I actually think our pack is better than some give it credit for. 2nd row is light and we struggle there, if Kelly is back putting Blair in there gives us another dimension. Our props / loose are going well. Cas and Widnes' packs are nothing special and we matched both these packs in our respective games. Widnes did us out wide in the end.

Agree props aren't bad, if Kelly is back I will be more worried.

Depends on which Hull team turns up, the one from the first 3 games or the one from the last 3 (I suppose the same could be said against Rovers).

I agree with what someone said earlier, I expect us to come out flying the first 20 minutes, it will depend on if we manage to get over the line, or mess things up like we did at Widnes.

Saying all that, how many times have we all got the derby score right?

Tbh I don't want Kelly anywhere near playing on Friday. He's been gash and unfit all year..... Plus uninterested.
If Marsh and Blair can play like last Sunday, I'd rather stick with them, injuries permitting.

Hold the Front Page "Albert Kelly has morphed into a pile of poo" says official Hessle Rover scoop.

Wrong, he is below last year's level for sure, but in his defence, I think that his preseason and the first 3 games were a hangover reaction to the crap Chris Chester structured game plans and misfiring tactics of that part of our history. It was obvious Kelly had lost belief in the coach. When he played against Saints without inhibition, he looked the part, until his hammy went.

I would back Webster as a former halfback to get the best out of him again. If he's fit, he's got to play or else we are wasting our time, a quota space and money.

I never called him a pile of poo. It was a reflection based on his performances this year. Which he has been e. But worst of all.....unfit. Him and Blair have swapped bellies this year.
His lack of game time already coupled with his lack of fitness is why I want him no where near the Derby.
I hope Webster can get him playing again. But that's up to him wanting it too.

I doubt Chester forced burgers down his throat he's supposed to be a professional and coming back in that state isn't very professional he can't spot his dummy out everytime he doesn't get on with someone

You're guilty of taking my poor satirical summary of your previous post a bit too literally and seriously, HR.

That said, there are serious and justified viewpoints being made on here about Kelly's fitness, conditioning, form and commitment so far this year.

How it is possible for him to go from hero to zero in one off season in our eyes, I do not know. What I will say is that I am truly shocked that some of us would now prefer the slim but marginally creative Matty Marsh to the naturally talented and instinctively creative but overweight Albert Kelly given our current bottom 3 league position.

I need to know if you consider there is any way back for him or whether you know what has caused him to become a perceived liability.

I don't think Chester force fed him burgers in the off season the guys supposed to be a professional the shape he came back in was a disgrace and his form has been poor to say the least

Sorry PR. I only took your post literally as I find little humour about the way Kelly has conducted himself this year.
He is on form the one of the best player in this league as we all know. But he's not been interested this year. His gut says it all! Plus the Indiscretion over Xmas wasn't his finest moment either.
Some of us have been frustrated with Campese's lengthy absence, but we've not had much more of Kelly tbh. Marsh is young and British but lacks the skills of Kelly, but his heart is there. He's already had a fair few games at superleague level, and that'll only do him good. Let's face it, we ain't reaching top 8 this year, so we might as well go and bring through our own now to benefit us for next season. This year hopefully can be the making of him.

Absolute twaddle.

Kelly came back from 7 months out with a knee ligament injury. He clearly hasn't looked after himself but is putting the effort in.....a 60 metre chase and tackle on Swift suggests he's more than not interested.
He was pulling Saints apart until his hamstring went. It's no co incidence that both players with the same knee injury then pulled their hamstrings. Poor medical management.
People claiming a lack of effort for our poor performances are at best ill informed.
He's ten times the player Marsh is.

Heart......Marsh missed touch in the first half. Blair gave him the ball next penalty and he gave Blair the ball back....bottled it and disappeared second half contributing a kick out on the full when we were under the kosh.
The kid needs to grow some to become a decent half back. I've yet to see Kelly shirk anything....including seconds.

You might have seen my gloomy foreboding elsewhere. That was before rovers won at the weekend, and my outlook has now been upgraded to nervously pessimistic.

He's gotta learn and be more brave that's for sure, but give the kid a chance. After all when Kelly goes back next year he might be one of our starting halves. I'd rather him have some games under his belt then being sat on the sidelines all year.

Thanks BF. You're much more accurate and closer to reality with your latest 2 posts and certainly in tune with my thought processes in this regard (if that's any consolation of course)

I hope he makes it. There's a player in there. Not convinced yet by a long way. His character appears his greatest weakness.
Harsh comparison but he's no Andy Gregory.
Recently saw the 3rd 1986 test v Australia. Gregory caught a kick off and sprinted 20 metres straight....straight mind you no deviating, no slowing straight at Mal Meninga and skittled him to the amusement and bemusement of the Aussie commentator.
Marsh needs to show some leadership at half. So far not a glimpse of it.

I'm sick of the constant xenophobia. The over seas players don't try etc whilst appalling performances by local players go by without comment.