With all due respect I disagree. And it's certainly not silly to be debating it. As I've said earlier, I believe McDonnell has been one of our better players this season - but he also has flaws in his game. He doesn't score enough tries (2 all season is a poor return) and IMO he isn't a great third pivot. His passing isn't good enough. Compare his try assists with likes of Tomkins or Hodgson. So whilst he's been good, he's not been good enough (IMO) to justify keeping a player of Shaul's undoubted ability and potential out of the side.

Shaul has gone beyond the point where sending him out on dual reg and playing against inferior opponents is going to help his development. Quite the opposite, it is more likely to stunt his development. We could play him on the wing, but if he's to realise his potential as a full back then he's needs to be playing in that position regularly against SL opposition.

If we agree that Shaul is Hull FC's future at full back, then based on his performances to date and his potential up curve it's a no brainer. Hull FC should be doing everything they can to maximise that potential as soon as possible, like we have with Lineham and, to a degree Crooks. That's tough on McDonnell, but that's professional sport.

Based purely on a playing front, Shaul is an excellent support player, a natural try scorer, and more direct when he returns the ball (backed up by his average metres per carry stat). So in some aspects of his play he actually outperforms McDonnell already.

With continued improvement and experience through SL game time I'd expect him to eclipse, or at least equal, McDonnell in several other aspects of full back play before too long. So looking at the bigger picture, it's Shaul all the way for me.

McDonnell has a very bad hamstring tear which may well rule him out of some/all of pre season and some of next season. Add to that a fairly high risk of recurrence and I would think that we will see Shaul at full back for the start of the year. Not much chance of him being dual registered now I don't believe. If only we had an A team competition McDonnell could work his way back to fitness and fight for his place through that route.

If some clubs get there way during the closed season the A team/ reserves could be about to make a comeback with rules in place to play so many under 23's with a splattering of over age players to replace the duel registration system. its been stated on some web sites and rugby media sites that the curent system is not working for the majority of clubs involved in club partnerships. This is coming from both super league clubs as well as those in the championship and championship one clubs.
If it does come about the clubs start running a reserve/A team it will mean the likes of Shaul, Kent, Hadley, Bowden and some of the over 19's that may be lost to the game as there late developers etc will be getting meaningful game time.
every week when not playing 1st Team games.

rlhttps://www.therfl.co.uk/news/article/28870/shaul-building-brick-by-brick?rl

Totally agree.

Won't AP have some say in this even tho he isn't the coach. Surely he can see what we can of the kid and won't want him getting snapped up by another team will he. Everyone has favourites but u got to play the best to win games not keep them cos of favouritism surely. I would give Shaul a go from the start

Won't AP have some say in this even tho he isn't the coach. Surely he can see what we can of the kid and won't want him getting snapped up by another team will he. Everyone has favourites but u got to play the best to win games not keep them cos of favouritism surely. I would give Shaul a go from the start

He will have a go from the start, McDonnell is going to miss the beginning of the season apparently. It'll be Shaul's to lose, but I would have Shannon as first choice still.

Thank you Al Read.

Your welcome

McDonnell a decent pivot/good passing game? That has to be a joke - our attack used to come to a halt when he got the ball.

I really don't rate the guy that highly. In attack he isn't much of a threat, he isn't particularly quick or strong, doesn't score many tries, rarely backs-up & supports or gets on the end of grubbers. He's an elusive runner and very good at evading defenders with ball in hand, but that's pretty much it.

In defense, his one on one tackling is decent, he's alright under the highball, but has certainly had his moments. I don't think his positioning is that good when defending close to the line, not wanting to put his body where it hurts.

Yeah, Shaul for me (if you'd not already guessed).

The Chairman may influence team selection at some clubs but I don't want to see it at Hull FC.

Edited for accuracy.

Really enjoying Shauls injection of pace and his try scoring at a time when we look a bit toothless in attack.
But then I wonder if the loss of McDonnell is the key factor in our attack looking short of ideas. Shannons combinations with the pivots were starting to pay off and his entry into the line either side was a key factor in our three-quarters looking dangerous.
Is the answer to our attacking problems as simple as us just having that extra man arriving in the line with perfect timing? Maybe this is an attribute Jamie still can learn from Shannon.

We need 2 full backs in the squad and it's great to have competition.