Which is true but unfortunately the financial situation at the club isn't great, as we know TV money is down, debts due to Covid have grown, the stadium situation is worrying we are more likely to see a budget cut and the club run below salary cap then we are another round of big spending. Pearson has spent big 3 times (2013, 2016 and 2020) and he's had his fingers burnt twice and may be wary of doing it again.

A big winter ahead. 'Wait til next year' absolutely needs to go on the club badge.

This is the problem though as it’s always been ‘jam tomorrow’ for far too long now and a good number of fans have had enough of that.

I seriously question BH tactics, bench selection and the way it’s used in games. Many defended it earlier in the season but tonight was another example. Why have JJ on the bench if you aren’t going to spell him with Houghton? Why have we not tried starting with JJ when Houghton hasn’t been pulling up any trees of late and the early promise he showed at the start has evaporated. Again why have Scott on the bench when you are unlikely to play him? Why is Brown still not getting game time when he offers more than Bowden has done when played.

There was no logic to the way the bench was used tonight and seeing both Houghton and Johnstone on at the same time was going to achieve what exactly?

Spending big wasn’t what burnt AP’s fingers for me it was spending big but keeping the same coaching set up behind all the failures. Other than the 2 Cup wins which I shall be eternally grateful for we blew the best chance we’ve had at reaching and winning a GF in 2016 and never kicked on.

To answer the original question, no our season isn’t over.

Tonight wasn’t great and we should have managed the game better to win the match. We now have three tough games in a row.

However, the remainder of the season is all about making and achieving in the play offs.

Firstly, can we finish in the Top Six? Yes, assume we can play our first two games in hand v Leigh and Salford at home, then that should improve our current standing to 4th.

After these next three games, we should also start to see the return of Shaul, Connor and Taylor, plus Savelio will be back. Put these four in our 17 and we are able to give anyone a game in a knockout competition.

If we make the play offs I don’t think it really matters much if we finish 3rd-6th. Those games are going to be tight whether we are at home or away. It’s hitting form at the right time and that may still happen.

As for the future, well the close season will be the real first opportunity for Brett to start re-shaping the team, subject to funds and contract positions.

As for our previous great recruitment (Motu) and youngsters coming through (Horne, Cooke etc), it’s worth remembering that in the first 18 years of Super League we won one Challenge Cup and made one Grand Final appearance. I’d say on average our league position was about 6th.

So to say the season is over after losing tonight is premature. On the whole we are probably performing above our usual position and the season may still turn out ok. (anyone else remember how they felt after 58 mins when 20-0 down at Craven Park on Good Friday, compared with how they felt at Wembley in the August back in 2016?)

Let’s not give up. A season is not based on one, or just a few results. I’ll judge the season when it’s over… and that’s not tonight.

Mrs Barista wrote:Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918 Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

Mrs Barista wrote:Good post and I agree. As you say would be good to see what BH could do with money to spend but this looks unlikely. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ed-5718918 Sure I heard Adam say we can compete with every club apart from Warrington and Leeds when it came to the cap on the radio last week

I blame it on Radford.

The season isn't over unless you mean in terms of winning a trophy as we have no chance of winning the Grand Final from fifth or sixth,

We have a battle to make the play offs as it looks to be between us and Rovers, possibly Cas. Connor back in, with Savelio and Taylor will help our cause but as Mrs B says we are really missing Josh Griffin.

We really need the Leigh and Salford games to be rescheduled as we should be wining them to boost our points percentage.

This year was always going to be tough - we appointed Brett Hodgson in late November. Compare that to Warrington with Wire and Cas with Radford - both announced in April for next season.

I said this at the game. The covid break came at a bad time time us. We had a chance to build a bit of momentum after the hudds home game, that's all gone down the drain.

You dont need to spend big to compete, just better cap management and use youth, we have failed on both for top long.

Spot on. Kept faith too long when a change should have been made far earlier.
People who criticise AP for getting rid of LR don’t realise it should have been done 18 months earlier at least.
BH is now trying to turn things around without much wriggle room in recruitment.

AP must have been gutted last night. Fairly decent crowd in the circumstances, and it falls flat again.