If the first half had gone on 5 minutes longer the game would have been put to bed but it didn't. Neither did the second half.

Thought the first 40mins was so different to the dirge we've witnessed for the past few seasons and more as you rightly say the variation in play is refreshing and bodes well moving forward. Our line speed both in attack and defence was light years ahead of previous seasons, our intensity and tempo was also far better. However the 2nd half we reverted back to the old ways with little line speed at all and stood waiting in defence rather than closing Cas down as we had in the first 40. Cas were always going to come out strongly in the 2nd half and we allowed them back in to a game that we should have closed out easily.


Whilst I agree there are rightly questions with regards to our pack I'm not sure its a big but. Smith for some reason decided to have Fash & Cator as the two forwards and have all of Satae, Taylor & Evans sat on the sidelines for quite a period time which combined with over using Houghton for 60mins (why?) and the two un neccessary errors from McIntosh that Cas took full advantage just gave Cas the invitation to get on top of the 2nd half and get on a roll. All this on top of not having Sao, Savelio or Brown in the 17 against a big Cas 17. I can only assume that Smith with the score at 32-6 decided to try a few things out in a real game situation and test the players.

For me Brown offers more the either Taylor or Evans so mystified as to why he wouldn't have had him in the 17 and without Sao we go with Dwyer, Lovodua and Houghton.

Smith postgame seemed to acknowledge that he himself possibly didn't help and that he pulled the players up even at half time for some things he saw/thought were lazy.
Whilst the game was frustrating in the 2nd half it shows the team that even at 32-6 up they can't slack off. One other thing that was pleasing was our ability to pass and catch certainly seems improved from previous seasons too

Houghton Brought the same as last few years .....nothing

Difference is people are now noticing how limited he is now we have a better hooker In dwyer

Not sure if this is the place to put it but I've started a Twitter account called @hullfc_stats which will have a bit of a breakdown of some of the big moments of games and stat analysis. Thanks to anyone that decides to give it a follow

To be fair I think it will take a little bit of time to eradicate the old ways as it's been well engrained in the playing group over a number of seasons. Yes ordinarily it would be a concern but with Smith and his post game comments its something he won't tolerate and is not afraid to tell them even at halftime, again something they haven't been used to for some time.

Overall its still very early days and I thought there was plenty to be positive about for the future. Lets be honest after seeing the 17 for both teams before the game I'd have been happy with any 2pts. We saw some good stuff in the first half and not so good stuff in the 2nd half but do think as I said in previous post some of that wasn't helped by the likes of Satae.Taylor and Evans all being sat n sidelines at the same time inviting Cas back in to the game and enabling them to get on a roll.

Totallty agree, the small 'middle' enabled Cas to play Harlem Globetrotter stuff and offload at will and caused us to struggle to get a win in D.

Rovers suffered a similar problem last season when Litten and Parcell were on the pitch at the same time.

Looking forward to rewatching the game on Hull FC live.

You have to take into account that Cas where full strength and we where missing 4 of our stating 13.

If the kits were better Mcintosh would had scored and it would have been 42-6.

Smith got the bench and subs wrong, too lightweight and having all 3 props off at the same time and having Dwyer off for so long.

I'd bring Brown, Sao and Savelio for Evans, Cator and Houghton.

Need to get more from McNamara otherwise I'd play Lovodua there.

i still dont think we have a natural leader on the field to rally the troops when things arent going to well or when complacency sets in.even the players missing are not leader material.we played some great rugby in the first 50 mins,but when cas started scoring tries,the behind the sticks huddles was very reminiscent to last season.

I thought it was strange that Smith chose to start the 2nd half without Dwyer as it worked well in the first half and we seemed to lose our momentum and intensity without him and Satae, Taylor or Evans.
I agree that Brown has to come back in and hopefully Sao and Savelio are back for Leeds.

TBF to McNamara I thought he did well was directly involved is acouple of our tries and although he was targeted at times by Cas he stood up well defensively to it on the whole, apart from when he jumped out the line for their 2nd try. Think I'd rather leave McNamara there and spell Lovodua with Dwyer at 9 to keep the speed/tempo up, as felt that dropped off with the introduction of Houghton.

Well that was fun. We never make it easy. Overall pleased with the 2 points. I reckon the tackle bags will get used this week . Some really good signs and also some weaknesses but early days. Throw Savellio and Sao into the pack and we will do better. Great crowd to.