Unproven at what?????
I'm sure he's more than capable of handling the centre position given he's proved his worth at FB and wing.

He's well covered by a great Centre though. Gardner is a good player, who had a bad World Cup. I've no worries with him personally, he's proven his worth in Super League both offensively and defensively.

There are holes in every team, but it's how you cover the weaknesses in the team. Your 6-17 maybe stronger than the likes of Wigan, Catalans and Warrington (we'll see what happens), but not Saints and Leeds IMO. Overall, Saints and Leeds have stronger sides.

The key word in there was may.

Yes but he's relatively unproven at centre! He may well turn out to be a competent centre.. but he isn't proven at the moment is he?

May?? [size=150May??? [/sizeYou hinting that we're gonna win the Challenge Cup as well? Well, I'll go to't foot of our stairs.

If we can keep all our players healthy and on the field then of course we can do better than the last couple of years. Injuries to key players always hit any squad hard.

shhh - your not allowed to mention injuries. according to some on here injuries are irrelevent and we are expected to win no matter how many key players are injured and if we fail to do so its a sure sign that we're in decline and the coach is crap

Well injuries didn't stop saints beating us at Odsal when they only had one fit prop or when Leeds beat us in Cardiff.

We haven't ruffled any feathers at all with our rivlas due to the signing of Bird.

That's why they've all been beating a path to RAB today to tell us all about it

Now hang on. You've been on other boards sticking for us lately and there's been a distinct hint of genuine positivity over the Bird signing from your good self. Come on, put all that pain behind you.....

you mean the saints game where we were missing tadulala,solomona,tupou and jeffries and saints were missing cayless,wilkin and fasavalu? and we came back from 16 nil down to only lose by a converted try?

was a pretty decent performance and we were unlucky not to get the win iirc

Dropped not injured and Saints lost Fozzard after 8 minutes for the entire game.

he said missing, not injured.

It doesn't make a difference. The argument has always been that injuries had an impact on last season but Jefferies wasn't injured when we lost to Saints.

The optimism on here does seem a little OTT. I have stayed away from here because of the same people saying the same things. half of the people shouting that Mcnamara needs sacking, and the other half saying that we should back whatever decisions the club makes no matter what.

FWIW I think Bird is a great signing. But a week ago, people were saying Jeffries deserved a better run in the side and him and a fit Deacon would be a match for most sets of halves. Now, a very good (if morally questionable) stand off signs for us and we are going to win trophies!!

There are a few more important factors in our success or lack of this year. there is no doubt that on paper the squad, if it stays fit is more capable than last years, but where are the matchwinning backs? If there is to be improvement on last year then Nero, Platt, and Sykes are key. I feel that a more explosive, creative half might mean that they are running into gaps rather than on the end of hospital passes, but if they dont up their game we will not be contenders.

Speed from the ruck is also important, so solomons needs to get up in seconds rather than minutes and Newton needs to give Bird and Deacon Good ball.

If the pack stay fit, then we will have a great basis, but we need to polish things up in the creativity stakes.

I realistically think that a fit squad can finish 3rd, then who knows. remember my first son was born in 2003, my second in 2005 and the wife is due another in May!!! It's written in the stars!

That's all on the one thread now - just avoid it




"Win trophies" is a bit much, but it is a signing good enough to get people excited isn't it?


What are you doing next season? You seem to score a lot more than Nero . . .

Some posters need to reread this thread, and learn in future to take head out of botty before posting.

Indeed. For example




Our big issue so far this season has been we are so very far from having good halves, and the Hull game, - where Thorman and to a lesser extent Horne were the difference between winning and losing illustrated this perfectly. TBF Jeffries played a lot better and hopefully his form will continue to improve. Deacon however has started 2009 off in a terrible fashion and while he wasn't as bad as at Wigan (he couldn't be) he was still in comparison utterly anonymous.

. Easily as good a pack as any in the league. Not even an arguable point.


Platt - whatever he is, and he polarizes opinions - is certainly not pish poor, just prone to brainstorms. Tadulala is a very decent, pacy, hard working winger who runs the ball in hard, is not lazy, defensively he is sound, and has a good record in SL. Sheriffe so far does look way off the pace, I would agree, but that's just one of the backs, unless you think Halley is pish poor I say your statement is at least 75% inaccurate.


Well, yadda yadda,

but for that let's stick with any one of the 783 other McNamara threads.

I think you have one of the strongest packs in the league, but out of interest how do you think the Hull pack looked yesterday? Did we match, beat, or fall short of yours??

Will it surpass your pack when lauaki and hopefully crocker come into the side?

And you wonder why you are struggling?

We had this argument on page one. You do not have a strong pack, you have good names on paper. And Tadulala is not a very decent winger. Platt is pish poor, certainly no worse fullback in super league.

Twenty-three tries in a struggling side last year would suggest otherwise but don't let facts get in the way of a good opportunity to talk b.ll.cks.

I thought the contest between the packs was a good one. On the day, I'd say Hull's pack came out marginally on top, but honours were pretty even, although Hull's pack was playing with more and more confidence as the game wore on.

We also had Lynch returning from injury so he was nowhere near full match fitness, Langley returning from injury. Crocker won't get in unless he signs for Catalans. In answer to Lauaki, we have Solomona to return at some point (how we could have done with one of his match-breaking specials on Sunday) and so yes, I reckon as a unit we do have the best pack, but Hull are putting together a very strong and skilful pack too and more to the point they work well together.

Thanks for your reply!!

And FWIW, i think Crocker will be here soon!

Well, after the Bird debacle, nothing . . . absoluetly NOTHING . . . would surprise me about the Border "Agency".

I think the difference is that Bird is currently involved with the trial process whereas Crocker was fined approx £90 for affray, and applied online without all the testimonies from MP's, Melbourne, and Hull FC's plans for him in the local community

Fingers Crossed Though!