The club have brought in some big name signings and the PR machine has done a fantastic job over the last 9 months to achieve great commercial results, riding a wave of relentless positive communication. After the first few games, the reality is that we have, even with just one injury, an inadequate and makeshift 3/4 line and a good pack whose most effective players are being flogged unnecessarily. Plus with only 8 games gone, we have failed to turn up with the right attitude in 3, which is completely unacceptable. We have some very good players in our squad but as last season, Agar is failing to do the primary role of a coach in getting each and every one of them to perform to their potential and making the whole greater than the sum of the parts. If we go out of the cup, it's countdown to next February again IMO. And this time round, in a very good position injurywise, there's nowhere for Agar to hide.

Fully agree.



We were told in the off season that Agar was relying on his new recruits to motivate and inspire the rest. But instead they too seem to be dropping their heads. Just what is it that (I am afraid I have to point the finger at Agar) he does to affect morale so badly about now?

The major concern is that Agar has not learnt from past mistakes, his interchanges at Crusaders and Salford were "interesting" to say the least, he hasn't implemented a plan B, I think he thought we were giong to be able to win every game up the middle.

You're frighteningly right.



Hence the lack of forethought in allowing Raynor to leave at the end of the close - after giving him the 5 shirt - instead of the beginning allowing us to recruit for our miserable 3/4 line. Clearly Agar did not put too much importance on the quality experience of our wingers.

To be fair to Agar that was not his decision. It was made at a higher level and he had no say in it.

and also to be fair to it hindsight will show it to be the correct decision i'm sure. The true facts of the raynor situation are likely to not come out though.

and you know that how??

Fair enough, but lets face it the facts of the court case have been public for long enough, and Hull would have been more aware than most of the extent of the charges against him.



If I were the coach with Raynor being an integral part of my three quarters I'd have been insisting on a decision at the end of last season not the beginning of this. Thereby giving myself time to assemble a strong enough centre and wing combination for this level - for this season not next.



Lyne and Tuffour are clearly not going to be able to contribute as mainstay wingers this year, which means reliance on Briscoe (despite Agar seeing him as a centre) and Calderwood. Briscoe has been found out defensively on the wing imo and Calderwood is having an injury mare. Surprise surprise, once again there isn't a strong enough plan B.



Not saying the Raynor decision was wrong, but the timing of it was. And if my job depended on it, I'd have made sure of my options early enough. Boils down to poor planning, in my book.

The club expected the court case to be over last Autumn. If it had have been there would not have been a problem. If Raynor was found not guilty or found guilty but didn't get sent down the club would probably have kept him on. If he had been sent down the club would have cancelled his contract.



The fact that the case was held over till April created a big problem. If Raynor was sent down in April the club would lose him half way through the season and would have no money or time to replace him.



Therefore the decision was taken to pay him off last year and free up his space on the salary cap. The timing was not the club's fault as it was outside their control.

So they haven't replaced him.... yet? Is that what you're saying?

Well obviously they haven't replaced him as they haven't signed another winger and TBH I don't think they are going to.



But does anyone remember the talk in the close season of signing an Aussie/Kiwi outside back? In the end nothing came of it and Sam Moa got the last quota spot.



Maybe that explains the delay in offering Moa a new deal? They couldn't get a back so signed him up instead.

I think that's probably about right. Moa won't have taken up as much cap as Raynor, though. So perhaps still enough left for a winger?