Fair assessment, like you just didn’t see what Houghton brought and don’t see the logic of playing him the whole 2nd half and having him, Lovodua & Dwyer on at the same time.

Listening to Smiths post game interview he intimated he maybe hadn’t helped with some of what he did. It was good to hear he wasnt happy even in the 1st half and thought there was some laziness etc.

Agree re McIntosh as those two errors were needless really and could have been much more costly. Thought the decision to have Evans, Satae & Taylor on the sidelines in the 2nd half also allowed Cas to make easy metres and get a roll on.

Didn’t sound like Carlos will be back on Friday due to a foot issue so Scott still in the 17 for Friday. Hopefully we’ll see Sao & Savelio back for Friday and Brown back in the 17.

Conceding 30 points at home is not going to win any Comps so Tony is right to have a dig from day one !

We don't want Keegan-style matches 5-4, but rather Arsene Wenger 1-0 !

I gather we were playing a new style of rugby in attack - ' Tonyball'

Huge crowd rewarded with two points, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t slightly disappointed with the final 20 minutes, but as Tony Smith said, it’s the first 80 minutes these lads have played for a while. When you walk away with a win, it’s forgivable, I have trust that this is something which will be worked on over the course of the season. Shame about Carlos having a setback, Sao and Savelio would be very welcome returns for Leeds on Friday

Smith On Humberside said pre game that he would accept the group competing as a successful season. He is either trying to nullify any preassure on the players from outrageous predictions or he has seen enough to know this squad isn't destined for great things. Unfortunately I think it is the latter and I guess us as supporters would accept the team just having a go and not getting hammered.

Post match he admitted he got a few things wrong but it is a concern we are hearing the word Lazy again and players crumbling under a bit of a rollocking. Be interesting to see who he keeps from the OOC list.

I think we have to be realistic, last season and a few beyond, the table doesn’t lie, we’ve been cannon fodder, capitulation was becoming almost inevitable, so yesterday’s result was very much a gain, Castleford did the double over us comfortably last season, so for me the two points were very welcome, and despite the exhilarating ending, and our decision making capitulating alarmingly, we hung on, result.

Considering our recent turmoil a fabulous crowd of over 15000 was absolutely remarkable, and shows just what would happen should we actually become the side we want to be, the long suffering supporters of our great club prove once again how steadfast they are.

Some superb passing from Tex creating a bit of style to our play, opening up Cas with ease, playing a clever brand of footy which has been missed for so long, for an hour with Dyer electrifying our go forward the two young Australians had solid debuts, and a strong Cas side were put to the sword, with a very nice brand of football, which was a joy to watch, it was at last, so good to be back, well for an hour anyway.

With again three hookers on the field, Westy was coming into his own, the more he was targeted by the crowd, the more it seemed to inspire him, and the rest of the Cas pack finally woke up, and after the withdrawal of Mahe, Cas destroyed our right edge defence at an alarming rate, this is one area of our play which must be strengthened.

Good result I’ll take it, small steps.

If the first half had gone on 5 minutes longer the game would have been put to bed but it didn't. Neither did the second half.

Thought the first 40mins was so different to the dirge we've witnessed for the past few seasons and more as you rightly say the variation in play is refreshing and bodes well moving forward. Our line speed both in attack and defence was light years ahead of previous seasons, our intensity and tempo was also far better. However the 2nd half we reverted back to the old ways with little line speed at all and stood waiting in defence rather than closing Cas down as we had in the first 40. Cas were always going to come out strongly in the 2nd half and we allowed them back in to a game that we should have closed out easily.


Whilst I agree there are rightly questions with regards to our pack I'm not sure its a big but. Smith for some reason decided to have Fash & Cator as the two forwards and have all of Satae, Taylor & Evans sat on the sidelines for quite a period time which combined with over using Houghton for 60mins (why?) and the two un neccessary errors from McIntosh that Cas took full advantage just gave Cas the invitation to get on top of the 2nd half and get on a roll. All this on top of not having Sao, Savelio or Brown in the 17 against a big Cas 17. I can only assume that Smith with the score at 32-6 decided to try a few things out in a real game situation and test the players.

For me Brown offers more the either Taylor or Evans so mystified as to why he wouldn't have had him in the 17 and without Sao we go with Dwyer, Lovodua and Houghton.

Smith postgame seemed to acknowledge that he himself possibly didn't help and that he pulled the players up even at half time for some things he saw/thought were lazy.
Whilst the game was frustrating in the 2nd half it shows the team that even at 32-6 up they can't slack off. One other thing that was pleasing was our ability to pass and catch certainly seems improved from previous seasons too

Houghton Brought the same as last few years .....nothing

Difference is people are now noticing how limited he is now we have a better hooker In dwyer

Not sure if this is the place to put it but I've started a Twitter account called @hullfc_stats which will have a bit of a breakdown of some of the big moments of games and stat analysis. Thanks to anyone that decides to give it a follow

To be fair I think it will take a little bit of time to eradicate the old ways as it's been well engrained in the playing group over a number of seasons. Yes ordinarily it would be a concern but with Smith and his post game comments its something he won't tolerate and is not afraid to tell them even at halftime, again something they haven't been used to for some time.

Overall its still very early days and I thought there was plenty to be positive about for the future. Lets be honest after seeing the 17 for both teams before the game I'd have been happy with any 2pts. We saw some good stuff in the first half and not so good stuff in the 2nd half but do think as I said in previous post some of that wasn't helped by the likes of Satae.Taylor and Evans all being sat n sidelines at the same time inviting Cas back in to the game and enabling them to get on a roll.

Totallty agree, the small 'middle' enabled Cas to play Harlem Globetrotter stuff and offload at will and caused us to struggle to get a win in D.

Rovers suffered a similar problem last season when Litten and Parcell were on the pitch at the same time.

Looking forward to rewatching the game on Hull FC live.

You have to take into account that Cas where full strength and we where missing 4 of our stating 13.

If the kits were better Mcintosh would had scored and it would have been 42-6.

Smith got the bench and subs wrong, too lightweight and having all 3 props off at the same time and having Dwyer off for so long.

I'd bring Brown, Sao and Savelio for Evans, Cator and Houghton.

Need to get more from McNamara otherwise I'd play Lovodua there.

i still dont think we have a natural leader on the field to rally the troops when things arent going to well or when complacency sets in.even the players missing are not leader material.we played some great rugby in the first 50 mins,but when cas started scoring tries,the behind the sticks huddles was very reminiscent to last season.

I thought it was strange that Smith chose to start the 2nd half without Dwyer as it worked well in the first half and we seemed to lose our momentum and intensity without him and Satae, Taylor or Evans.
I agree that Brown has to come back in and hopefully Sao and Savelio are back for Leeds.

TBF to McNamara I thought he did well was directly involved is acouple of our tries and although he was targeted at times by Cas he stood up well defensively to it on the whole, apart from when he jumped out the line for their 2nd try. Think I'd rather leave McNamara there and spell Lovodua with Dwyer at 9 to keep the speed/tempo up, as felt that dropped off with the introduction of Houghton.

Well that was fun. We never make it easy. Overall pleased with the 2 points. I reckon the tackle bags will get used this week . Some really good signs and also some weaknesses but early days. Throw Savellio and Sao into the pack and we will do better. Great crowd to.