Burgess and Chambers beginning to realign the squad. Telling that Burgess mentioned the amount of work spent on squad numbers 20 and above in pre season. They are clearly going to progress with an emphasis on the younger players. Telling that Ratchford is yet to be involved so far despite being available.

Burgess also mentioned that weaker defence on the right side with Holroyd, Wrench and Thewlis and how he wanted to persist with it to get them used to working together. He definitely has a longer term plan based on the potential he sees in the academy, and it's nice that he's not taking the easy option of journeymen to fill in the gaps for a year. He wants to build a core of a team that will play together long after he's gone. This current crop of academy lads are getting big raps from outside the club, so it's nice to see us patiently building on similar foundations to the Wigan and Saints path to success. I guess that we as fans also have to be a bit more patient too. It might be next season before we begin to see the policy bear fruit.

Quite a refreshing change from Powell - who was the young player he tore a strip off and dropped in similar circumstances? I'm sure Chambers is also having influence in this longer view.

I'm absolutely loving this new approach - going to make the season interesting/enjoyable just watching the youngsters inevitably improve.

The young player was Riley Dean.

Absolutely crass man management by Darryl Powell.

Ironically he ignored that his own favourite Matautia was a turnstile in defence for all the same season.

Steph Ratchford has been given a new 4 year deal extension.

By the North-West Rhinoplasty Clinic.

On a more serious note I wonder how close we are to getting another prop. Radio silence from all sources at the moment

Is Bullock coming back? I hope so

Quote: ratticusfinch "Is Bullock coming back? I hope so'" Bullock is staying at Hull FC on a week to week basis, but available for us in Challenge Cup, so that he doesn`t get cup-tied. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ny-9159894

Quote: ratticusfinch "Is Bullock coming back? I hope so'" Bullock is staying at Hull FC on a week to week basis, but available for us in Challenge Cup, so that he doesn`t get cup-tied. https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... ny-9159894

Can't quite understand the Bullock situation. For me he's more effective and destructive than Philbin off the bench. I wonder what it is in his game that's holding him back.

His fitness for one, he has averaged 10 games per season over his career.

Yeah, I get that, but there are loads of injury prone players who are picked if they're fit so there must be something specific to his game or how he trains that coaches see and we don't

I can't see another prop coming in this year for us.
Mike McMeeken i'd like to see in our squad, but apparently Wakefield are front runners to sign him.......some how??
Surprised they would be front runners and nobody else is interested.

It’s quite a strange one with him, I recall Powell not picking him for a period too, despite being fit. Maybe Chambers too but my memory lets me down.

But at least 2 of the previous three coaches have dropped him when available. And we’re not particularly blessed in that position really, Dudson, Wood and Holroyd (indirectly, with Currie being shifted to accommodate) have all been put in before him.

Think it’s best for all if we can make this move permanently and write it off as a failed experiment