Hasn't even been grand final yet and I'm sat twiddling my thumbs. Can see why rumours are ramping up.

To be honest as much as I like CT as a player I really don't see him as the answer at stand-off and the latter part of the season was evidence of that for me as he was just too individual didnt link up at all. Is this why we are looking for a 6?

As a centre I thought he looked like he would be good at that role as he has plenty of pace, an eye for a gap and a decent pair of hands. However with the addition of Griffin, the way Fonua has made the Centre role his own this season, the resiging of Michaels and Talanoa on the other wing I do wonder what part CT is going to have next season.

We were trying supposedly to sign Blake Green for next season but then that didnt materialise so you have to question whether due to this Radford tried CT instead of Pryce at a 6 to see if it would fit and now it hasn't, I wonder if Radford wanted a 6 then for 2017 onwards and still wants a decent 6 to partner Sneyd to take some of the work & responsibility off him.

If we are to improve on this season then Stand Off is the one position we are lacking in quality/experience next season and really need to look at.

Radders did the right thing bringing Carlos in.
He was a bit of a project really, with similar potential to Sam Moa when he came, (granted different positions), and Sam was not the finished article either in his first season, both arrived pretty much unproven in NRL but with potential.
(though Sam did finish very close to being the finished article)

I don't think Carlos improved as much as we all hoped he would as the season progressed, but he did enough for us to win that Dream Cup and that should never be forgotten. The kid is the type who needs to be high on confidence or he can go into a shell. But for sure he has talent.

He definitely has got the eye for a gap, but as yet does not go through it enough whether at 6 or centre, but that can only change for the better next year. He will have learnt and he will get better. He also has a pass in him and his decent defence also improved as the season progressed.

But, and its a big but for Carlos, he needed to improve by more this season to bank the 6 or the 4 shirt next year, and he hasn't done quite enough.
That the improvement will come, is without a doubt for me, and he will be a strong candidate for a centre position, but will probably start the season as cover for 6, centre and possibly full back, much like Connor. That is a great position for the Club to be in, with versatile quality cover wrapped up in 2 players, who may yet claim 1 of those position as their own, as the season unfolds.

But that will be made more difficult for both of them knowing we are well down the line in snaring a quality 6 and a specialist outside back.

I think this will be 1 more season of further learning for both of these talented and versatile young players.

For those who can remember, we had a very good side pre. the arrival of our great No6 David Topliss in 81, with us having already made a trip to the old Wembley in 1980. However the quality Toppo brought unlocked defences almost at will as we went to, I think, 6 finals in 4 years.

Like Bunting before him, I don't think Radders wants to wait. If he can get in the right man at 6 then we will indeed be sitting at the top table for a few seasons to come. How we keep the massive potential of Abdull, Connor and Tuimavave happy in the mean time we don't need to ponder. We just need the team to be successful and back where we belong. If these players are good enough they will rise to the challenge of being a champion player, and find a way.

If they do succeed, then some others will be replaced, thats just the way. We shouldn't shed too much of a tear. They're professional, and they all want the same thing as us.

If these 3 prove not good enough to be champion players at Hull FC then they will have to find another path. But they do at least know that Lee Radford will give them every opportunity to show every ounce of improvement they have made.
It's maybe the fringe backs beyond this group that may find it hard to unlock the door, as the queue of quality is developing in front of them. But there again, if they're good enough....

Lets go for it Hull FC, cos otherwise we may just die waiting and watching. Many already have at this club of ours.

Having an overseas player such as Carlos as a 'back-up' is not good business IMHO, it's clear that for next season yet again we have no pace in the outside backs (Michaels being the quickest who whilst is a fantastic defender isn't lightning quick).
It's all well and good going for the smash attack/tackle busts but I feel we need balance and Carlos on the left would give us that.
Of course having choice is good but I'd far rather have a youngster coming through our own ranks as the default back up selection, not a quota spot player.
IF we indeed do sign a SO then that throws up a whole load of questions as to why we are signing the likes of Connor when we have JA, Naughton, Logan already and Griffin/Fonua as our starting centres (presumably) and then of course CT to cover also.

waiting on your promising younger players to come good is a bit of an old chestnut really. of course they quite often don't make it and teams the world over turn to proven talent. if a big name player is available, wants to come and you can afford him, you sign him - a coaches position is precarious a lot of the time and they simply cannot afford to sit around and wait for things to happen

I agree with that
It seems to me there will be several of the younger players moving out including some on loan.
We know Lancaster,HTW and Dean are leaving and i think Naughton will also be on his way.

I would say Fonua and Griffin are both quicker than Michaels.

Agree about Carlos though, can't have an overseas as back up, same could be said for Michaels if we sign a decent winger.

Brilliant post. Pretty much everything I think on the situation.

Brilliant and very well thought out post. Next season we will have been rumbled and what we produced this year will not be enough, teams were already working out how to beat us so we have to move on change things round and get some new talent in, Carlos has bags of potential but has been a little slow to hone it this season.

We don't want a player with potential in such a critical position, we need someone who can do the business now and have the kid with potential as back up.