BP1 wrote:Throughout the 2017 run we looked like a team on a holy mission to retain the cup. Beating Cas at a time when they were looking unstoppable in the league, the semi-final demolition of Leeds when we imperiously swatted them aside in the second half. We looked like a group with a clear objective in mind and woe betide anyone who got in our way.

In truth, the final should have been a repeat of the Leeds game, so dominant were we, but we couldn't quite kill off Wigan in the second half (credit to them for hanging in) and we very nearly saw the prize slip through our fingers in the last few minutes, which would have been a travesty if it had come to pass. Remember Wane graciously conceding that the best side had won on the afternoon.

Even at the point of victory I promised myself to enjoy the moment. I have been watching us for far too long to ever take success for granted. Even in August 2017 there was a quiet nagging voice in my head telling me that there is always a price to be paid for success when it comes to our club, Witness the aftermath of the 1991 Premiership triumph and the 2005 (Cardiff) / 2006 (GF) achievements. There always seems to be a swift fall after a tortuous climb to the summit where we are concerned.

But not even in my most pessimistic nightmares did I ever envision a slow steady seven year decline from the heights of Wembley euphoria to the depths of being outclassed by a glorified championship side. Seven successive years in which we have continued to slip down the hill with no one at the club seeming to have either the awareness or the gumption to apply the handbrake to stop the bus from sliding down the mountain side, a bit like the end of the Italian Job!!!

I will always treasure Wembley 2016/17 as the two most special moments in my time following the club, but there seems to be something about the club which stymies prolonged success after our irregular triumphs. It's what makes us one of the most frustrating clubs to follow. We never quite seem to be where we all think we should be, there is nearly always a piece of the jigsaw missing somewhere stopping us from truly scaling the heights. Although in 2024 we would appear to have lost the whole jigsaw and the box with the picture on the front such is the predicament we now find ourselves in!!

How NOT to run a sporting organization (Hull Fc 2018 - 2024).

DiggerHFC wrote:2019 - 2024
W 57 L 88
These stats just leave me scratching my head, I hope Cartwright is a resilient coach because it doesn't get any tougher than turning this club around.

UllFC wrote:Would love to see a stat of how many of those wins came in the final 3rd of a season too, when other clubs click and push for the playoffs we fall asleep.

Hindsight is a great thing but the Australia trip in 2018 was a turning point for me, maybe we all got complacent at a young side (plus Albert desperate to impress to get an NRL deal) at Stadium Australia running St George very close. We returned home injuries hit, the season ended disastrously (Radford should have gone then) and aside for a short spell in a very odd 2020 season we haven't clicked since.

ComeOnYouUll wrote:Ignoring 2020 when the season ran to November (and we actually finished OK) our August/September record is

2018 P7 W0 L7
2019 P6 W1 L5
2021 P8 W1 L7
2022 P6 W1 L5
2023 P7 W1 L6

Total P 34 W4 L30

ComeOnYouUll wrote:Ignoring 2020 when the season ran to November (and we actually finished OK) our August/September record is

2018 P7 W0 L7
2019 P6 W1 L5
2021 P8 W1 L7
2022 P6 W1 L5
2023 P7 W1 L6

Total P 34 W4 L30

BP1 wrote:Cripes!!! I knew our results weren't exactly top drawer at the end of recent years, but seeing it in bold black and white makes it all the more stark!!

Can't remember off the top of my head who the 2019 & 21 wins came against? But seem to recall that in the past two years we managed to record home wins against Toulouse (finished bottom and relegated) and Wakefield (ditto). The Wakefield victory last year was then followed by six successive defeats to end 2023 em to recall thinking to myself 12 months ago; things can only get better next year, can't they!!!

ComeOnYouUll wrote:Ignoring 2020 when the season ran to November (and we actually finished OK) our August/September record is

2018 P7 W0 L7
2019 P6 W1 L5
2021 P8 W1 L7
2022 P6 W1 L5
2023 P7 W1 L6

Total P 34 W4 L30