Does anyone else think our squad is to forward biased??

As much as i am looking forward to seeing luaki and crocker in hullfc shirts i can't help thinking the money could be better spend on improving our backs namely an out and out scrum half and a top quality centre.

Backs

Tony, Calderwood, G.Horne, Yeaman, Briscoe, Raynor, Thorman, R.Horne, Whiting, Hall

Forwards

Dowes, Cusack, Thackray, King, Moa, Maloney, Luaki, Radford, Tickle, Manu, Crocker, Burnett, Washbrook, Lee, Houghton, Berrigan, Hodgson

By my count that is 17 forwards and 10 backs (this also includes G.Horne and Whiting who i think are more 2nd rowers than centres) unless i have missed someone. Even without our 2 potential signings (if they get VISA's) i think we have too many forwards compared to backs.

Thoughts??

Washbrook and Lee can also play in the backs, but other than that I agree with everything you said.

Next season we need to sign a quality full back, centre and 7.

think this is the problem though as although they can play in the backs they are'nt backs and should only be used there if required due to injuries or other unforseen circumstances

We have lacked a quality scrum half since cooke left. And we have ultimately struggled since he left, he was not the best in the world but his simple but effective long pass made more tries for us than any of the recent replacements.
|I still think Thorman and Horne can make a good partnership although i don't think Throman can produce the goods when it is backs to the wall time.

Thought you had kept one when you let 'second rate' Briscoe leave.

The problem is, we could have Gidley in the centre and Thurston at scrum half, but if the forwards aren't cutting the mustard it will make little difference.

We need to get the prop/second row rotation sorted out.

We need the line speed in defence to improve about 300%.

We need to show some enthusiasm.

We need the forwards to start dominating their opponents and laying a sound platform for the backs we have got.

After that, lets consider spending money on top quality backs.

The forward rotation is a valid point, it killed of Fielden imo. Just because a player can put in a huge stint does not mean he should do, Agar has to be smarter.

Agree with that RockgodX, no matter who is in the backs if the forwards fail to make the platform we will lose the majority of the games, yes you can get a lucky win when your forwards are dominated but they are few and far between.

I understand your points but we need Crocker and Lauaki yesterday. Far from the money being better spent elsewhere we need to start with a pack that will stand up for itself and stop caving in to the opposition in the physical battle. These two should help. Judging by the last 2 performances this must be the softest pack in the league and certainly one of the weakest Hull have had for a long time.

We were almost pushed off a scrum yesterday!!

He's played the sum total of 0 minutes this season. Our reserve has played not much more. Neither look close to returning currently, if ever.

For me we have never replaced the likes of Jason Smith, Tony Smith, Richie Barnett Snr or Sid Domic and in all honesty don't look like we ever will with the 5 drives of one man rugby and a kick down the throat style of play we have seen since Shaun McRae left.

The other problem is whilst we continue to use the 5 drives of one man rugby with a poor kick we are never really going make metres up the field which leads to the players having to do more work to get on top in games.

We need to have more options when going forward so we can get on a roll moving down the field instead of driving 2 to 5 metres on each play before kicking. Why can we not have support play, players running angles, dummy runners, off loads with players in support running at pace?? Its not bloody rocket science its simple rugby that even I got taught as a school kid.
The game nowadays means you have to have territorial advantage over your opposition and we can't do that when we struggle to get out of our own 40 before putting a kick in which leads to us defending too much in our own half and then having to work hard to get out of it again.

we do, but after two knee injuries we have to asses his fitness very closely

Priority for next season has to be a no7, i'd even go as drastic as saying i'd release most of the OOC players to make enough cap for a top class no7, we have a good enough academy system to provide squad cover (a system Saints are using)

The other problem we have is too many players who don't really offer that much other than been gratfers/workhorses.

When you look at the 13 on the field and the 4 on the bench you never see who can be brought on to change a game if plan A fails. This is why we seem hell bent on carrying on with the same game plan even if it isn't working as a) no one on the bench to change a game & b) Coaching staff seem devoid of ideas to change things or just refuse too.

Oh no, it's all coming back to me . . . . . . . .

The mists of time are clearing . . . . . .

I can see someone with a konk bent like a dog's hind leg . . . . .

Sounds like someone who we already have in the squad . . . . .

Now was his name ??????