Things are starting to come together quite nicely. I reckon we are 3 quality signings away from having a team capable of doing something next year. 


Clearly we need a top centre. I actually think Briscoe is doing a sterling job of filling in but it's not really his position and he us coming to the back end of his career. It will do for this year, but we need to find someone with a bit of pace and x factor. 


We also need at least one prop. Ese'ese is quality, I like Ashworth, and Aydin is that full hearted work horse that every team needs. After that there are question marks. We don't know what might happen with Sao's recovery, but at the moment it seems to me more likely that he will leave. It's a big injury at this stage of his career. Fash just isn't ever going to be good enough imo. Knight won't be here, or at least it's very unlikely. Same goes for Watts. Eseh could be the answer, but he's not played a game yet. We need to add someone of at least a similar ability to Ashworth imo.


And I'd be looking for a quality 6 too, a running threat. Cust is doing fine, but I see him more as a utility man who can cover at hooker and in the halves. Will Pryce would fit the bill. No idea if there's anything in the rumour.

I agree, these are the holes in the squad.  As has been said before, satae would be a decent  pick-up now off quota and the perfect foil for herman but can't see us bringing him back. Probably too expensive.  Eseh may turn into a decent prop but currently too inexperienced to be kne of our main 4.

A quality centre would give us some real threat out wide in the centre area where we currently don't really have much other than cartwright 

At the minute, I have a feeling this is how we will look for R1 -2026  

1. Rapana
2. Martin
3. Briscoe 
4. Hardaker
5. Barron
6. Cust
7. Sezer 
8. Ese’ese
9. Borough
10. Aydin
11. Cartwright
12. Batchelor 
13. Asiata
14. Ashworth
15. Eseh
16. Bell
17. Balmforth 

I have heard that one of the cladding king sponsors suggested the club are in the process of trying to pay Ligi off so I’ll assume he won’t be here.



Addition of a centre - Hankinson (OOC), King (OOC) or pay a fee for Sam wood at Cas. Shame Pratt has a long deal at wakey.


Halfback - think Cust has done it tough having Chamberlain/Briscoe combination as BK row/Centre but if Will Pryce is available it’s a no brainer. 


Lock those two positions down and I’d be V happy going into 2025. Would be very happy to add Harrison and think it’s a shame that Knight has been written off as thought he looked V handy.

I don't think Knight has been written off as such. But the quota situation is pretty tight. If he rips up trees over the coming months then it might change our plans, particularly if we can get Bell off quota. But we badly need quality at centre and stand off and it seems unlikely that we will find both domestically. Best case scenario is that we get King and Pryce, but both will be in demand elsewhere.

I'd be looking at someone younger than Hakinson and Wood is far too slow for a centre IMO. King would be a good option, but wouldn't be cheap. I'd like to see what Litten can do, he is back in training now, so hopefully gets a chance to show us what he can do.

I wouldn't keep Briscoe.


Think we will get a prop and an outside back.


Hopefully looking at a Abdul replacement.


Not easy only options I can see are Lam and Pryce without a quota spot.


Possible Dodd too, who I don't think would be a bad signing, think he is better than people think and it the right environment in the right role would do well.

Yes I'd like to see Litten get a go there too. He looked really good there last year until he got injured. In the win against Wigan he was about the best player on the pitch. We do still need another centre though even if he goes well.

To be honest I wouldn't be against extending Briscoes stay for another year if it doesn't hit us cap wise as feel his contribution in regards the progress of Barron & Martin has been telling Its also worth noting we have little experience in the squad in that particular role/area other than Rapana/Hardaker/Chamberlain, so again would help possibly help Litten progress if he is seen by the club as an option at centre once back from injury.  


Don't think Wood would improve us enough either to make him a viable option, King would certainly be a decent addition and greatly improve our options at centre.


Agree we need another half though but getting a quality one that isn't quota won't be easy and likely have to be a marquee signing which as you say would be a replacement for the Abdull signing. 


Then we just need do do a bit work in he forwards to make we have enough size and depth moving forward.


If we can do most of the above then think that's a huge turn around in just over a season from the mess the squad was in for the 2024 season, and whilst it maybe wouldn't look to be the most attractive quality filled squad on paper, it would certainly be a very competitive one. 

Think Dan Tomlinson has made it clear that Bell will be a quota player so it rules out Knight & any other non fed players.


I like Litten but right now it’s a risk as he’s only ever shown flashes. 


Centre for me is a case of what’s available, Wood is decent wingers centre and think he’s the only Under contract centre who would be willing to leave their club for us tbh. 


I think Briscoe will have 1 more year, he’s steady on centre and wing. Not the same excitement machine but got the experience which I think is massive for our young wingers.

Wood is average, much better OOC centres than him, would rather keep Briscoe and go with what we have, I'd only sign a centre if it improves us, I don't think Wood does that.


Certainly would r be paying a fee for him. Been poor this year, Cas fans not happy with him this year.

For Hull OOC list, I'd definitely keep Ashworth maybe Jebson and Wainhouse.


Think it's time to release Laidlaw amd Gardiner, let them play in the championship to get regular gametime, neither look SL players.

James Bell is a handy player but not who Hull should be spending their last quota spot on IMO. Should have gone on either a half or a strike centre.

we know