And your full strength side scraped by a league one side who'd never played a game before so I guess nobody is king

Absolutely, and apart from (arguably) Oldham in 2017 we didn't play a team as weak (no disrespect intended to the Hull youngsters) as the one you fielded in the friendly derby. However, Oldham did beat us.

So while we shouldn't get carried away with how much better we looked - I'd probably look like Jonah Lomu in his prime if I was playing under-8s - the very early signs were, with the relevant caveats, were positive.

A bit of confidence gained versus an understrength Hull, and then Leeds keeping our feet on the floor without embarrassing us. It's worked out pretty well.

full strength

I'm not

The Hull FC lot on here really do seem a bit cut up that an fc team with an ave age of 22 got (as I understand it) beaten by a Kr team with an ave age of 23. Yes nobody is denying that fc had a young inexperienced side out, and we had at least half of our first choice 13. But we did what we needed to do, which was to beat what was put in front of us. Instead of whining at us, you would be better asking your club why they put such a weak side out against us.

Hull are playing quite a few friendlies this year and seem to be waiting to ease in most of their senior players, while giving some of the more junior players a chance to stretch themselves.

The result doesn't and shouldn't matter. We looked like a good Championship team (which was a relief) playing against a team of very mixed ability. Leeds, playing a more familiar looking team, was always going to be a sterner test, but from what I've heard there were some encouraging signs, again allowing for the quality of the opposition.

I know necessity is the mother of invention, but Liam Salter in the second row as I witnessed at Leeds is stretching utility value assessments beyond credible limits Mr Sheens. It's hard enough seeing Chris Clarkson at prop.

What next - Ryan Shaw at loose forward or perhaps Graeme Horne at centre.

Doubtful, more like Jona Lewie.

I agree with you entirely. You have made the point that I was trying to infer in my post above, but failed. Namely Salter and Clarkson are a good 1-2 stones too light for the position they were asked to play against a much larger Leeds forward collective. I know Tim Sheens is still looking for forward reinforcements down the line. Ben Kavanagh signed too late to play at Leeds as well.

Butler-Fleming is still to debut into the back line, which may push Salter further down the pecking order at centre.

Would be surprised once jbf is fit if salter gets a look in in the three quarters, too small for back row too.....

Looking at the HDM reports about the preseason training camp, this is infinitely better than the reports of preseason 2016 which didn't really exist apart from allegedly helping out with flood victims to promote team bonding. Makes you wonder what the hell Chester was thinking.

11 days to go......

Feeling more optimistic about this season then I have done for years!!