I think the Sio, Thornley, Walker, Tilse, Green and Allgood comparisons are about right and had all the others played full seasons, you would most probably be about right too (although I disagree about Dixon as he had become that much of a liability at times.)

If comparing with the previous season though, I feel you need to think whether a full season of Heffernan, Abdul or Ellis is better than the 10 ish games of Mantellato and Campese or the disruptive influence and 20 games that Kelly played (some of which looked like he was wearing a sumo suit)?

Either way Sheens will be key to the success or failure. If he gets us fired up and playing well, those new signings will hopefully be fit, on the field and greater than the sum of their parts.

I remember us playing hull at C.P 2 seasons ago and Ellis and pryce went off injured and I thought to myself at the time 'we will hammer these now',
Abdul come on at stand off and kicked us to death and they beat us

There is no question that Abdul is a talent. Given time and space he will kick most teams to death. His problem is he's inconsistent. If he wasn't, Hull would not be so keen to loan him out.
The reason he's at Rovers this season is not because the black and whites are keen to help us get back into Super League. It's to aid his development.
Tim Sheens knows that and now has 2 players (3 when Marsh is fit) he can drop into the halfs if Abdul or Ellis loose form. Unlike last season when we had to play Blair at six.
How he deals with been dropped will be a good indecation of how his attitude and development have progressed.

It'll be interesting to see how destructive Blair and Greenwod will be this year. Especially without Blair being played out of position every week like last year.

I don't doubt the the talent and potential but I do doubt the commitment, attitude and 'loyalty'. I know the background behind Donny and Fev, and I hope Sheens understands this.

Abdull has bags of talent. Decent hands and a very good kicking game.

Some might say he's inconsistent, but I think that's harsh having watched him quite a lot. The games he's not performed in, he's either been chucked in 'cold' having not played at a decent standard for some time, or he's playing behind a beaten pack.

What I do doubt about him is his commitment as a professional to knuckle down and get himself fit and look after his body properly. I remember writing on the Hull board last season that if an overweight Abdull is playing this well, imagine what a fit Abdull could do.

I think he'll do well next year, and look forward to reading the reports on him.

Can't believe the negativity towards Abdul and yet non towards Ellis. Everything that is being leveled at one could equally be leveled at the other but isn't.

We've be clamouring for a top coach for years and as soon as we get one his judgement is being questioned before a ball has been kicked, well not exactly true as a ball has been kicked and Abdul did well albeit against an inferior opposition.

The lad will be playing for us next year, for god's sake get behind him, IF he doesn'tput a shift in then lest have the debate then as I assume Mr Sheens wont stand for it.

Abdul is at a crucial point in his career, maybe not last chance saloon but it certainly wont do his chances much good if a coach of TS's calibre thinks he's no good. If he does go well and our plans come to fruition and we get back up again then I'm sure there'll be decisions to made all around. Where will he want to be, will we want to keep hold, will FC want him back.... all decisions for another day but give the lad a chance.

Jordan Abdull shared the stage with Tim Sheens at last months 135 club event.

He came across very well, really positive and after encouragement from the audience even declared he is red and white now. Don't forget he was a Rovers junior before he joined Hull FC and he referred a couple of times to having settled in quickly because he already was familiar with the environment.

Tim Sheens actually said 'now we know you're red & white I want to know the name of your best mate at Hull so you can smack him in the friendly'. That got a big laugh but it was clear that Sheens had a very high opinion of Abdull.

Abdull looked very trim and was keen to mingle with the Rovers crowd afterwards. I don't think we need have any concerns about his attitude.

In the recent trial match against Hull he was excellent with 4 try assists. I don't think it is a forgone conclusion that he goes back to Hull next year but either way he's with us for now and giving his best let's support him.

Use Sio like we did the last 2 seasons and I could have replaced him. Time will tell on the outside backs replacing the likes of Thornley. If we can keep our halfs on the pitch and sober they will be a step up. The forwards as a whole look good enough to cover the only real loss in Walker. And as people have said before the best signing by a mile is Sheens.
I can't believe anybody could compare Marsh to Abdul, it has to be down to anti FC blinkers, but I worry he won't get cut any slack by some because if this if his form drops at any time.

Disagree with Thornley. Maybe skillful but appeared disinterested. Also too early to tell about Butler-Fleming (like quite a few of them).

Loved Mantree and was a good player but was lacking in speed. Don-t necessarily disagree on this one though.

Terry Campese is a 'what could have been' if he stayed fit.

The key is that this squad are playing at Championship level and have to be eager to prove they are good enough for SL next year. On that basis, enthusiasm and hard work and not just skill are high factors this season.

I'm struggling to look at the lost players and think i wish we'd kept him, maybe Walker. Kelly would have been great but not with the attitude he had, the rest wont be overly missed, either totally unfit and never played or just average