Judt remembered Souths have signed Kodi Nikorima pushing Hawkins further down the pecking order.



He's now behind Nikorima, Walker, Ilias and Taafe



He has to be the half we're chasing.

For me Houghton next season at best should be a bench hooker, Lovodua should start and it should be between Balmforth and Houghton for the last bench spot.



This again is big test of Hodgson, Houghton should not be playing 80 minutes anymore, if he plays less i'm sure we will get more out of his with his quick scoots.

Balmforth should be given a shot next year, with Joe.

(Do like Joe at 13 as well though)



If Danny stays , should be as a squad player on reduced terms.

Michael Maguire and Nathan Brown have both just become available

2 failed NRL coaches? No ta

I agree but just think the way he is still playing Houghton as our number 1 hooker I think he will still be that next season. I think the moving around that joey had had to do is affecting his game he doesn't seem to have that spark we saw at the beginning of the season. Lovaduo and balmforth would be a great paring next season

Mags is more than proven in SL.

How he is playing now?



He defends well and does the odd shoot, but is pretty much ineffective as he plays too many minutes.

so what would you do? Sack Hodgson now and try to get Mags?

He should've won more at Souths.



Won a GF then guided them to 2 bottom half finishes over the next 3 seasons. Less said about his time at Wests the better.



I think the game has outgrown Madge.

If only things were that simple.



Anybody with half a brain would have Mags in our hot-seat if we ever had the remotest of chances.

At least it would be like home from home.

Coming from an NRL basket-case of a club to us.

If Hodgson can clear to deadwood and bring in the 3 players rumored he deserves another year.



But he has to start well and drop underperforming players and trust youth players more as they will be needed more looking at the incomings compared to out goings.

I think in fairness to Hodgson, he has given youth a chance when the time is right. Wynne has made the centre spot his own, Scott had a solid run in the side prior to injury, Jack Brown a regular in the 17, Lane and Fash (admittedly not youth as such now) are regulars in the match day squad. I am also pretty convinced that McNamara would be a regular in the side if it wasn't for injury. Signings such as Balmorth, Mcintosh and potentially Trueman suggest that their is a real drive to focus on young British Talent. Our academy is top of the league and unbeaten, it has taken a while to adjust from the city of hull academy, but we are now seeing the results of the hard work the club has put into the youth over the last couple of years.

If Connor is put for the next few weeks it will test if Hodgsons trust the young players, particularly with the form of Reynolds and Gale.



Now is the chance to play the likes of Balmforth, Hookem and Litten rather than Johnstone, Shaul etc.

Houghton may decide to call it a day at the end of the season. He recently hinted it was an option







[urlhttps://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/danny-houghton-future-retirement-400-7099543[/url

totally agree with that.Lovodua not been the same since he was moved from 6 with Mitch at centre.

Now as you say he has been moved to the bench and the spark has gone

Its the coach again making the wrong decision and favouring and been too loyal to a senior player in Reynolds who in reality has been so poor especially his kicking.

Bowden,Johnstone,Reynolds and Gale if we dont pick up the option are all out of contract and Shaul i think is out of contract so clearing that deadwood is easy.

Its the coaches loyalty to underperforming senior players i dont like and that has to change

Who's he been loyal to in your opinion?

French, Hawkins and maybe a back row to replace Ma'u?

Gale, Reynolds, Houghton (as Lovodua has hardly played his best position)



Although Houghtons been steady.



Mitch needs more gametime based on form too, I know he's been injured but he's alot better than Scott who's thrown straight in above him.

I'll give you the Reynolds one. He must go down as one of our worst signings in SL.



Obviously BH has tried to get our 1, 6 and 7 as much game time as possible, but injuries and mainly suspension has stopped that.



I think Ben McNamara injury has caused selection issues too as he'sthe preferred3rd half. Hodgson wasn't against dropping Gale against Saints in a big game.

Think Dave means French, Hawkins and Trueman.



I've got a feeling we'll try and replace Ma'u from within

Ah yep. Completely forgot about Trueman. If the rumour about Mellor had some substance maybe we looking to bring someone in?

It was a shame McNamara got injured at the time Gale got suspended because he would have got a run of games.

I think it'd have to be the right player. If we run with Griffin in SR we'd have Savelio, Lane, Lovodua, Griffin, Scott and Cator able to cover.



I like Ben Jullien at Cats who could possibly be tempted at the right price, if the Dragons sign Wade Graham. But he might not be first choice here so we may as well go with what we have