: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:25 am  

Rock God X wrote:

If we are unbeaten up until Easter we should be ok.

Bradford, Cas and Quins are all games we ought to win if we're going to stand a realistic chance of a top four finish. The derby and Saints away are both going to be very hard games, but I'd like to see us win at least one - preferably the derby!

The thing that has stood out for me this season has been the obvious improvement in the conditioning of the players. We looked unfit - bordering on lazy - at times last season. This year we look bigger, faster, sharper and meaner.

The attacking play close to the line needs to improve substantially for us to be serious contenders. We seem to have no problem getting into the opposition 20, but, at times, have little idea what to do when we get there.

It's early days though, and I'm a million percent more hopeful than I was before the start of the season. I reckon we'll finish somewhere between 3rd and 6th.

ill be slight more optimistic and say 2nd-6th

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:52 am  

Even taking the injuries into account, last seasons performances were unacceptable. Fair enough, injuries do affect a team’s ability but they shouldn’t compromise the effort and commitment. I keep hearing comments on ‘how ‘big’ the Hull pack looks this season', this is the exact same pack that were dominated in virtually every game last season (missing Carvell as well)! Okay, there maybe the extra odd kilo here and there but the biggest difference is their commitment. By rolling up their sleeves and being enthusiastic they’ve managed to transform themselves from a ‘light weight pack’ to a ‘big, dominant pack’. IMO the psychology in sport should never be underestimated.

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 10:59 am  

Banger wrote:

Even taking the injuries into account, last seasons performances were unacceptable. Fair enough, injuries do affect a team’s ability but they shouldn’t compromise the effort and commitment. I keep hearing comments on ‘how ‘big’ the Hull pack looks this season', this is the exact same pack that were dominated in virtually every game last season (missing Carvell as well)! Okay, there maybe the extra odd kilo here and there but the biggest difference is their commitment. By rolling up their sleeves and being enthusiastic they’ve managed to transform themselves from a ‘light weight pack’ to a ‘big, dominant pack’. IMO the psychology in sport should never be underestimated.

You been watching sky to much

But your right the players know they have a chance to make up for arguable one of the most disappointing seasons witnessed (due to having the players and not performing rather then just not having the players) by Hull fans

[Kosh]

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 11:05 am  

Banger wrote:

Even taking the injuries into account, last seasons performances were unacceptable. Fair enough, injuries do affect a team’s ability but they shouldn’t compromise the effort and commitment. I keep hearing comments on ‘how ‘big’ the Hull pack looks this season', this is the exact same pack that were dominated in virtually every game last season (missing Carvell as well)! Okay, there maybe the extra odd kilo here and there but the biggest difference is their commitment. By rolling up their sleeves and being enthusiastic they’ve managed to transform themselves from a ‘light weight pack’ to a ‘big, dominant pack’. IMO the psychology in sport should never be underestimated.

I think you also need to take into account that we've had the longest and least disrupted pre-season for years. I think that's had a huge effect on fitness and confidence.

Re: Four Games In : Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:17 pm  

scarrie wrote:

A bit of both I think.
We've efficiently ground out wins and nobody can argue with 4/4. The teams we have played have found it hard to look good against us as I think our gameplan has been sound each time.
On the other hand, no team is anywhere near its best at the moment and I did think Huddersfield were especially poor against us, our defence has looked a little to easily breached at times for my liking and we've squandered a lot of territorial advantage by not turning into a convincing lead which we will need to learn to do if we are to mount a serious challenge.
On the whole I'm satisfied with the start we've made but I'm hoping that our attack begins to gain some fluency soon. In particular I hope we start to use Calderwood better (long kicks and pass to him , yes Graeme Horne I'm speaking to you!) and start to use Manu a lot wider.

Our forwards as a unit have impressed me so far this year. They look a bigger, meaner lot. Richard Horne has also impressed with the speed he has got back to SL rugby.

... although, if you take away the tries scored from kicks, I don't think we've been breached that many times.

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 12:32 pm  

Overall the report should read "Excellent start to the term but can still do better, lacks concentration"

PLUS,s
1, Horne has been absolutely outstanding
2, Thorman has complemented the team and looks solid
3, Radford has been my player thus far , real captains season so far!
4, Berrigan is now fit this season and boy it shows doesnt it!
5, Both cussack and Dowes have really shown up so far, best front row in SL so far from what I have seen.
6, Tickle has made a huge difference this term , outstanding.

Negs ...
1, our kick chase has been slow and broken .
2, although better our kicking game is still telegraphed .
3, defence has to concentrate for 80 mins instead of the gaps we keep having. thus letting in the odd soft try.
4, for me Manu has yet to open up , still underachieving .
5, need that solid drive out of defence that Motu will bring back to us.

all in all I am happy and we will get better , but a loss at some point soon will bring them back down to earth and refocus the boys!!

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 5:47 pm  

i saw somewhere that we have odds of 13/2 to take this unbeaten run to 8 games which will mean the kr game is the 8th game not bad odds?

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:54 pm  

Its been a awesome start but im not getting carried away just yet as we havent played any side whos actually performed against us yet ( hopfefully it will remain like that ) but end of the day we won 4/4 but we need to stop switching off in the last 5 minutes of games

Our forwards have been awesome tho esp Radford hes been our best player in all our games upto now and is proving what a great leader he is and cause our forwards are ontop Thorman and Horne have clicked very well and are playing to our strenghs

Great start and with King, Washbrook, Raynor, Tony and Whiting all to return it can only get better

Re: Four Games In : Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:54 pm  

downtheante wrote:

... although, if you take away the tries scored from kicks, I don't think we've been breached that many times.

It's not the number of times that concerns me, its the manner and ease that it was breached if you get my meaning.
At Celtic we conceded a couple of tries to Chalk that were tbh just too easy and the try we conceded to Walsh on Hudds just seemed to easy to me.
Tries conceded to kicks don't concern me too much as a good kick can make a try almost inevitable.

: Thu Mar 12, 2009 8:58 pm  

Thetalentboy wrote:

Its been a awesome start but im not getting carried away just yet as we havent played any side whos actually performed against us yet ( hopfefully it will remain like that ) but end of the day we won 4/4 but we need to stop switching off in the last 5 minutes of games

Our forwards have been awesome tho esp Radford hes been our best player in all our games upto now and is proving what a great leader he is and cause our forwards are ontop Thorman and Horne have clicked very well and are playing to our strenghs

Great start and with King, Washbrook, Raynor, Tony and Whiting all to return it can only get better

rich horne has been our best player this season imo

not taking anything away from radford he has been great so far i just think horne has been excellent