Me too. I've always maintained that disregarding the fan aspect, I believe it comes down to 3 main things for a player: Trophies, Coach, and Money. For me, only 1 of those factors is a possible trump card Hull could play, and it's the one I'd prioritise last of the 3.

I know it is going off topic - but is this the elephant in the room on the quota reduction argument? Short-termism - a failure to give young players a chance is blamed for the influx of average Aussies. We'll see how it pans out, but what you seem to be suggesting and what I'm wondering is whether it isn't a shortage of opportunities, but a shortage of players that is preventing us competing as we'd like at international level?

I didn't respond to your Dickins comment, because you chose to ignore the fact that on that post, I prefixed the list with "Not saying we should sign all of these, but off the top of my head..."

I have only named 14 but that was only the first 4 clubs I glanced at. I could quite easily produce you a list of 30+ minimum if you like?

I would also like to see our youth progress, but Green nor Crooks are ready, and won't become ready watching Dowes play for 80 minutes whilst sat down as 18th man. The u21's is simply unable to harden players physically as the National League is.

I think Rugby League has something in common with Football in the shortage of players situation, in that it comes to how talent is spotted/developed at young ages. There's a tendency to go with the more physically developed kids over the naturally talented/skilful ones, emphasising power over craft, so plenty are lost to the game. With such a relatively small talent pool in our game already, it's an attitude we can little afford to remain IMO.

Agree with that bit a lot, and would also add mentally to it. I always said we should have had Tommy Lee playing in the NLs from 18 learning to play scrum half properly, and it's still something I don't think we take advantage of properly even with the dual contract situation now.

Same here.