Absolutely agree with this. I questioned his signing at the time because we had sufficient cover in the outside backs. I didn't buy the argument that when a player of his quality becomes available you should be in for him. This is a poor strategy. This isn't a criticism of Fonua as he is a quality player. It would have made sense if we hadn't signed Swift or given Faraimo a new contract. It was clear we needed another big aggressive forward to suit our style of play. After only 3 games in it's already looking like it is an error of judgement.

I wouldn't say that just yet. That was Fash and Masi's first hit out in Super league this year, and they were up against probably the most formidable pack in the comp.

Ratu has a bad hamstring injury which is likely to keep him out 3/4 weeks
Tuimavave ankle injury again could be another 3/4 weeks

I guess Connor will move to right centre with Albo coming in at 6. Kelly at 6 would probably have happened anyway even if Carlos hadnt had the injury.
Dont know if Faraimo will be fit but Radford not happy with Fonua who is obviously not fit.
Discipline is again becoming a concern and this is where we need a good captain on the field.

I thought Fonua did some decent things but he isn't fit. Whether thats just match fitness or he's carrying a slight injury I aren't sure, but he didn't look quite up to speed. Either way I'm not sure if we have much choice but to stick with him for now.

I'm going to assume the worst and say Faraimo, Ratu, Carlos, Bowden and Ma'u and Cator are unavailable next week. Obviously we know that Satae definitely is.

Shaul
Fonua
Connor
Griffin
Swift
Kelly
Sneyd
Taylor
Houghton
Sao
Jones
Lane
Ellis

Matongo
Brown
Johnstone
Fash

Again, the first 13 is strong. The bench is a concern, although I really like Brown and want to see him get a chance.

I love Sao, he's fastly becoming my favourite player. Got to be one of the best forwards in the league, he's strong in so many departments of the game.

Sorry I didn’t get to listen to the game
2am ko on a Sunday -Monday morning

Did we compete for the whole 80 ?

Did we look competitive ? For the 80 ?

Brown is injured apparently. And I think Lane has rib cartilage damage and had to play jabbed up when Bowden withdrew?

Our bench was garbage, that’s what lost the game.
Unfortunately Masi will never be a top player.
We had , Houghton, Fash and Johnstone all on at the same time.
Says it all .

Today’s game showed the lack depth in the Hull squad. 1-20 are quality and if we keep 90% of them fit we will be there or thereabouts.

Today’s 1st half we matched them but the bench today simply wasn’t big enough or super league quality. Fash and Matongo are simply not SL quality and never will be. If Chris Green can get into our cup final 17’s then he certainly is better options then what we have.

Having said all that it’s only round 3, nothing is won and i am still optimistic for the business end of the season. Carlos looked a class above and Sao is certainly looking a shrewd signing. My glass is certainly still half full with the positives certainly outweighing the negatives

Competed well first half and absorbed a lot from them. Third quarter a kick went into touch on the full then they scored four tries without us touching the ball.

no and no

Touched on this before the season kicked off

Big question marks over Bowden
Big question marks over whether Masi and Fash can step up

We need a few bodys back as the depth past a certain point isnt good enough as we saw last season

isn't it the same for the majority of the clubs though - take 4 first choice forwards out and a half and 2 backs and where are they all at?

first 40 we were decent and it was a close game, though saints errors probably kept us in front

first 20 of the 2nd half a shambles - started off by connor kicking out on the full for the second time in the game

last 20 we were ok but chasing the game and saints never really troubled by us

I look at that saints defeat to Warrington, plenty of adversity before the game and during, but if I was a saints fan, I’d of been happy with how they performed, the effort and intensity put in to the game. We just don’t cope at all, our fringe, young players just don’t seem to step up, it’s like they’ve not trained with the first team and are just thrown in. Our strongest 17 week in, week out, can compete with anyone, but that’s very unlikely going to be very often, and it’s the same for all clubs, to early In the season to be flapping, but I do worry the frailties we’ve seen over several years now, are just going to continue but with different personnel