Quote Jake the Peg="Jake the Peg"He lead us to a challenge cup final. How can that be classed as disappointing?'"
Getting to the final was a good achievement and of course not at all disappointing especially since you won very difficult games in the quarters & semis. The nature of the cup is that just one or two good performances can get you all the way there but you didn't exactly have an easy draw so well done.
But was the leadership of Ellis such a crucial factor? It didn't seem that way to me but you see a lot more of him than I do, maybe his presence has inspired others.
In his career Ellis has often led by example but for me he isn't a natural leader of men, has he ever captained a team before?
Whatever, I think the question being asked here is about his playing contribution. I thought the idea about making him a marquee signing was that he would be a stand out player not just for Hull but in the whole of Super League. We were after all told that Hull were 'making a statement' by signing him.
Personally I don't think he has lived up to expectations at all or anywhere near. He's a tough player and defends well but you've quite a few others who do that. I think you lost a lot more with the departure of Manu than you gained from signing Ellis.
Ellis missed a lot of last season in Australia through injury he's missed a lot of this season through injury he even looks to have visibly aged since he came to Hull. Some players like Jamie Peacock seem to mature like fine wine but to me Gareth Ellis is very clearly a player in decline. It'll be interesting to see if he is selected for England for the world cup surely on form he won't be although most likely he won't be fit anyway.
Like I say you see a lot more of him than me and if you are happy with the value you are getting then really that's all that counts. Either way he'll be taking up a good chunk of your salary cap for a good while yet.
Well done on getting to the final you fully deserved it after beating Catalans & Warrington.
