Greg Eden

Quote: hull2524 "font why are you such a tool? i was stating what i think, rovers have imo a good back division going forward but look a bit vunerable in defence,plenty on here will disagree but its just my opinion, as for eden i think he looked bloomin good for hudds last year,roll on the new season and let the action begin'"

Rovers back division were indeed vulnerable at times last season and most of the new signings are probably more noted for their offence than defence. So your views are very reasonable, in fact quite generous.

But I'm relying on the old cliche 'attack is the best form of defence'. When forwards dominate, good go forward, quick PTB, alert backing up, intelligent kicking game, well you can find the other team are doing all the defending, getting tired, giving away penalties. It becomes self perpetuating.

At times last season Rovers were able to do that even to good teams e.g. second half at home to Warrington which we completely dominated. And getting to 26-0 against Wigan takes some quality even if we then blew it. Think we had a period away to Saints which was 0-26 too, in fact that period of 40 mins or so at Saints we really looked the goods, as good as I have seen from Rovers both in attack & defence. Of course we still lost in the end, narrowly, such was our season.

Obviously the flaws ultimately outweighed the quality but why throw out the baby with the bathwater? CS is aware of the failings, No. 1 being an inability to maintain intensity for 80 minutes but he is very obviously building on strengths by adding aggression, intensity and pace into the team. And reducing the average age of the team significantly. I'm sure he is working on defence too....

As for Hull I was impressed when they won at Craven Park and they will be at least as good in 2013. I do think Manu will be missed he is a far more destructive force than Ellis who I predict will be good rather than sensational...if he stays fit. If we get a dry summer (IF!) and the ground is firm then McDonnell will be a sensation IMO, I have not seen a player in Super League with a better step, swerve and electric pace other than Tomkins. Hull fans will of course then credit it to the coaching skills of Gentle. Watts will self destruct sooner or later, leopards don't change their spots. By contrast Galea will be a model pro and a very fine player if he can stay fit.

I was as it turned out, over optimistic about Rovers in 2012 so I will not make any bold prediction about 2013. The 2012 big 4 of Wig, Warr, Sts & Lds I can't look past them but Hull are as good a bet as anyone to be the best of the rest.