Quote: fez1 "TS generally liked to go abroad because it meant he was guaranteed decent weather to practice quality sessions. I don't think it was anything to do with whether they deserved it. DP presumably things the best way to prepare this team is to stay at home.'" True to form he is doing it again. www.hullkr.co.uk/robins-head-to- ... -training/ I'd rather we develop skills in difficult conditions as the GF is not played in warm climes.

Quote: fez1 "TS generally liked to go abroad because it meant he was guaranteed decent weather to practice quality sessions. I don't think it was anything to do with whether they deserved it. DP presumably things the best way to prepare this team is to stay at home.'" True to form he is doing it again. www.hullkr.co.uk/robins-head-to- ... -training/ I'd rather we develop skills in difficult conditions as the GF is not played in warm climes.

Anybody know whether pre-season matches are scheduled? Going to be in Cheshire for the first time in, er, 32 years and a Wire game is top of my bucket list (above getting a house, car and job)

There will definitely be a preseason testimonial game for Stephan Ratchford, but the details have not been released yet.

Enjoy your game.

Judging by Powell's pre-season comments, Ashton is a winger until further notice. Says he needs to build the skillset of a fullback. Leads me to think Thewlis will be back-up for Ratchford and Ashton's main weapon of pace will be kept for when we shift the ball wide. Hopefully he'll get to break some tackles on the kick returns too, as he seems pretty good at that sort of thing.

I hope Powell will use him as an evasive runner on kick returns and not a battering ram. I have high hopes.

It's really encouraging to hear Powell speak about preseason and to see him so hands on with ball in hand.

Predicted to finish 2nd. We just can't be a bad as one or two of our "fans" say. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/how-the- ... son-45565/

Predicted to finish 2nd. We just can't be a bad as one or two of our "fans" say. https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/how-the- ... son-45565/

Interesting that the journalist in that article isn’t tipping Leeds. At the back end of last season they were the darlings of all things good according to the Sky commentary. They’ve arguably made the biggest signings with Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer in the key positions, and I’d say they are the team under the most pressure to deliver the goods. No more ‘transition period' excuses.

I think that seriousaboutrl.com are underestimating HKR a bit, too. I don’t think they will be top 4 but I’d have them above Cas and Wakefield. Hull FC certainly have the squad to be top 4 - 6 but consistency remains the issue.

Personally, I think we’ll end up 3rd or above, it’s just whether we can win the important games at the end. EDIT: At least we have made some significant changes to try and achieve that.

Must admit I thought Leeds would be higher.

Powell first priority is to get our players to play as a team.

We have been beaten in a lot of key games under the Price regime, by inferior squads of players, simply because of their teamwork.

Agreed, I'm a little concerned up front but we have some real quality, if Powell can get the best of Clark, Williams, Widdop, Currie, King, ratchford and Ashton then we will hurt a lot of teams. I think the new additions could be good for us too and charnley being used more as an offensive winger could be a breath of fresh air too.

I genuinely hope that Charnley is still an attacking force, I’m not sure last season’s version was solely down to coaching. Powell seems to have had the Midas touch for wingers though so fingers and everything else crossed.

Charnley was our 2nd highest try scorer in 2021 and has scored 50 tries in his 87 games! Imagine what he can do if he is given the ball in space...

I understand all that but my impression last season was that he didn’t have the confidence to back himself where previously he would have. I accept that may in part be due to defensive efforts. I wonder if the lack of scrums has also been an issue as it often takes a couple of plays for the defensive line to get set, but I haven’t really analysed this.