I hate to sound pessimistic but it’s not looking good.
Not sure who is responsible for player retention and new signings but to be fair they should be out of a job.
Watts for me is the best prop in SL and his departure was a nightmare, replacing him with a like for like player is very difficult, same with Ellis and Fonua. Yet we also lost Prichard another beast in our pack that was never replaced, yeah he didn’t have the best of seasons but his presence on the field always drew in defenders.
The pack that three years ago was probably the best is now...well not good.
For me Masi is still young and green and probably should be our fifth or sixth prop and only playing as cover in the forwards. Paea is no where near the player he was and Green and Bowden wouldn’t be a starting prop for one of the top four in a million years. If we keep abusing Taylor all season and expect him to do the work of two props then he will burn out very quickly and be good to no one.
Mini and Manu both should have been replaced.
Think our back line is as good as anyone but if your pack is getting overpowered then it’s hard for them.
I’m not a big fan of Westy but for me he had his best game in an FC shirt last night, him Shaul and Connor didn’t deserve to be on the losing side.
If we finish mid table this season I would be happy, but if we see some of our better players out for lengthy periods this could be a long hard season

All good posts above, and points well made.
We have not consolidated on 2016 and 2017.
If we can see it , why can’t the Club.
Hull FC never seem to kick on.
Sporadic success from 1991 has never be sustained.
We also seem to produce players, but we never seem to turn them into top talent . They move on ,and sometimes come back to haunt us .
As for the Coaching set up . A new broom is needed. Fresh ideas and an ability to attract top talent . Radford hit it lucky with his pre 2016 recruitment. Those players Coached themselves. Remember the dressing room lock out at Widnes .
The loss of his leaders and his inability to attract replacements for them ,is now coming home to roost.
We needed to sign at least 2 forwards that would be first choice. ATM Taylor is carrying our pack , the rest are average , or past their sell by date.
We thought it was going to be a struggle in 2019. Now we know it is going to be !

Does anybody know the latest on Talanoa?

Gwilym questioned Radford on RH on the return of Kelly, Bowden and Green but no mention on Talanoa.

With Sporting Chance I believe with no date set on return

Yes that is in line with what I have heard as well.

I hope he returns, but if I am honest I don't expect to see him in a Hull shirt again.

That's very sad if true, whatever his problem is I hope he makes a full recovery.

I wonder why the club hasn't just told the truth that he's receiving treatment.

Perhaps Fetuli wishes to keep it private or as private as you can be as a professional sportsman.

I wonder why people are discussing/speculating on his personal problems on this forum.

Everything said here is absolutely correct. Other clubs have success and build on it,we seem to go the other way.I feel sorry for Taylor,he's doing the work of two props,be burnt out before long. Last night Cas were getting three men in the tackle and slowing the game down,why don't we do the same,they seemed so smooth with everything they did and we looked disjointed and Cas also had a hooker who played like a hooker .Danny has been a good club hooker and a brilliant tackler but he lacks the creativity of other top hookers. Our right side was shocking last night and an astute coach like Powell soon exploited it.We have to get over winning the challenge cup twice and start living in the present,things aren't good and I can't see them getting any better.

This must be a cardboard cutout then....

I take your point but the club doesn't have to disclose the exact nature of his problem but is receiving treatment for it. Covering it up by saying he is injured only leads to speculation that something sinister is going on.

As I say I wish him well and hope he recovers and plays for us again.