Hudgell in the HDM saying that fridays game is the 'most pointless derby since 2006' Just shows how broken the current league strutucre is imo. I say whoever is in the 17 come friday give it 100% get the win and send that lot back to hessle road with even more to be sorry about! RRTR. East Hull is wonderful!

He’s not wrong.

It is the most pointless game ever it’s time to change the league structure for something better then what we have now

He's not wrong at all. But nothing wrong with getting up for it, you reds

If the league structure was a 1 up 1 down or 2 up 2 down system this game would be equally pointless. The only difference being that we will be potentially resting players for the 8's.

What structure would work with a team nailled on 10th playing a team that has no chance of making the semi's or whatever the top four would be.

It’s a fair point. No system is perfect from every perspective.

However, at least the 80 minutes and the result would matter in the normal way. I hope we win, of course, but i’m already looking beyond it to the 8s. When your first concern is avoiding injuries and suspensions for other games, it does unfortunately devalue this game.
I suspect i’ll spend more of the game fretting about players picking up knocks or the vagaries of the disciplinary process than who is scoring tries.

The main reason this game is pointless is not the competition structure it is the timing of the fixture. Under any system there is always the likelihood that the final game will take place with most issues decided.

Had the game been scheduled for (say) 3 weeks ago it would have been highly relevant.

Not to say I am in favour of the 8's (I'm not) but whatever structure is in place next year the lesson is that if you don't want a dead rubber derby don't schedule it for last game of the regular season.

At the start of the season when fixtures were published, this was not dead cert to be a dead rubber. In fact, if results had been different just last weekend, this might still have been a must win game.

As it is, Hull need this more than us in terms of points into the S8s and to get back on the horse after last weekends (very funny) drubbing. It's on TV now, basically because Todd Carney might play.

come 7.45 whoever is playing for either team will want to win, its a derby,

2006 - Hull were in SL and rovers in the championship. There were no derbies in 2006.

Thats the point, we were promoted in 2006 and there hasn't been a more pointless derby since we were promoted.

It's not so much [ujust[/u that it's a dead rubber - it's a dead rubber and we've got other more pressing concerns. If it was a 'normal' dead rubber game, we could at least just enjoy it as 80 minutes in of itself. Maybe even treat it as an end-of-season carnival, with each side having the chance to go into the off-season with a smile on their face. Now it just feels like a distraction, which is weird.

If it was make or break, as it could have been tbf, then that'd be horrible in a different way - but it'd be the first priority at least.

Just one of those things, with how things have turned out.

Quote ="Mild mannered Janitor"2006 - Hull were in SL and rovers in the championship. There were no derbies in 2006.'" Unless he means this: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/ ... ague.sport Although why preseason friendly derbies since have had more point, I'd be hard-pressed to say. Maybe he just mis-spoke.

Quote ="Mild mannered Janitor"2006 - Hull were in SL and rovers in the championship. There were no derbies in 2006.'" Unless he means this: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/ ... ague.sport Although why preseason friendly derbies since have had more point, I'd be hard-pressed to say. Maybe he just mis-spoke.

Quote ="Mild Rover"Unless he means this: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/ ... ague.sport Although why preseason friendly derbies since have had more point, I'd be hard-pressed to say. Maybe he just mis-spoke.'" Perhaps. I dont think pre-season friendlies should ever be compared with competitive games. Been thinking about this statement and casting the old grey matter back to a derby where only local pride and bragging rights were the prize. I am thinking the last game of the season in 2008 when you beat Hull 36-8 at craven park, the week after Hull had lost at wembley to St's.

Quote ="Mild Rover"Unless he means this: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2006/ ... ague.sport Although why preseason friendly derbies since have had more point, I'd be hard-pressed to say. Maybe he just mis-spoke.'" Perhaps. I dont think pre-season friendlies should ever be compared with competitive games. Been thinking about this statement and casting the old grey matter back to a derby where only local pride and bragging rights were the prize. I am thinking the last game of the season in 2008 when you beat Hull 36-8 at craven park, the week after Hull had lost at wembley to St's.

Aye - James Webster's only game for Hull iirc.

The derby you nilled us in towards the end of 2014 didn't have much riding on it, though there might still have been an outside chance of the play-offs?

Yes some good points.

There's not really anything much at stake in any of the Friday games so I suppose SKY decided the Hull Derby with the biggest crowd,the best atmosphere and Todd Carney would be the biggest draw for TV viewers.

Squads out tomorrow, up the robins

Just trying to remember when I first came to watch Rovers, as a 10year old it did not even know how a league worked, I just enjoyed the game. When did we become obsessed with winning? The derby to me was always an occasion & I have no connection to the city at all just to Rovers. Why can’t folk just enjoy the game?

I completely agree. Complaints about dead rubbers, and ‘season over’ annoy me a little. Each game should be a contest worth winning/enjoying in itself. And I hope we win an entertaining match on Friday - it’s been a long time since we won a derby.

But the 8s cast a long shadow, and we’re denied that pleasure to some extent.

He's utterly wrong and he's a perfect example of what's wrong with our game. All sports have flat points but most have people running the game and the clubs with enough intelligence and integrity to sell it to the public all the same. His comment is pathetic.

Also just for local bragging rights how can a derby not be important! what a whinging self pitying bunch RL supporters are - n0 wonder we can't spread the game.

FWIW there is nothing wrong with the current concept but as ever our self interested boss junked it instead of sticking with it and refining it to a point where it really captured the imagination.

So you think back to one up one down is the answer because that worked didn't it.

Ours is a sport played by lions and run by donkey's.

Looking at that 18 man squad we will have problems matching them in the backs.look very young.Saying that you never know? Add Crooks and Carney into that and it looks a little better. My feeling at the moment is that they will be more up for this game than us and may pile a big score on us.Hope I'm wrong

looks like the landlord was telling porkies at the weekend ,needs a big derby win to save face I assume ,playing players with hernias?

Crooks ? Has he signed ? And will he be in the squad

Rumours he's for the chop if they lose on Friday? Can't see it myself either way?A very strange build up to this Derby and just can't shake the feeling they are going to get some revenge after shipping 72!!!! After our MPG and then last year's successful promotion i agree that Fridays game doesn't matter as much to me as normal as it's all about staying up and the 2 points on Friday are about as much use as Susan Boyles minge. Both teams missing loads of players but the fans of the winning side won't care.

Jake.....Jake.....are you there Jake?

Just let us know you are ok. Please we're getting worried now