A neighbour spoke to Houghton the other day and he said he was still undecided on whether to go again next season? 50/50 it seems although he maybe just didn’t want to give anything away?

I'm not that sold on Sutcliffe really but if Griffin is moving to the second row or even leaving I can see the logic in that. Four centres could be Carlos, Wynne, Sutcliffe and Simm.

I wouldn't mind seeing us bring in a quota second row if the above turns in to reality finances permitting.

Call me crazy but I’d let Carlos go if possible. He’s too injury prone if we get Sutcliffe I’d happily with him and Wynne.

Can’t see Simm joining with Regan Grace leaving Saints. He’s their ready made replacement

Simm doesn't have a contract for next season at Saints.

Carlos is still one of our most consistent players. It's his first major injury. I don't think it would be wise to release him

Leeds have named a 20 man squad. Sutcliffe is named. Guess they're waiting on some paperwork to announce Gildart

If Sutcliffe has indeed signed I'm similar to you Dave as just not sure how to feel about it. I will say that I don't think its a poor signing as he certainly brings something different and based on his performances I've seen this season he is would be an ok signing. He may not be the quickest but he doesn't look slow and ponderous either. We can't have a team full of stars and need players do the graft and for me Sutcliffe fits the bill in that respect and can cover a couple of positions. Its clear that BH wants a much more mobile and adaptable team particularly on the edges.

As for hooker its time BH spelled Houghton even with the injuries we have as unfortunately any impact he can have on a game is gone after 30-35mins as he is just about done. I'd hope that he would start putting Balmforth as interchange hooker while Lovodua is having to play in the halves, then possibly have Lovodua as starting 9 with Balmforth as interchange moving forward when Connor or Mac are back fit.

I would still like to see a quality replacement for Ma'u if budget allows.

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... s-24487526 Might have to wait until next season for Sutcliffe after all

https://www.leeds-live.co.uk/sport/rugb ... s-24487526 Might have to wait until next season for Sutcliffe after all

Riderofthepalehorse wrote:Agree with his utility value MW, no problem, but if we are signing players Leeds deem disposable, surely this type of signing hinders the progress of Severs Walker Scott and apparently a lot more of our kids coming through, Hodgson may indeed like this type of player, hell so do I, but we are implementing a change of thought process at the club, based on our own youth program, this sort of signing seems to work against that mantra. The thing about potential is that it is uncertain. You’ve got a lot of promising players coming through so it’s pretty likely some will ‘make it’ but until they do it is impossible to know how many or which ones. It might turn out something like R Horne-Cooke-Yeaman or G Horne-Lee-Hall-Washbrook-Wheeldon or it might not go exactly as hoped. Have a look at your 2016 squad numbers, as an example. http://upthecream.co.uk/2016-squad-numbers/ There was assumption in some quarters, including from the lad who runs/ran that website that the higher numbers represented a basis for sustained success for Hull (and the England/GB team for years to come, I think he said at one point). Which was very optimistic rather than ridiculous at the time. You never can tell and therefore you can’t stop signing proven players based on best case assumptions for prospects.

Riderofthepalehorse wrote:Agree with his utility value MW, no problem, but if we are signing players Leeds deem disposable, surely this type of signing hinders the progress of Severs Walker Scott and apparently a lot more of our kids coming through, Hodgson may indeed like this type of player, hell so do I, but we are implementing a change of thought process at the club, based on our own youth program, this sort of signing seems to work against that mantra. The thing about potential is that it is uncertain. You’ve got a lot of promising players coming through so it’s pretty likely some will ‘make it’ but until they do it is impossible to know how many or which ones. It might turn out something like R Horne-Cooke-Yeaman or G Horne-Lee-Hall-Washbrook-Wheeldon or it might not go exactly as hoped. Have a look at your 2016 squad numbers, as an example. http://upthecream.co.uk/2016-squad-numbers/ There was assumption in some quarters, including from the lad who runs/ran that website that the higher numbers represented a basis for sustained success for Hull (and the England/GB team for years to come, I think he said at one point). Which was very optimistic rather than ridiculous at the time. You never can tell and therefore you can’t stop signing proven players based on best case assumptions for prospects.

Be happy with Brandon Wakeham coming in rather than Hoy tbh especially if we sign Jack Walker permanently.
As you say, Wakeham can play hooker as well as half back so would give us some good options moving forward.

Full backs- Walker, Connor, Litten.
Half backs- Trueman, Connor, Mcnamara, Hookem,Wakeham
Hookers - Lovodua, Balmforth, Wakeham.

Certainly looks much stronger than what we have now IMO.

Mild Rover wrote:The thing about potential is that it is uncertain. You’ve got a lot of promising players coming through so it’s pretty likely some will ‘make it’ but until they do it is impossible to know how many or which ones. It might turn out something like R Horne-Cooke-Yeaman or G Horne-Lee-Hall-Washbrook-Wheeldon or it might not go exactly as hoped. Have a look at your 2016 squad numbers, as an example. http://upthecream.co.uk/2016-squad-numbers/ There was assumption in some quarters, including from the lad who runs/ran that website that the higher numbers represented a basis for sustained success for Hull (and the England/GB team for years to come, I think he said at one point). Which was very optimistic rather than ridiculous at the time. You never can tell and therefore you can’t stop signing proven players based on best case assumptions for prospects. I get that MR, I really do, but as your post above includes mainly Hull born players, and there is nothing at all wrong with this, but almost overnight the penny has dropped with youth development, not just youth development in this area, but an investment in youth coaching managers, and a further investment in training facilities, and capturing youth from further afield, all to be applauded by our owner, coming out of the most difficult of times, we seem at last to be getting it right, well at the youth end of the project anyway. We have just acquired three more young players, who all have something about them, as you say nothing is guaranteed about prospects, but I’ll take this way forward, and at least these young kids can run, something a lot of our more recent expensive signings seem unable to do

Mild Rover wrote:The thing about potential is that it is uncertain. You’ve got a lot of promising players coming through so it’s pretty likely some will ‘make it’ but until they do it is impossible to know how many or which ones. It might turn out something like R Horne-Cooke-Yeaman or G Horne-Lee-Hall-Washbrook-Wheeldon or it might not go exactly as hoped. Have a look at your 2016 squad numbers, as an example. http://upthecream.co.uk/2016-squad-numbers/ There was assumption in some quarters, including from the lad who runs/ran that website that the higher numbers represented a basis for sustained success for Hull (and the England/GB team for years to come, I think he said at one point). Which was very optimistic rather than ridiculous at the time. You never can tell and therefore you can’t stop signing proven players based on best case assumptions for prospects. I get that MR, I really do, but as your post above includes mainly Hull born players, and there is nothing at all wrong with this, but almost overnight the penny has dropped with youth development, not just youth development in this area, but an investment in youth coaching managers, and a further investment in training facilities, and capturing youth from further afield, all to be applauded by our owner, coming out of the most difficult of times, we seem at last to be getting it right, well at the youth end of the project anyway. We have just acquired three more young players, who all have something about them, as you say nothing is guaranteed about prospects, but I’ll take this way forward, and at least these young kids can run, something a lot of our more recent expensive signings seem unable to do