a career in the lower leagues.

Justine has done a great job with Kris Welham hasnt he!!



Hally will be better leaving here, cant help that think it's not the team he plays for it's the standard of the opposition that may be a problem. He needs a season in NL1.

perhaps his defence will improve if and when he plays outside of a decent second rower, arguably his best games for hull have been in the left centre position (albeit very infrequently due to yeamans automatic pick)playing outside willie manu.

On the same subject he had a poor game on friday playing outside turner who I'd say had his worst game in a hull shirt (though he has been ok generally) and lazy hutch lauaki

Unfortunately Craig has had too many poor games for it all to be blamed on the players around him.

Its also unrealistic to expect the team/formation to be picked so that he is surrounded by players who can cover his defensive shortcomings.

Its not just that he is poor defensively, because many good attacking players are too, but he shows no signs of being able to reach even the minimum standard to be expected of a SL player.

I've never heard anyone liken him to Offiah Expro?

over the months many have said he is this and that with ball in hand however he is not ,
clarified now?

you make some valid points expro, what I would say though is the kid is 22, very tall but still like a beanpole, if say he could put on a stone and half of muscle whilst keeping his speed he could potentially be better than shenton who saints are signing by the time he is 25 or 26. I take your points about some young players never make that final step but I don't think hall has finished developing yet but perhaps he has gone stale under agar and needs a move anywhere really to set him off again

He's been used as a utility player when he clearly isn't one. That certainly hasn't helped. That said it doesn't really matter whose fault it is now - the situation is beyond rescue and he needs to leave for his sake and the club's.

Exactly my friend exactly! however believe me when I say that RA actually realy rates the lad hence why he keeps going with him but he just never seems to get that confidence boosting swervy run going any more.
Look we al know the kid isnt the greatest tackler but if he was scoring for fun it would mask the problem however he does not look like he has the heart at present and I think the off season cant come soon enough for the lad
but agree a change of dressing room is the best place for him

cant disagree there either , its not he gets paid a lot or is integral either but deep down i think he is someone we all want to see do well isnt he??

I've always liked him, ever since he first came into the first team. I've defended him to the hilt on here, probably way beyond where it was sensible, because IMO he showed the potential to become exactly the sort of flair player we so sadly lack.

Unfortunately it's become clear that for whatever reason he simply isn't going to realise that potential with us. I sincerely hope he makes a go of it elsewhere as English centres with pace and attacking flair are few and far between.

Amen to that Kosh

I think every supporter wants every player to do well if they are playing for their team. Craig has not made the grade for us unfortunately and whether that is down to Craig not having the ability to step up or down to the coaching is something that will be found out in due course.
Good luck to him wherever he goes, you can see he wants to do well and i hope he gets another chance elsewhere.

I think thats why the Leeds and Saints players coming through their youth set ups seem to fair better and make to SL level as they are always seemingly farming their up and coming stars out to other clubs to gain experience at the highest level possible rather than playing them in the youth teams.

I agree with just about all of that but I do think his pace is actually short of what it should be for his height and frame. He's by no means slow, fat from it. But I really think his physique should = blistering!

That's a good point.

If you're talking about natural attacking rugby league ability, then Craig Hall is better than any centre currently playing for either Hull club, but unfortunately his deficiencies at this moment in time far outweigh the positives he brings to a team. where he needs to go to get better I don't know. He does need to get away from Hull and Agar though.