Its easy to say "the squad needs major surgery" and "big changes needed" the reality is that cannot happen in a salary cap era unless players want to leave.

Sure we can release for eg Delaney but he wont leave for nothing with 2 years of his deal left. We could pay him off but that money would count on our cap and therefore no replacement could be brought in.

Changes can only be made over a period of time. Its not pre-SL when you could sign a replacement and stockpile players.

Yes the coach could go but is he under any pressure from above to leave? I dont think he is.

you don't? you think GH is happy? I know from one of the coaching staff gawwy is bloody unhappy and has let the coaching staff know it. I don't think Brian will be here next year. I think he's going

I have a horrible feeling thay after a 'mutual' realease of Mcdermott, Gawy will take the cheap option and appoint Jimmy Lowes. Watch this space.

David furner is the most mentioned replacement

Im not saying GH is happy im saying I dont think McD's is under pressure from either GH or Caddick at this moment in time and even at this stage he has enough runs on the board for that to remain in their eyes. I cant see GH panicking or anything.

I honestly believe McD has GH's trust and that hasnt changed since the season started.

I agree. It will be a Lowes/Cummings 'dream team'

I disagree totally mate. I think he's a dead man walking and will end up at HKR next season

It was an extraordinary situation with Harris and Hilaire, The exception to the rule.
Golding reminds me of the many A team players I watched during the early 80's.

I agree with Marty. I think Hetherington will give him 1 more season to prove it was a one off.

if he does we are in serious

Fair point.
Our difference in form this season is primarily two fold. Firstly, a much stronger pack, allowing the backs to express themselves more. Secondly our game management has improved. Last season, we lost about 5-6 games by a single score, this year we have done the reverse.

We also now tend to keep calm if we fall behind in a game, after years of always trying to play catch up rugby. Basic stuff and things Leeds, Saints, Wigan etc have been doing for years.

Confidence and team spirit is there for all to see. However, ask most Hull fans and they'll not be so confident against Leeds this Friday. Beating Leeds will be a major monkey off our back. For years we always had a good record against Leeds, but in the past decade our victories have been few and far between.

We hope for a win and hope to get to the Super 8's in first place. However, we have also been good at taking each game as it comes this season. It will be interesting how teams treat the final three games of the regular season, we have Leeds, Rovers and Salford and then the CC Semi Final.

Don't doubt you'll come through comfortably through the Middle 8's, but still amazed in your dip in form this season, as much as I am by the improvement in ours.

Hull have won 15 of their last 17 games so not sure they're throwing much away at all

As much as my heart says this shouldn't happen I think the odds are that it will. MMcD will get another six months at least to turn it around.

The more interesting question is do fans want him to succeed or not?

Surely all fans want him to succeed???

I'd find it really hard to believe that when Hetherington takes a long hard look at this season he won't be anything other than appalled and embarrassed. He may well accept some of the excuses as a partial cause, and may blame some of the senior players, but to imagine he wouldn't have BM in his sights is beyond odd. This has been the worst season in Hetherington's tenure and even assuming we survive the Middle 8s with plenty to spare is just about on a par with the worst in the club's history.

Its also clear that some of the senior players have let themselves down badly. Some of the grabbing instead of tackling, lazy marker play, inability to even form a straight line and dreadful reads (accounting for two of Widnes' tries on Sunday) ought to be unacceptable for professional players who are supposedly at or near the top of their sport. Having said that, whilst the players are the ones missing tackles, its the coach's job to get the best out of the players he has. I'd love to see McDermott claim with a straight face that he's managed to do that for more than a couple of games or spells in games over the season.