They have to strong favourites, but don't think there team is as good as they think, lots of comments about hammering us, but they have a few weakness, very small starting props including Hadley and no kicker (we have this issue and maybe why Smith will start 6), we need to get them into an arm wrestle and make them work hard for metres, start with our usual errors and I'll discipline and it will be an easy Rovers win. Must test out the defence of Lewis, Evalds and Gildart, who either aren't great defenders or playing in ab unusual position.

I'd go with

Walker
Mcintosh
Sutcliffe
Scott
Martin
Smith
Brown
Ese'ese
Houghton
Sao
Okunbor
Ashworth
Cator

Brown
Pele
Staverley
Hoy

Looking at that side, worry about how our backs defensively will get on.

Hull fans invade the pitch at Craven Park 2 arrested for ABH on a woman. Then the famous smashing the goal posts incident and the worst was Boulevard throwing bricks at people, after the 40-0 hiding outside the ground when the CHAVS attacked Rovers supporters walking over the bridge shall I go on.

Your vile attack albeit it childish and immature needs to be stopped and removed from forums like this.

Still another hiding coming by 20+

One thing that does concern me, is Balmforth not making that squad, 21 players and 5 out, might again be reading more into this, but don't see him getting a chance this season at Hull.

I wouldn't read too much into it. Presumably a 21 man squad has a mix of players to cover any injuries that occur prior to the game and most of our missing players are backs so we need some redundancy in the squad there. All of our players that can play hooker are fit (Houghton, Brown, Smith and, like it or not, Cator) so you could argue he is surplus to requirements in the squad.
That's my take anyway.

Walker
Martin
Sutty
Scott
Darnell
Brown
Smith
Pele
Mint
Essesse
Ligi
Okunbur
Cator

Brown
Hoy
Ashworth
Lane

Alleged team, no real surprises given who’s available. Would have liked to have seen Stavely over lane.

Yeah agree with all that, just don't get why Lane keeps getting in.

Only real big decision is Smith or Hoy, guess Smith impressed more in pre season and more of a natural halfback.

Agreed, but think with Brown not been a real 7 as well, Smith seems like a more sensible option to give us a bit more balance in the halves. Hoy needs a big season for me, but Walker will be number 1 when fit.

Smith probably has a better long kicking game than Hoy? Which will be important in the early sets of the game to make sure we're clearing the ball as far down the pitch as possible. M
Not sure with Lane, he's not someone who can come off the bench and provide impact to the team

Yeah think you are both right with regards Smith over Hoy.

Got a good feeling about Morgan Smith – I think he'll be a great little player for us. Scores a lot of trys, always backing up breaks and is a pretty good tackler too. He's in my fantasy team so hopefully he can do some good for me.

Sensible post and agree, think the part in bold is spot on too for me.

Think it's really where we struggled in the Wigan friendly too. Fash and Houghton went off pretty early in the game leaving us with limited options.

Wigan brought on Mago, Dupree, Walters and Leeming. Its a night and day difference compared to what we have at the minute

Whilst Wigan’s bench was far superior to ours i think that was magnified by having an extended bench.

I don’t think a bench of Ashworth, Jack Brown and Smith or Hoy is that bad.

Big season for Jack Brown. Time for him to step up and show what he can do.

Yeah I'd agree to an extent. The unlimited interchanges would've helped too.

I thought Jack Brown had a decent game when he came on. Smith's philosophy should suit his style

yes agree
only two things come to mind
1) Smith doesnt like him
2)Smith doesnt rate him