Bookies have us 9th above Cas, Wakey and Hudds, right now I'd probably take that.

probably the best we can hope for. Top of that bottom 4 mini league. I fear at least one of those clubs will be better than us though

Suprised you thinking that.

hopefully I'll be wrong but I doubt it

That is where I expect to see us finishing next season with the squad we have.

Think based on the past season and our recruitment its a fair assessment by the bookies for us to be 9th. Though I do think we could well push for 8th and even possibly 7th at a stretch and if we can keep relatively injury free. Think 2025 is just about steadying the ship and finally getting proper foundations with real structure in both training and game plans.
I think 1 to 5 will be Wigan ahead and KR, Cats, Wire & St's in any order. I'll be honest I'm not 100% convinced on Leeds at 6th for next season. Salford & Leigh will be there or thereabouts for 6th so all in all if we can sort out fitness and discipline and Cartwright is as good a coach as we hope then I don't think we'll be a million miles away from 7th/8th.

We have made big improvements in terms of now having real and proven leaders within in the club on & off the field too. I'm looking forward to seeing Staveley back in the 17 and under a quality Coach and with better support around him and the other young players.

Still think we are a little weak in certain areas and a little concerned on the use of quota spots particularly Cust but my thinking (and hope) is that we can't be anywhere near as bad as we were the season just gone.

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Think Leeds will be the surprise team for 2025 and pushing the top four.

I can see your point thinking 2025 is just about steadying the ship and finally getting proper foundations with real structure in both training and game plans. Unfortunately the way this poor quality recruitment has been made and the length of contracts leaves us with very little room for adding some quality and pace in the positions we need in 2026 so we could be left with virtually the same squad for 2026 and another year in the lower depths of S/L

Don't blame you, realistically it's between you and shudds for the bottom club, hopefully you'll finish above them.

I'm content with finishing 9th IF we are competing in games and losing narrowly and for the love of god can we win some games in August and September and end the season on a happy note for once!

Should we only offer one year contracts?

FWIW. Hull are trying to rebuild literally from the bottom. The recruitment looks remarkably sketchy to say the least. Abdull will more than likely be a huge disappointment as he consistently lets himself down. Asiata is a fraction of himself now he’s cleaned up his act. The other Leigh signings couldn’t get a gig over there neither could the 2 from Salford. Hull should have gone for 4 massive signings and over pay them to build from but overpaying for players like Hardaker and the like will leave you stagnating as Rovers did for years in the 90s and 2000. You can see the model won’t work and the frustrations will not be elevated by a Aussie coach directed by Richie Myler who has no experience in these matters.

For most of the players coming in this year yes with an extra year option in our favour.
I am sure you will agree that the length of contracts given for 2025 recruitment will be detrimental to the clubs recruitment for 2026.
You have previously said that the club may have to do some wheeling and dealing for 2026 with some of the players coming in to enable the club to strengthen in the areas we are weak so you have to question why give out longer contracts than necessary.
Hardly think S/L clubs would have been queuing up to sign the likes of Chamberlain,Hardaker,Holmes and Cust .

Cust, Hardaker, Holmes, Rapana all on two year deals which seems fair enough to me. We wouldn't have signed Asiata with a two year offer. Three years for Abdull is a risk and three years for Chamberlain is obvioulsy the outlier. But yes, if things don't work out for whatever reasons players move on.

Maybe some of these deals have clauses that haven't been made public like the one given to Gale.