Outright 3rd

Quote: Mr. Zucchini Head "Nothing new found about it. Go have a look at the prediction threads in pre season. I said we would make the playoffs with a bit to spare.

Still doesn't mean I think Radford can take us where we want to go. We are a mile behind Saints and Warrington. But as I have said before, I really hope to be proved wrong, and if we can finish 3rd and go into the playoffs with a healthy squad, well maybe I will be. You've got be in it to win it.'"

I never expected much from this season for the simple reason that I didn't think our pack was good enough to match it with the likes of Saints, Wire, Catalans and Wakefield. Without wishing to dwell on the past, the decision to get rid of Watts and not replace him still baffles me. And as others have said we've never really replaced Ellis or Pritchard like for like (the former being irreplaceable full stop, the latter having been subsidised). Layer on the long term absences of our contracted first pick props Bowden and Green (here we are almost in May, 2 bench appearances from a possible 26) and the questionable form of Paea last season - just felt like the right platform couldn't be laid by Taylor on his own as he had tried to do in that glorious run of 11 defeats at the end of 2018. We have excellent halves IMO - the best trio in SL quite possibly, two very good centres in Carlos and Griff, OK wingers and a very handy full back, but without the right foundations that's just vanity.

So given our injuries and suspensions I'm very pleasantly surprised with our league position at Round 13. Our lack of grit in the "middles" has been exposed against the top 2 but there are some positives in the forwards. Paea has been much better this year, Mini looks to have renewed energy, and the resurrection of Ellis has been critical. Encouraging to add Savelio (although short lived) and Green had some real grunt in his carries today which was good to see. Just a couple of weeks off Bowden's return too. I'd also say that Houghton is having his best season in 3, loads of zip round the ruck.

What I do like as well is that we can score points and are more exciting to watch. Having spent years watching 9s, projects and crocks try and get us round the pitch in the halves, it's great to have Sneyd with the ability to pull the strings line up with Kelly and Connor (2 of the biggest talents I've seen in Hull shirts) - what we try doesn't always come off like that almost try in the first 5 minutes today - but they back themselves and have a go. This season I don't think we'll trouble the trophy cabinet unless we can get our best pack on the pitch consistently, but we are offering more with ball in hand and I'm enjoying watching Carlos' footwork, Griffin's punch, Westerman's lines. At the same time we're integrating Masi and Lane and giving chances to the likes of Wynne (looks a right player). We're 3rd in points scored, that has to be pleasing. We're clearly behind the top 2 as our blow out scores indicate, but like you say, maybe in the event we can hang on to a play off place, they may have 14 out and we might be somewhere near full strength.