Satae had a slight calf strain didn't he? I'd assumed he would be fit to start the season..

If we start the season with Satae, Sao, Brown, Fash and Bowden as our props I'd be tempted to ask Ma'u to do some shifts in the middle

Ma'u played as a middle in that awful performance against Wigan last season but he played well. It would leave us short in the back row though. Outside the 17 we seem to lack numbers in that position. Wardle would have been a decent signing as cover.

He's no reason to make it up but I find it hard to believe.

...otherwise Griffin, Reynolds, Cator, Brown, Houghton, Connor, Wynne and probably others wouldn't have had ops after Taylor's injury.

I'd start him in the back row and shift him to prop when we bring Sao or Satae off.

Scott to cover back row from the bench

just an idea, but it could work short term until Evans ban is up

He just seems to have a bit of an axe to grind.

He had a falling out with the previous regime and AP sacked his best mate.

We've had other players having ops in the off season too. Taylors foot injury healed last season. He missed the last few games due to broken ribs.

To be honest I thought Cooke usually spoke some sense but can’t take his piece in Taylor seriously. To claim Taylor’s foot injury is a cost saving exercise is just laughable. If that’s the case then I assume he can back this up with facts and evidence? I’m pretty confident that Hull FC would have medical insurance for all the playing staff for one thing. Another why would the club save money then have surgery on all the other players? There’s also a cost involved in treating the injury/rehab regardless of surgery, plus the cost to the club of Taylor sat in the stands and not in the field so yes Paul it’s really been a cost saving measure
I can’t believe even Cooke is that deluded to believe Taylor’s lasted set back is due to cost saving. So not just the teams medical staff but all involved in regards to Taylor’s foot injury last time decided that on all the info they had in his foot that it would be better not to do any surgery just to save money? Really!!!! Give your head a bang Cooke.

two out of the first three games we should have been expected to win but this shows how poor on paper we are in the front row until we see what Evans can do.None of us have any great expectations for this season but we could easily be 0/3 before Evans comes in.
We must have the most pre season serious injury crocked players in S/L coming back in to a first team squad
Reynolds
Gale
Griffin
McIntosh
Shaul
Houghton
Cator

Now we have Taylor sidelined for three or four months

Aren't most of those back in full training now?

I'd still back us to beat Wakey and Salford.

The Taylor injury is unfortunate. He looked in great nick. How many teams have 5 or 6 top props? Saints have Walmsley, Lees, Amor, LMS, Paasi. Take 2 off that list and even they'd struggle.

I read it that it was cost saving as in to get the player back playing quicker rather than months out after surgery. Cost saving to keep him playing rather than player welfare. I think because of who said it, certain people, not you, will automatically think he meant the worst. I honestly think it’s time to put the Cooke saga to bed. The club have moved on, the fans should.