: Wed Sep 24, 2008 10:55 am  

Kosh wrote:

So does Horne.

For the last few years Horne, has not been able to control the weighting of his kicking. The result is the ball inevitably goes over the dead in goal line.
You're joking. Aren't you?

Horne has a fantastic step off both feet which he uses pretty regularly.

Not a joke at all. If you think Horne has a good step, you have been watching the wrong player. Hornes main attribute is his pace and his support play.


Thorman may be somewhat more creative, but to call Horne "safe yet unspectacular" is frankly incredible.

There are only a very small number of occasions I can recall Horne doing something out of the ordinary (Motu Tonys try against Bradford in the 2006 eliminator for example). Other than that he, for a half back he plays the very safe percentages.

Only my opinions of course. But his safeness is probably the reason he has so many GB caps.

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:02 am  

Mild mannered Janitor wrote:

Only my opinions of course. But his safeness is probably the reason he has so many GB caps.

IMO Horne has got a brilliant step.
Remember about two seasons ago think when we was on that brilliant run of 13 games or what ever. We was playing Salford away and losing, then pops up horney 10metres away under their sticks, runs side steps two players and goes in for the try.
I think he's always side stepping, and usually to great affect.

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:09 am  

carl_spackler wrote:

A short-term sticking plaster on a long-term gaping wound. If the 1 year deal results in us using both his and Dykes' wages to get in the scrum-half we need for 2010 then it's as good as we can hope for. Viewed on its own, yet another in the growing list of underwhelming Hull FC signings.

No offence Carl, but what you hope for and what is a realistic target are two very different things.

The phrase of "Underwhelming" is used virtually every time Hull make an announcement. Are there those out there who seriously expect every signing to be a GB, NZ or Aus international?

So far we have either signed or re-signed Thackrey, Horne (nearly), Calderwood, Crocker and Thorman. All of which have played international RL. Maloney is the best from the NL who we are giving a chance to. I seem to recall that current St'Helens winger, Ade Gardener was signed from Barrow, proving there can be a few hidden gems in the lower leagues.

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:21 am  

Mild mannered Janitor wrote:

No offence Carl, but what you hope for and what is a realistic target are two very different things.

The phrase of "Underwhelming" is used vertually every time Hull make an announcement. Are there those out there who seriously expect every signing to be a GB, NZ or Aus international?

So far we have either signed or re-signed Thackrey, Horne (nearly), Calderwood, Crocker and Thorman. All of which have played international RL. Maloney is the best from the NL who we are giving a chance to. I seem to recall that current St'Helens winger, Ade Gardener was signed from Barrow, proving there can be a few hidden gems in the lower leagues.

Exactly. Though Crocker is the only signing I have been really pleased with when you put all the signings together and think there could possibly be a couple more I think we will have well improved the squad for next season. Which is a big plus for me as I thought we would struggle. 2009 might not be a write-off after all

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:30 am  

Willa wrote:

Exactly. Though Crocker is the only signing I have been really pleased with when you put all the signings together and think there could possibly be a couple more I think we will have well improved the squad for next season. Which is a big plus for me as I thought we would struggle. 2009 might not be a write-off after all

Add to that a number of players who barely featured last season due to injuries, I think we'll be fine (between 4th and 6th IMO).

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:35 am  

Banger wrote:

Add to that a number of players who barely featured last season due to injuries, I think we'll be fine (between 4th and 6th IMO).

We need a centre and a prop.

[Kosh]

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:45 am  

Mild mannered Janitor wrote:

For the last few years Horne, has not been able to control the weighting of his kicking. The result is the ball inevitably goes over the dead in goal line.

Not a joke at all. If you think Horne has a good step, you have been watching the wrong player. Hornes main attribute is his pace and his support play.

There are only a very small number of occasions I can recall Horne doing something out of the ordinary (Motu Tonys try against Bradford in the 2006 eliminator for example). Other than that he, for a half back he plays the very safe percentages.

Only my opinions of course. But his safeness is probably the reason he has so many GB caps.

Horne's short kicking game is actually pretty good. Mid and long range are another matter, granted.

I honestly don't understand your point about Horne's step. As you say, maybe we've been watching two different players. I'm talking about Richard Horne - who have you been watching?

I think we mean different things by 'safe' TBH. Horne doesn't try for the miracle ball since his passing/creating game isn't strong enough. He does play off-the-cuff well when running the ball though, and there have been one or two other occasions like Tony's try over the years.

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 11:52 am  

Standee wrote:

We need a centre and a prop.

I agree Standee but i think it will be one or the other and not both

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:17 pm  

Mild mannered Janitor wrote:

No offence Carl, but what you hope for and what is a realistic target are two very different things.

The phrase of "Underwhelming" is used vertually every time Hull make an announcement. Are there those out there who seriously expect every signing to be a GB, NZ or Aus international?

So far we have either signed or re-signed Thackrey, Horne (nearly), Calderwood, Crocker and Thorman. All of which have played international RL. Maloney is the best from the NL who we are giving a chance to. I seem to recall that current St'Helens winger, Ade Gardener was signed from Barrow, proving there can be a few hidden gems in the lower leagues.

Not every signing, but for a half-back the team is meant revolve around at a club supposedly aiming at being top 4 regulars and aspiring to a GF win, definitely approaching that level of quality at least. Out of the 12 halfbacks the top 6 teams have, only 1 hasn't played international or SOO RL.

I agree he's the best on offer for 1 season whilst we wait to see if Dykes can manage 20 games. All I'm saying is that if you consider him on his own merits as a half-back being brought in, he's not top-4 team material.

Signings are underwhelming in my book if they are overhyped beforehand, a disappointing, anti-climactic inferior alternative after missing out on much better, or not as good those they are replacing in the team from the last 3 seasons. Particularly so if they are poor/average uses of the limited quota. Thorman, Cusack, Byrne, and Maiava all fit that description recently IMO.

: Wed Sep 24, 2008 12:29 pm  

If there is 1 positive to take out of this signing it's this:

Locko's Luck wrote:

He will give the club cover for scrum half, stand off, goalkicker.
This will also stop us having to play Berrigan in the halfs again.

Dykes doesn't look like he's going anywhere so if the worst comes to the worst what would you rather have?