Presumably nobody was available to replace him, because GH made a big deal of looking and he wasn't replaced...

However he did have a contract with Leeds for 2012, and although his preference was obviously to go back for a swansong with Newcastle, he was professional enough that he would have seen out that Leeds contract if required. I seem to remember the Leeds brass saying that he wouldn't be leaving unless and equivalent player was recruited, and I doubt they meant Richard Moore.

Keith is right. Results this early in the season, CC games apart, mean nothing.
Just settle back, enjoy summer & come back.in September when it matters.

That's a strange thing to say about a 22 year old who made his debut in 2009, behind Diskin & Buderus and has made only 30 odd appearances of which 75% were off the bench.

It doesn't explain the bad run of form but we've actually played twice as many away games in the league so far as home games (will be 4 home and 6 away after Monday) - mainly because we didn't play the Wakefield game at home because of the WCC.

Catalans 6th, Hull KR 7th, Hull FC 8th

FC & KR knocked out first week of playoffs by Leeds(42-10) and Catalans(56-6).
Catalans then knocked out second week of playoffs by Wigan 44-0.

Yeah the playoffs really rewarded those 'mediocre' teams.

We lost to Wigan the week before. If that was peak, this thread about end of season is pretty irrelevant.

Exactly!!! Got it in one!! No need for doom and gloom merchants appearing!!
It was nailed on the Bradford win and their now extension till tomorrow to find their extra bit of cash, forget that game!!

Its the Broncos I'm worried about!!!

Are you saying the same applies in the NRL? perhaps that is why so many different sides have won it - it is about being good for four weeks?

But you have been saying that since 2006 and you've been wrong consistently.

I don't like a Top 8 play-off system in the NRL either. Does it reward mediocrity there also? Yes, but not anything like to the same degree as in SL. The clubs in the NRL are of a similar quality throughout - the gap between top, middle and bottom isn't nearly as huge as it is in SL and if a gap does appear one season between certain NRL clubs, it disappears usually by the next season. Therefore no team in the NRL can afford to toss it off, coast in certain games, rest players willy nilly in the knowledge that they'll still be guaranteed to finish in the Top 8 by the end of the regular rounds. I could never predict the Top 8 teams in the NRL by the end of the season - I may get 4 or 5 correct with luck. OTOH, I can predict at least 6 or 7 of the Top 8 in SL with absolute certainty.

Too modest Keith. IIRC it was the full boat - eight from eight - in 2011 for the unofficial Southstander Regular Season Table prediction comp. One of only two posters to call it before a ball was kicked.

After 30 odd appearances McShane should IMO be performing better than he is, He should have learnt a few more tricks of his trade by taking notes from 2 of best hookers to play in Superleague over the past 10 years.

The rugby played in the WCC was of the highest order...I call that a peak, we follow a team who know how to peak, as 5 Grand Finals prove. I prefer to be positive, the alternative is sad ar5e moaning just because we lose 3 League games in a row..I thought the thread was 'Nothing to worry about'...and i certainly am not worried.

I still regard both Hull-based teams as unreliable

I'm not worried about league form, because as KS says, we'll still qualify for the play-offs and our season will begin then. Its the long term viability of SL that concerns me more.