52 metres is the worst in the team so far this season (barring Rangi Chase who has only played 25 minutes). In contrast Tommy Lee has made four times that amount with 200 metres.

With 2 experienced,successsful,hookers in the opposition team,Higham and Monaghan,it does seem a strange decision to omit Howarth - unless he is injured or his confidence shot.
It is strange that 2 ex-hookers have selected him if he really is as bad as has been made out on here.

On a coaching note it seems a good idea that a specialist full back has been recruited to assist a young full back at Hull FC.( The same fella who has been helping the last side to defeat us ) rlSTORYrl

On a more worrying level,is it possible for coaching consultants to be used by more than one club?
Can we retain Sean Long?

It should be good on here from Friday night.

And that’s still on the low side for a modern day hooker, I know the mans a freak, but James Roby makes nearly 200 meters a game!

"It just makes me laugh how he’s being branded as a scapegoat when he’s clearly just not good enough and everyone can see it."
Please explain this sentence
and advise me of how you know everyone sees him as being not good enough.
There have been several favourable comments on here.

Frankly, it beats me how some like to get on a player's back and loudly and repeatedy criticise. I did not like this when I first joined the board in 2002 and it still annoys me.

I agree,it has always annoyed me as well.
Having said that,Howarth isn't good enough !

I don't think anyone has blamed Howarth for any defeats.

He's highlighted himself through poor performance to gain the criticism of fans. That's not scapegoating, it's highlighting a player out of his depth. As far as I've read, nobody has blamed the defeats on anything but the team and not individuals.

If players put in sub-par performances they will be called out. Nobody is laying sole responsibility for a loss on their shoulders. You need to be a little less sensitive.

Agreed. I don't think I've seen anyone blaming Howarth for defeats. They've simply said he's not good enough. There's been a bit of criticism of Danny Williams as well with people questioning whether he's good enough but no one seems to have mentioned that - it's not just Howarth.

What are peoples thoughts on the game? Interesting to see Wire post a similar scoreline to us down in London at the weekend. Could be an interesting night although I can see Wire winning by about 10 points.

As we lost by 2 tries and a penalty, I think this quote from page 6 of the Widnes thread does put blame on himother players in every match I've seen this season (I missed London).

I'm concerned that Wire seem to be good at getting the ball wide fairly quickly, and we're struggling with our defensive structure when people shift the ball wide quickly. I think we can compete well enough up the middle as long as we don't let Higham run the show.

I'd agree with this. The team as a whole haven't been good enough, but Howarth stands out. Everyone I've spoken to during and after each game sees it - even after we won against Wakefield people were saying he wasn't good enough. Hardly blaming him for a defeat there, where we?

I have to add, everything I've seen about Howard has been constructive, too. More than can be said for some criticisms in the past.





Anyway, on a different note, I thought Rangi was definitely meant to be in the side? For the second game running? What on Earth is going on?

Although we have a few injurys i still think it would be a close game. We played them in the friendley and they had a full squad out and we was unlucky with result.

This is the team i would play tomorrow

1. Mullaney
23. Johnson
3 Gleeson
4 Sa'u
34. Manfredi
14. Fages
7. Smith
8. Morley
9. Lee
10. Tasi
11. Puletua
22. Walton
13. Hansen

Replacements
20. Walne
16. Dixon
17. Mcpherson
19. Ashurst

Really don't know who would fit in though if we get injuries to the Smith, Fages & Lee!

Koukash said last week that he should be back for the Cas game. I've not seen anything saying he should definitely be playing this week or last?

rlBrian Noble press conference.rl

Main points:

S'au & Mullaney are both fit again and will definitely play. Manfredi will play, won't say who he'll drop...Presumably Williams.

Mentions we're still looking to improve squad.

Sean long will be focusing on kickers & halfbacks, working a couple of days a week. Brian's happy he's back & to be working with him again, says they've got a good relationship.

Edit: Almost forgot, Chase is where Brian said he would be three weeks ago, should be starting full training next week with a bit of luck, didn't want him to train too early in case his calf tears again.

Rapira has a torn shoulder but is suspended anyway, may start training again next week.