QuoteMrs Barista="Mrs Barista"I think Wire have the edge simply because they've been in far more play-off football than us in recent years. Be unimaginable IMO for a team that finished 8th after 30 games last year to suddenly perform well all year and win play-off games.'"
More unimaginable than the treble winners of 2015 playing in the 2016 middle 8s?
There's no reason why Hull can't continue to grow and evolve as a team in the coming years. But this season offers as good a chance as any to win something. Next year, other teams are likely to imitate Hull's and Catalans' big is beautiful philosophy, even with the reduction in interchanges. That means more will be able to fight fire with fire, and the more teams that play that way, the more teams will become familiar with it. They'll still have some catching-up to do, and won't themselves benefit to the same extent, but maintaining that specific competitive advantage over years, is unlikely - if not quite unimaginable.
QuoteMild Rover="Mild Rover"More unimaginable than the treble winners of 2015 playing in the 2016 middle 8s?
There's no reason why Hull can't continue to grow and evolve as a team in the coming years. But this season offers as good a chance as any to win something. Next year, other teams are likely to imitate Hull's and Catalans' big is beautiful philosophy, even with the reduction in interchanges. That means more will be able to fight fire with fire, and the more teams that play that way, the more teams will become familiar with it. They'll still have some catching-up to do, and won't themselves benefit to the same extent, but maintaining that specific competitive advantage over years, is unlikely - if not quite unimaginable.'"
People seem to have this obsession with our supposedly massive team but IMO it's a bit of a myth. Our props are no bigger than most teams, our back rowers (pritchard apart) the same. We have the likes of washbrook, thompson and hadley playing regularly. ellis, manu and mini are the same size as most back rowers in SL and smaller than plenty. bowden and taylor are pretty big but no more than props elsewhere, green is big but probably the least effective of our props and watts is actually quite lean for a prop. In the backs we only really have the bin man and fonua who are bigger than average but no more than the likes of hall, sau, lineham, carney etc.
Where we seem to have an advantage is in technique, fitness and conditioning. We're not dropping off intensity towards the end of games and we play at a high tempo which is hard for most teams to live with. I don't think we're really doing anything much different to what the rest of SL are trying to do, we're just doing it more effectively
QuoteMild Rover="Mild Rover"More unimaginable than the treble winners of 2015 playing in the 2016 middle 8s?'"
Absolutely. How many teams have won the title from 8th the previous year? Leeds decline is a function of poor recruitment following the release of Sinfield, Peacock, Leuluia, Aiton and excessive injuries. Year over year our recruitment has been good but frankly we've not had injury crises for a few seasons, so that's not a material factor in any progression. It's unimaginable. FWIW I think Catalans and Wire will win the trophies this year, but am simply delighted to have seen such a great string of performances. Even more satisfying on the back of receiving fees for players and at the same time trading up the squad.
QuoteMrs Barista="Mrs Barista"Absolutely. How many teams have won the title from 8th the previous year? Leeds decline is a function of poor recruitment following the release of Sinfield, Peacock, Leuluia, Aiton and excessive injuries. Year over year our recruitment has been good but frankly we've not had injury crises for a few seasons, so that's not a material factor in any progression. It's unimaginable. FWIW I think Catalans and Wire will win the trophies this year, but am simply delighted to have seen such a great string of performances. Even more satisfying on the back of receiving fees for players and at the same time trading up the squad.'"
So, Catalans, who were 8th after 23 rounds and 7th after 30 last year, will win a trophy, but it's beyond Hull?
I can understand if you're just reluctant to say something that might jinx it.
Or maybe the accusations of arrogance, have hit a nerve, just as you (hull fans generally) do have something to be confident about?
But rationally, on current form, it's very possible. I can imagine it happening, so it is definitely imaginable.
Most supporters I know are just enjoying the moment and not looking too far ahead.
Think we have acquired a cynicism over the years, and it seems to be going too well at the moment!
QuoteJake the Peg="Jake the Peg"People seem to have this obsession with our supposedly massive team but IMO it's a bit of a myth. Our props are no bigger than most teams, our back rowers (pritchard apart) the same. We have the likes of washbrook, thompson and hadley playing regularly. ellis, manu and mini are the same size as most back rowers in SL and smaller than plenty. bowden and taylor are pretty big but no more than props elsewhere, green is big but probably the least effective of our props and watts is actually quite lean for a prop. In the backs we only really have the bin man and fonua who are bigger than average but no more than the likes of hall, sau, lineham, carney etc.
Where we seem to have an advantage is in technique, fitness and conditioning. We're not dropping off intensity towards the end of games and we play at a high tempo which is hard for most teams to live with. I don't think we're really doing anything much different to what the rest of SL are trying to do, we're just doing it more effectively'"
Washbrook, Hadley, Naughton, Talanoa and a few others look bigger than last year to me. Mrs B had a picture of Callum Lancaster at one point and he seemed to have bulked up considerably. They look fit and well conditioned too, though by the hour mark that might reflect more on how trampled the opposition are. Powerful rather than, big, if you prefer.
QuoteMild Rover="Mild Rover"So, Catalans, who were 8th after 23 rounds and 7th after 30 last year, will win a trophy, but it's beyond Hull?
I can understand if you're just reluctant to say something that might jinx it.
Or maybe the accusations of arrogance, have hit a nerve, just as you (hull fans generally) do have something to be confident about?
But rationally, on current form, it's very possible. I can imagine it happening, so it is definitely imaginable.'"
I fancied Catalans pre season, but then I have done for several years. Their recruitment for 2016 has been fabulous IMO. Totally accept the point on 2015 finish comparability, but I guess where I'm coming from is that they (in my head, might not be backed up in fact) have been a lot closer to the top than us in recent seasons. Maybe on the basis we've been miles off since Agar.
On the jinx/arrogance point, all I can say is that after a decade of disappointment, these are great times - in the moment - that realise feck all. History tells us it'll go tits up imminently, so whether it does or doesn't nothing can detract from the brightest three months in a decade. Those hoping and praying for us to fail can project unrealistic expectations onto us and joyously sneer at failure to deliver, but it matters not. I've got a dozen marvellous performances to keep me warm this winter and meanwhile we're top for another week and still in the cup. If others want to claim not winning a trophy is failure that's up to them, certainly not for me.
On the jinx/arrogance point, all I can say is that after a decade of disappointment, these are great times - in the moment - that realise feck all. History tells us it'll go tits up imminently, so whether it does or doesn't nothing can detract from the brightest three months in a decade. Those hoping and praying for us to fail can project unrealistic expectations onto us and joyously sneer at failure to deliver, but it matters not. I've got a dozen marvellous performances to keep me warm this winter and meanwhile we're top for another week and still in the cup. If others want to claim not winning a trophy is failure that's up to them, certainly not for me.'"
QuoteMrs Barista="Mrs Barista"I fancied Catalans pre season, but then I have done for several years. Their recruitment for 2016 has been fabulous IMO. Totally accept the point on 2015 finish comparability, but I guess where I'm coming from is that they (in my head, might not be backed up in fact) have been a lot closer to the top than us in recent seasons. Maybe on the basis we've been miles off since Agar.
On the jinx/arrogance point, all I can say is that after a decade of disappointment, these are great times - in the moment - that realise feck all. History tells us it'll go tits up imminently, so whether it does or doesn't nothing can detract from the brightest three months in a decade. Those hoping and praying for us to fail can project unrealistic expectations onto us and joyously sneer at failure to deliver, but it matters not. I've got a dozen marvellous performances to keep me warm this winter and meanwhile we're top for another week and still in the cup. If others want to claim not winning a trophy is failure that's up to them, certainly not for me.'"
I'm not suggesting that not winning a trophy from here would be a disaster or embarrassment or anything like that. The way the competitions are structured means that you could play well in every game to the end of the season, but if other good teams play well and beat you narrowly in a couple of knock-out games, that's the brasso back in the drawer for another year. Although there's always the plate, of course.
I think it's more likely you won't win the GF or CC than that you will. But you've got as good a shot as anybody and better than most.
Most interesting season for a long time, IMO, and there's certainly not that feeling of inevitability that it'll be two of the perennial Grand Finalists at Old Trafford in October.
QuoteJake the Peg="Jake the Peg"People seem to have this obsession with our supposedly massive team but IMO it's a bit of a myth. Our props are no bigger than most teams, our back rowers (pritchard apart) the same. We have the likes of washbrook, thompson and hadley playing regularly. ellis, manu and mini are the same size as most back rowers in SL and smaller than plenty. bowden and taylor are pretty big but no more than props elsewhere, green is big but probably the least effective of our props and watts is actually quite lean for a prop. In the backs we only really have the bin man and fonua who are bigger than average but no more than the likes of hall, sau, lineham, carney etc.
Where we seem to have an advantage is in technique, fitness and conditioning. We're not dropping off intensity towards the end of games and we play at a high tempo which is hard for most teams to live with. I don't think we're really doing anything much different to what the rest of SL are trying to do, we're just doing it more effectively'"
Nice try Jake but your team is massive no myth your wingers are bigger than our props
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