1. Tansey............ Far too inconsistent and unpredictable where as Briscoe is a proven international
2. Briscoe ........... Potentially a world class centre but Fox generally played better in the derbies last season (cue the "what about that tackle")
3. Whiting............ Lead Wellies is more of a 13 than a prolific try-scoring Welham
4. Yeaman........... Been nothing since Cooke left and never has and never will be in the same class as Webster
5. Sharpe............ Not a bad signing but no where near as tough and durable as Colbon
6. Horne............. FC fans rate him on his performances 5+yrs ago and looks washed up and finished at 27 (no disrespect to the kid) where as Green has everything to prove (and I believe he will do).
7. Long.............. Best days are well behind him (archetypal FC signing). Dobson SL Dream Team 2yrs running (despite James Rule not rating him - "Hello McFly...")
8. Fitzgibbon....... An RL legend but injuries now getting the better of him where as Clinton was our best forward last season.
9. Houghton ...... One dimensional dummy-half scooter. Fisher being a proven SL hooker and one who is technically superb.
10. O'Meley........ Still a great player granted. Vella still a great leader.
11. Manu........... A real handful yet Newton probably has the most complete skill set for a 2nd rower in SL.
12. Tickle.......... Fairly consistent but not in Galea's class.
13. Westerman... Poor season last year and allegedly comes with a lot of baggage. Murrell has a superb passing and kicking game, is a great defender (ask Fitzgibbon).

14. Washy......... Predictable right side-step and throws good passes into row Z. Mason is a super-star of World RL.
15. Lauak..........i Hard runner but offers nothing else IMO (spends too much time copying Wrestling moves). Lovegrove is solid workhorse with some expcetional metre stats last season and was Players Player last season.
16. Moa............. Always looked out of shape for me. Cockayne superb pace, aggression and passion.
17. Radford........ Seen better days. Wheeldon now coming into the best form of his career.

Mind you FC are still awaiting their new half-back so I'd expect them to sign someone like Alex Murphy.

How many times have you watched Hull recenty? In your head you think you are talking sense but in reality you know nothing!!! think all the hard drumming behind you in your band has messed with your head

If you'd have done the same at the begining of last season and compared Hull's 17 with saints 17 then you'd have said it would be a walk over for saints. Sometimes results aren't based on supporters views of how much better they are than the oppo. Personally I think we're pretty well matched and FC will have very few changes to their team. Add to that FC have started really well the last 2 years and derby's are always a close run thing and I think it'll be a tough one. I'd take a 1 point win now.

ITS HAMMERING TIME AGAIN. SAME OLD FACES SAME OLD MOVES ONLY ONE FEAR TOM BRISCOE. ONLY DECENT PLAYER THUNDER HAVE. THE AWESOME POWER OF OUR PACK WILL MEAN NO BALL IN HAND FOR TOM.

If we go into the game with the wrong attitude, we are likely to be beat! Our squad does look in far better shape at the moment and player for player, we are the better team. I was confident about beating them every game last season but it turns out we lost both league matches but won the one that really counted, so I am again very confident we will turn them over in Cardiff.

O'Meley is the man for them, led them superbly last season and barring injury he will do that again for them this year.

A side against Hull always must be wary that Houghton and Briscoe are two very dangerous players. Similarly O'Meley and Fitzgibbon can be devastating. However, there are a few too many weak links in Hull's side - both halves have seen better days, and the likes of radford, yeaman, whiting, washbrook are possibly living on yesterdays form, and lauaki has several times (not just against rovers) proven more dangerous for his own side than the opposition with his discipline. This creates an imbalance in Hulls side.

We know what we are getting with the likes of Newton, Galea, Murrel, Vella, Cinton, Webster, Fox etc.
The only question mark for me (not a bad thing, just an unknown quanitiy) is Green. Nobody can say what this guy is going to do, unlike Mason, we know what he is capable of doing.

Looking forward to a very exciting season.

If our halves turn up we will win the game.

fcimp wrote:If our halves turn up we will win the game. Too right, it worked well last time out. http://www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3319482

fcimp wrote:If our halves turn up we will win the game. Too right, it worked well last time out. http://www.superleague.co.uk/report.php?id=3319482

A Horne and Long partnership might have had the opposition terrified a few years ago, not so much now(I'm afraid for you guys!).

Last season you also came out with a load of tosh, then went missing most of the year...same again me thinks!