No it isn’t.

Percival was in direct opposition to Mackintosh, who scored 2 tries!

Now I wouldn’t dream of trying to say Mackintosh totally outplayed Percival but for me Percival had one of his least effective games for Saints against us for some years. He’s usually been good for a try or two against us? So I don’t understand why you would claim a player in a different position totally outplayed one of our players?

Agree with everything you say there.

Only worry would be that when these young players make mistakes, and they are bound too, we have certain fans who will crucify them and write them off before their careers have got going.

Still I would plan for the future and play them as much as possible and let them gain experience and learn from the mistakes.

More or less spot on. IMO would like to see hookem in the halfs with Gale. Lovado at loose man.

Only way to find out is to give them a chance.

Thewlis is about the same age as Hookem and Litten and played nearly 30 games.

At a similar age Mikey Lewis and Lewis Dodd where starting to play first team.

We have to start trusting in our youth and this is ate only chancery start competing IMO.

Have to say Dave I pretty much agree with what youve said. What I find difficult to understand with the halfs particularly in regards to Hookem at the end of last season BH himself said he had been very surprised at how good Hookem was and in hindsight should have played him more. Yet this season we are pretty garbage in the halves with our 2 main so called stars. Yet no sign of Hookem instead we persist in playing a guy we brought in to play at 9 to spell Houghton in the halves.

Its time as a club we put faith in the young players and gave them an opportunity as the likes of St's. Wigan, Leeds have always done. Yes it may not always come off but it can't be any worse than the total lack of creativity we have at 6 & 7 with Reynolds and Gale not helped by their stupidity in bans.

Its a shame McNamara is injured as in all honesty he seemed to be far more affective with linking up with Connor and creating more than Reyonlds and Gale.

Its time to give Hookem an opportunity and play Lovodua in the position he was signed to play.

Gale will definitely start against Wigan but i agree he shouldnt play Reynolds.That said Hodgson is too loyal to certain players and needs to be more ruthless in selection especially when it comes to senior players.
I doubt that he will play Hookem although i would like to see the lad given the chance of a full game.The answer would be to move Connor back to six and either Shaul or Litten to full back but he seems too stubborn to move Connor.
Swift needs to come in and i would keep Wynne at left centre but again even though Griffin was poor at Saints can see him replacing Wynne.
If Mitch is fit another alternative if we move Connor to six would be McIntosh to full back and Mitch to the wing.

We all have opinions but the problem on here is the gang culture and with respect you are one of them who love to gang up on certain posters because you dont agree with something said.
Talentboy has his opinions, a bit strong on Houghton but then again there have been many on here who have criticised Houghton previously and keep saying we need a nine who can quicken the play the ball and make breaks from dummy half rather than just a tackle machine.
He does however have a point about Connor and whilst he his a great ball player its evident now that his lack of pace,poor defence and the inability to be able to back up line breaks like most full backs now do far outweigh Connors positive at linking in the attacking line.
When looking at fast full backs like French,Field,Evalds and Tomkins they are always there to back up line breaks and use their pace to make their own line breaks, so this is an area in my opinion the club must make a priority after signing Trueman.
A Connor/Trueman halfback combination could work but Hodgson seems to very stubborn about leaving Connor at Full back and i think this would be a mistake for next season as we really need some pace injecting into the team.

I can understand if Hookem was deemed not quite ready after a layoff, but then you see Griffin and Taylor blowing out their after no reserve games...........

Put Hookem in with Gale to help him, and get Lovodua in at Hooker.
Swift back in for Shaul
Mitch in for Griffin until he's fit.
Evans in for Taylor until he's fit or will run onto the ball properly.

Oh I agree we all have different opinions. Gang up bit strong IMO. Yes I cannot understand people just slagging hull off at every opportunity. As a supporter I call players etc but not all the time. There is some that only post when we are losing all over the forum like a rash. Win and nothing. Now I just don't get that. Continually having a go at players coaches and the club in general to me seems odd. Again I agree with you we all have opinions

Whilst I’m all for giving our youth a chance, it’s interesting that those three Lewis, Dodd, and Thewlis are all injured, Dodd with a serious injury, you can also refer to Newman, Macnamara, Walker on numerous occasions, this athletic fast game which has evolved, certainly takes it toll, Cam Scott, Cator, and a host of other quite young players are breaking down.

As I said I’m always for promoting youth, but possibly the clammer for Litten & Hookem is two we need not rush, a couple of games here and there will be positives in the next stage of their careers, ala young Balmforth, obviously the exception to the rule this season has been the tremendous emergence of Connor Wynne, but let’s not forget Connor under Radders made his debut at fullback, and after some fine displays lost his way a little.

Think we are going to have to stick with halves Gale & Reynolds this season, as there probably isn’t a better alternative at present.

Agree, Reynolds and gale need to be given a decent stint together, completely understand people not wanting to, but also think both deserve the chance to prove us wannabe coaches wrong

For mine, this is not a player issue, it's a structure/system issue.
We've had countless 6's & 7's , and yet , the team are devoid of any support runners, no player runs from depth, ball is passed slowly across the line, in a nutshell... basic Rugby League.
'When' Gale has played, he's looked ok to me, he's last play options have been poor..
I'd be interested in the views of @Tarquin Fuego on this matter.

I think it's a bit of both, from 2017 to 2021 we had Shaul, Kelly and Sneyd as our main pivots, two of those aren't very creative with the ball in hand and passing is poor.

Now we have two aging halfbacks who keep getting banned.

Add in a Croft, Lomax or Cust, outer attacking play would be much better.

Add in a super fast full back like Field or French with Connor in the halves and we would be not much better but far better