On team selection, I'm torn if which way I'd go. Either keep it as same as possible to last week, just plug the gaps with players for those positions we have lost OR have a bit of a reshuffle which could disrupt the side more... I think I'd rather go with the first option. Put chamberlain in place of hardaker, bring Moy on the beach incase plan A doesn't work and then maybe reshuffle later.

I'd have definitely taken 1/2 from the first two games, so bit of a free hit, hopefully given them a real tough game and if we play really well and they are a bit off, we have a chance. Games so far have either been a bit of a shock or alot closer than people predicted (except salford last week)

This game is more about the performance than the result. With the same side as last week I think we go in with a chance of an upset, now not so much but we absolutely can't roll over and get a drubbing in front of a big crowd. At worst, we need people to go home disappointed but entertained, not disillusioned again. I wonder if baldy is sneaking in on a kids for a quid ticket to break his recent FC duck?

I would've been quietly confident with the same side as last week but Hardaker, Bourouh and Cartwright are significant losses. We still have experience in Rapana, Sezer and Asiata but it's hard to see a win. Hopefully a spirited performance, improved discipline and no injuries and we move on to a winnable game next weekend.

The issue with big attendances like we are going to get tonight, and the injuries we have, is that a lot of the bandwagon jumpers are fickle, and if we do lose by 12-16 points which I am expecting, will they see it as a defeat as always, or see the differences the club are trying to make

hard to see a loss as anything but a defeat TBH

[quote="Irregs#16":1ajudbwe]The issue with big attendances like we are going to get tonight, and the injuries we have, is that a lot of the bandwagon jumpers are fickle, and if we do lose by 12-16 points which I am expecting, will they see it as a defeat as always, or see the differences the club are trying to make[/quote:1ajudbwe] True. We had the same situation in 2022 for the first home against St Helens.(the Luke Gale tripping one) There was a ticket offer and we got a decent crowd. I was sat next to a fella who said he hadn't attended a game for a few years and was only there because of the offer. Of course it was another dreadful performance and he left early saying he won't be back in a hurry. A win is not out of the question but very unlikely. I just hope the new/returning fans realise this. What we need is not necessarily a win but to create an atmosphere and a performance which will lure them back.

Hopefully a few high bombs in the swirling wind, may give us a chance as the ball could go anywhere

Looking forward to tonight, in a manner I would not have believed possibly when I walked out of the stadium last September after the Catalan game. Like most on here, I'm simply looking for attitude, work rate and commitment from all 17 players, a continuation from last Friday really. Losing to Wigan is hardly going to define our season, irrespective of the circumstances. These opening few weeks of the season are more about the bigger picture for us, rather than any pressing immediate need to stack up wins (although winning is always a nice feeling). Think all we are looking for is positive signs that we, as a club as a team, have passed the bottom of the curve and we are, at the very least, travelling in an upwards direction once more. Having said all that, after the win over them last year, who knows? Let's face it, whatever happens later tonight (short of the ground being struck by lightning!!) no one is going to be any more stunned than we all were last year!!! (to this day I still cannot fathom out how Hull Fc 2024 beat Wigan 2024, it still defies all known logic!!!). So I'm going to take my seat in South stand, as nervous and edgy as I always am as kick-off approaches, and see how the night pans out. The opening few games of SL 2025 haven't quite panned out as most would have predicted before last Thursday (the Salford debacle notwithstanding, obviously) so, fingers crossed, maybe that unpredictable start to the season will continue tonight. It can't be as big an upset as last year, so here's hoping for a cracking night under the lights. Let's hope we make some noise and rock the place to show the rest of SL that we're back and we're serious once more!! COYH

[quote="Marcus's Bicycle":1wrrmw28]True. We had the same situation in 2022 for the first home against St Helens.([u:1wrrmw28][b:1wrrmw28]the[/b:1wrrmw28][/u:1wrrmw28] [u:1wrrmw28][b:1wrrmw28]Luke Gale tripping one[/b:1wrrmw28][/u:1wrrmw28]) There was a ticket offer and we got a decent crowd. I was sat next to a fella who said he hadn't attended a game for a few years and was only there because of the offer. Of course it was another dreadful performance and he left early saying he won't be back in a hurry. A win is not out of the question but very unlikely. I just hope the new/returning fans realise this. What we need is not necessarily a win but to create an atmosphere and a performance which will lure them back.[/quote:1wrrmw28] Ah yes! Talk about starting as you mean to go on! Gale being sent off that afternoon feels now like a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong around our club these past 4/5 years. Decent crowd, dreadful performance, weather even worse (seem to recall it snowed for a decent portion of the afternoon), high profile signing sent off. Honestly, if it could go wrong it did go wrong that afternoon (and most afternoons after that as well!!!). Hoping that one day I will wake up to find that these past few years have all been simply a bad dream and they haven't actually happened!!! Let's hope that isn't repeated tonight, it's not going to snow at least, that we do know for certain!!!

[quote="BP1":9xy9syy0]Ah yes! Talk about starting as you mean to go on! Gale being sent off that afternoon feels now like a microcosm of everything that has gone wrong around our club these past 4/5 years. Decent crowd, dreadful performance, weather even worse (seem to recall it snowed for a decent portion of the afternoon), high profile signing sent off. Honestly, if it could go wrong it did go wrong that afternoon (and most afternoons after that as well!!!). Hoping that one day I will wake up to find that these past few years have all been simply a bad dream and they haven't actually happened!!! Let's hope that isn't repeated tonight, it's not going to snow at least, that we do know for certain!!![/quote:9xy9syy0] Just three years ago but the only players from the XVII that day still at the club are Lane, Fash and Sao.

I haven't purchased a season pass this year as circumstances could mean me missing half of our matches........But I've purchased my merchandise and have managed to squeeze in tonights match......So shirt all ready and looking forward to it......looks like it could be a dry night ......Just hoping for the same commitment and energy levels as last week ....The rest will take care of itself ...COYH

[quote="hull2524":1greh6x0]I haven't purchased a season pass this year as circumstances could mean me missing half of our matches........But I've purchased my merchandise and have managed to squeeze in tonights match......So shirt all ready and looking forward to it......looks like it could be a dry night ......Just hoping for the same commitment and energy levels as last week ....The rest will take care of itself ...COYH[/quote:1greh6x0] no need to iron it if you have your coat on

Discipline is massive for me tonight along with ball retention. If we can keep the penalties and restarts down and show the same effort and desire in defence as last week, then while I don't think we will ultimately win, I can see us keeping things competitive. And then if we can get into the final 10 minutes still in the game you never know what can happen at that point. Give away too much ball or repeatedly invite Wigan into our territory through penalties and restarts then I think they will have enough fire power to rattle up a fair few points. We know defensively they will be their usual tough selves. Not letting a try in for 8 hours (or whatever they're at now) is quite a remarkable stat. Just looking to see us continue on from last week and hopefully the disruption in the team from injuries doesn't cause us too many problems. Hopefully Ashworth makes it.

1 – Jordan Rapana 2 – Harvey Barron 4 – Ed Chamberlain 5 – Tom Briscoe 22 – Lewis Martin 14 – Cade Cust 7 – Aidan Sezer 8 – Herman Ese’ese 25 – Denive Balmforth 16 – Yusuf Aydin 19 – Brad Fash 12 – Jordan Lane 13 – John Asiata Interchange: 10 – Ligi Sao 21 – Will Gardiner 31 – Hugo Salabio 33 – Will Hutchinson 18th Man: 32 – Will Kirby

Fear the absolute worst looking at the amount of quality in that Wigan team, hopefully the boys will have a good dig and run them close.

4 players down from the team that started last week. Very tough task tonight but expect the lads to give it their best efforts

Too easy. Long night ahead

Fash v Nsemba is such a mismatch

Doesn't look good for Sao, hope it's nothing major

Terrible performance this.

[quote="pmarrow":hfndtfwj]Terrible performance this.[/quote:hfndtfwj] Curse of the big crowd

A paper thin, very average squad now missing 7 of numbers 1-17 (OK that includes Abdull but still ). Unable to compete.

[quote="pmarrow":3f0utzd6]Terrible performance this.[/quote:3f0utzd6] Not sure I agree, don't think the team have done an awful lot wrong, we're just outclassed especially in the forwards. I can't fault the effort.

Just feels so deflating to already have so many injuries this season and we're only a game and a half in. Put the missing 4 from last week plus not losing Sao into this team and we'd be doing a lot better. There's some good stuff going on. Wrestle looks a lot better than last season and some of the ball movement has looked quite slick. Wigan just far too good for us even at full strength nevermind with a few out. Much stronger and certainly much quicker than us