Heard last night that they have been allowed to play in the Samoa vs Tonga game which is next weekend and will miss the cup game, anyone else heard this?

Yea I heard that too I hope Radders says no

I imagine they put this in their contracts, hull would have hoped for a championship side, I would hope the players themselves would choose to stay for our biggest game of the season so far.

Great honour for both as captains. Ellis and Mini to come in.

I thought April fools was the first day of April not the last!

Exactly, Mrs B.

Sounds like this is happening which isn't great for us but we've signed two current international captains.

I'd far rather have this problem than still be signing players like Ben Galea or Ryan McGoldrick (no offence to those intended).

The reality is it's a pain in the backside for us. But a pack, injury-permitting, of Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Ellis, Mini, Washy with Bowden, Green, Thompson and Hadley on the bench is decent. A few in there will be desperate to get through to the next round too, time running out.

I don't buy this honour argument, I'm afraid.

As far as I'm concerned, next week's game at St Helens is the most important match of the season.

Missing these 2 players so they can travel half way round the world to play in a game between Samoa and Tonga isn't going to improve my chances of seeing a Wembley victory.

Time is running out for me as well.

rlhttp://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-Frank-Pritchard-Sika-Manu-return/story-29203653-detail/story.htmlrl

This is were RU is better. Their huge squads (and the increased SC)allow for teams with internationals and injuries to still field a decent team. There's also no arguments about not playing unless a player is injured, and rightly so.
Think Leeds had 7 on international duty and still had a match at the weekend not that long back.

Our international game is weak enough as it is, we need to ensure the likes of PNG, Samoa, Fiji Tonga etc get to play their big stars even at the expense of someone elsewhere, especially since Australia/NZ poach the cream often as not.
As pointed out, we still have a lot of talent and we just have to look at it from a positive angle and the personal achievement for our players.
They might get injured in any case.

Big losses and probably takes away any real prospect of us winning

Probably going against the grain here but I think the league is now more important. We are in our best position for years and the kudos is higher for a grand final win now. I feel the cup has had its day to some extent, witness the decline in attendance for proof. Plus we've won the cup before. I would prefer us to concentrate on beating Wigan. Let them go. Just hope they return ready to rock

The Cup is still very important to me and a first win at Wembley is at the top of my bucket list. I remember the times when Premiership finals (Championship play off) decided the league and The Cup was always regarded as the premier trophy. Old fart maybe, but please give me the first Wembley win.