It's amazing how quickly things around. After an hour on Friday I think we were all readying ourselves for yet another season of mid table mediocrity. 100 excellent minutes later and things are looking rosy again.

Next up is a trip to Saints. Every game is important if we want to get into that top 4, but against a team that will perhaps be our biggest rival for a spot this one seems bigger than most.

There's a chance we could have a full squad to choose from, which after 8 games is pretty unprecedented for us, although Pryce might be the exception, not heard anything about how his recovery has gone. Not only is it a boost to have some big players available, but the fact they all sat out Monday should mean we are pretty fresh, whereas most of the Saints team will have played 3 times in a week. For that reason alone I think we have to be favourites, but it's still another big test.

Oh, and as fun as these comebacks are, it would be nice to control a game for a change.

Thoughts?

I would definitely give Eliis a rest. He has been magnificent all season and especially over Easter but we don't need/have to push him to far. Maybe Taylor as well. Great to be in this position.

good record at langtree, hopefully we can keep that going

radfords' decision to play the youngsters vs wire was a masterstroke and the players coming back will be fresh, saints only made 3 or 4 changes over the two weekend games so hopefully we will be more fresher

give ellis, washy and taylor a rest or come on from the bench

saints v wigan

McDonnell; Makinson, Peyroux, Dawson, Owens; Fages, Walsh; Tasi, Burns, Amor, Wilkin, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook.

Replacements: Walmsley, Roby, Richards, Thompson.

widnes v saints

McDonnell; Makinson, Peyroux, Dawson, Owens; Fages, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Savelio, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin.

Replacements: Burns, Amor, Turner, Thompson.

Well I was thinking leave Taylor out and put Ellis on the bench and keep his minutes as limited as possible. He could certainly use a rest but I think the rest of the squad takes strength from him just being there.

The one that still concerns me is Houghton, he runs his blood to water every week but we just don't have the personnel to be able to spell him. Hopefully we get a couple of favourable cup draws this year so we can give him a week off and put Litten there.

Good post and I like the sentiment. It's certainly a big game in the context of top 4/6/8. Effectively "resting" 8 players (albeit some unable to play) and still getting the points on Sunday was a really noteworthy achievement, and some pundits are saying that the games thiscoming weekend are when the effects of Easter are really felt.

We have a chance, I think. Forwards I imagine we'd welcome back Manu and Pritchard, hopefully Minichiello too although I'm always a bit wary about neck injuries. The backs are interesting. Shaul self-selects. I don't think you could drop Noggers and I guess Fonua will be back, and the centre shirt is Yeaman's to lose right now. That leaves Talanoa, Logan, Tuimavave, Michaels and Lancaster for the last slot. I'd probably go Noggers, Yeaman, Tuimavave, Fonua. This assumes Radford keeps Abdul in the halves. If he drops Abdull and plays Tuimavave at 6, maybe go Noggers, Yeaman, Fonua, Michaels? Not sure whether Talanoa is fit, not heard much about his concussion tbh.

Here's their team from Monday, not sure who's coming back.
McDonnell; Makinson, Peyroux, Dawson, Owens; Fages, Walsh; Walmsley, Roby, Savelio, Greenwood, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin. Interchange Burns, Amor, Turner, Thompson.

Sorry, that was all a bit of a ramble. Looking forward to it though, a good test of where we are, like you say, against a team targeting the top end of the table.

As much as I believe in playing the strongest possible team, talking about it at work today and we felt that anyone who misses out at saints but played against warrington should feel a little hard done by. They came in, written off before the first kick off and pretty much done everything asked of them. The boys coming back need to step up and prove they deserved to be back in. Places are there to be won and lost. What a great headache for radders to have

if it wasnt the easter fixture id agree, but backing up friday after monday is tough, regardless who was playing

Guess so. But if any that missed out aren't fully recovered from niggles or anything else (minichello-neck, Carlos-concussion etc) I'd rather go with the ones that stepped up than risk if not 100%.

agreed, we have the depth in our squad now not to risk any player not 100%

x2 . We've got the depth , Use it .

Quote: Mr. Zucchini Head "Well I was thinking leave Taylor out and put Ellis on the bench and keep his minutes as limited as possible. He could certainly use a rest but I think the rest of the squad takes strength from him just being there. The one that still concerns me is Houghton, he runs his blood to water every week but we just don't have the personnel to be able to spell him. Hopefully we get a couple of favourable cup draws this year so we can give him a week off and put Litten there.'" This, plus I don't think he'll want to sit it out with a normal turnaround to follow. www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC- ... z44JeMxfct

Quote: Mr. Zucchini Head "Well I was thinking leave Taylor out and put Ellis on the bench and keep his minutes as limited as possible. He could certainly use a rest but I think the rest of the squad takes strength from him just being there. The one that still concerns me is Houghton, he runs his blood to water every week but we just don't have the personnel to be able to spell him. Hopefully we get a couple of favourable cup draws this year so we can give him a week off and put Litten there.'" This, plus I don't think he'll want to sit it out with a normal turnaround to follow. www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC- ... z44JeMxfct

According to Radford Pryce should be available for the week after the Saints match.Mini a bit of movement in his neck but no mention whether he will be fit or not.
Talanoa should be fit if selected to play.
I agree we should give Taylor a rest but whether he wants to be rested is another question
I think Radford will go with the starting back line and half backs we had at HKR as Fonua and Tuimavave will be back.
Ellis to come of the bench with Pritchard
Dean Hadley to get another run and starting with Manu with Thompson at 13.
Green on the bench with Washbrook if Taylor is rested,starting props Bowden and Watts.
Sorry Danny Houghton no rest for you.

x3. No-one should feel aggrieved at being rotated, even after a good performance. Every week radford should pick to his strengths, both injury and fatigue-wise and tactically depending on the needs dictated by the strengths of the next opposition. Otherwise, what's the point in having a large squad?

Not only does this mean people aren't undercooked when they're required to step up, it means the whole squad is balanced and knows how they fit in with the team and are familiar with how the team plays. Everyone is 'on-point' to quote the latest jargon from my teenage daughters.

Look at Dean and Harkin...

I know people say it about most games, but I think this is definitely one of them games, whoevers pack comes out on top will probably win, from what ive seen off saints this year, their struggle big time when out muscled, start getting frustrated and make a lot of errors. If our intensity is right for this one and we play with good support play, I can see a similar result to the catalan game. Hope so anyway

m.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-s- ... story.html

m.hulldailymail.co.uk/Hull-FC-s- ... story.html