We are light weight at prop. Particularly when Lynch didn't play - I think you called for him to be dropped earlier well there you go with Johnson and Pitts - neither anywhere near big or powerful enough for the role. Youngster Green was also average. In particular Johnson spent his afternoon being totally owned by average SL forwards. Whiting created more down the left channel in the second half than 'poor completion' Westerman did all game on the right. Wouldn't blame either of them mind as they shouldn't have to play that role.

Our forwards were garbage with the possible exception of Galea who at least ran his weight and played quickly. There's a reason why forwards don't get 'on their fronts' and that's because they're not powerful enough. Step forward our props today.

It was a poor display by Hull today. Like others have said there seemed to be little passion & not much of a game plan. It I fed up with hearing about injuries & no scrum half etc. The way they played today makes me wonder whether there is a problem or two within our camp.

I have seen many a match over the past few decades & today's performance by Hull must not be repeated as the fans will 'vote with their feet'. If there is/are problems within the club then Mr Gentle & Co., must sort within the next few days or else there must be changes made with in the club in order to save this season. Time is no longer on the club's side to turn this season around.

As fans were always quick to blame the coach but I'm starting to believe that we have some sort of deep rooted culture problem at this club that will literally take years to change. It's going to take a real top quality coach to do it and what are the chances of us attracting one here? We have too many dumb (in game terms) players that just take the wrong option far too often.

Maybe eyes should change to McRea , Isn't he the one who advised him who to sign ?

Lynch was replaced by Bowden, who I actually thought was possibly our best prop along with Watts. I have also actually called for Pitts to be dropped this season, and more so than Lynch. But that's by the by. I was responding to someone claiming we had plenty of fast ball. We didn't.

Not sure of your point comparing Whiting and Westerman.

And on the last point, I'm completely aware of it thanks. I am assured that a new scrum half would improve our PTB speed, though.

No need to thank me.

You called for Lynch to be dropped which was frankly a joke call in our squad and shown up for that today. You picked Whiting out for criticism but left Westy out of it when he was basically pathetic today in almost everything he did hence why I mentioned it.

A decent kicker and play maker would have given KR something to think about despite playing off slow ball. The club know it which is why the coach talked about it after the game - the fans know it - but perhaps you disagree. We need more forward power and a scrum half. Or maybe you think second rowers could do the job if we only landed on our fronts more ?

Agree

things go worn, Coach gets blame / player power again

lets go back 5 or so years again

And loop ,,,,,,

If AP were to choose to part company with Gentle, the new coach would have a fair wedge to go at salary cap-wise when this lot leave:

Briscoe
Seymour (assuming paid off)
O'Meley
Tickle
Galea

Challenge is that the next few weeks might be crucial in recruitment pre 1 May. IMO we need 2 props, a scrum half and a centre as priorities.

I'm on a knife edge with Gentle. Not only are we not showing showing progression we actually seem to be going backwards in terms of our attack. We literally have no structures whatsoever. Rovers lost Dobson late yet Hall slotted in and it looked smooth. Our game sense has not improved, we are still as dumb as ever. We also never seem to be fired up at the start of games. We looked completely clueless today and Gentle's excuse about injuries just doesn't wash with me. Yes we had key players out but so do other sides and they seem to manage fine.

Why is our halfback problem is so bad did Horne play fb, our one fit half? He got that wrong, Whiting and Westy were awful and quite why Whiting was kicking the ball god only knows. He should have been fullback and with Azza on the bench why did he not spell Houghton? Gentle panicked and just brought him on in the halves, may as well started with him.

Heard so much negative stuff in last month or so regarding Gentle and today about AP's reaction. I think he is on borrowed time but the problem is I can't see anything changing Monday. No players to come back and Wakey playing really well.

I also think that whilst Gentle has to shoulder responsibilty for buidling structures and motivating players it's also the players that need to look themselves. Right now I feel we are as far away as ever from being competitive with the top sides. It's quite depressing, there is so much wrong with our side. I only hope AP doesn't walk away and thankfully I don't think he will.

Yes, just saying someone else would have some cash to influence the team with some big earners going. Hard to replace though.

Agreed and it's a massive problem. Quality is in such short supply.

We need some young raw boned props with serious power and a level headed top quality 7 to play alongside DJ. That despite the fact that our best player this season by a country mile is Rich Horne who delivers 2 fingers regularly to his detractors despite playing behind a weak pack.

Not really sure what replacing Gentle now would achieve especially with the current crisis of player availability however he needs to match - as a minimum - last year's play off win and improve the non existent cup run for me to have improved the team this year. It looks a long way off at the minute and if he fails I'd get rid in September.

I know.

In all seriousness about the PTB speed though, it's not just (or even mostly) about a lack of power. We just seem to have less desire and poorer technique than most other sides. Brown and Welham were getting better PTBs bringing the ball out than our players today, and they are far from brutes. Most of our players don't even stand up quickly once they've turned over.



Was it? Have we been dominant up front and lightning fast at the PTB in every other game? FWIW if he had been fit today I think he should have played & Pitts missed out. What I have actually said about Lynch is that IMO he has not been as good as last year and that in the early stages of the season he was our weakest prop, and that his place should have been under threat when Watts came back. When others seemed to miss out instead I questioned whether Gentle was sticking to his 'picking on form and not shuffling around' promises.



Did I? Think you might need to read my posts in this thread back and pay more attention. Particularly ones where I quote you directly and thoroughly agree.



Nope, I don't disagree that we desperately need a scrum half. I never have. What I do strongly disagree with is that there isn't plenty we can do to improve with what we've got and just write off most of it as the lack of a scrum half. I'm acknowledging several problems equally, not focussing on obtaining one panacea and relegating serious flaws in our basics as relatively trivial.

Well as I've said several times the SH issue won't transform us into champions but we desperately need someone with the brain and practical skill to move the team around and bring our attacking line forward towards the opposition defence. We need a varied and accurate kicking game to put pressure on the other team.

We clearly also need forwards and particularly props. Johnson and to a lesser extent Pitts are more often than not lifted backwards and dumped on their backsides. Hard to get on your front from that position. That was a much rarer event with Moa and O Meley can get over the defender onto his front because of his strength. It was shocking today how average forwards like Tuimavave and Walker easily dealt with our props but their power was too much for us in our defensive collision. I wouldn't have signed either Pitts or Johnson although Pitts might be OK wide if Tickle goes. This is where I would criticise Gentle and McRae - recruitment of average forwards to replace good forwards.