Slightly new territory for us in 2025. Reckon this is the first game we have played this year where most of us are almost expecting a win, rather than simply looking for a decent performance with signs of improvement/advancement to bolster us. 

Even Wakefield last week felt like a 50/50 call beforehand, but given the way we have started the year and given the fact that Cas haven't looked any great shakes so far, it'll be disappointing if we don't come away with the spoils on Thursday night. 
We'll need to maintain the attitude and commitment we've shown so far and take our chances when they come, but I would hope we have enough in the locker to come away with a further two points in the ledger.


Against this, Cas will be desperate to kick-start their season. They run the risk, a bit like us twelve months ago, of seeing the year whither away before we have even reached Easter, so beware of the wounded Tiger and all that!! but think most of us on here will be a touch deflated if we lose. We've a big three weeks coming up after this, it would be nice to go into a run of tough fixtures with 9pts from a possible 12 in the bag. 


One final thought, Cartwright has hardly put a foot wrong since he landed in the UK, but he maybe needs to take a look at our preparation - warm up process. Once again last week we looked half-asleep in the first fifteen minutes. If that first disallowed try had stood we would have been 14-0 down and a long way back. We can't keep giving teams a head start and then have to claw our way back, we need to be on it right from the kick-off. Other than that minor gripe, I've no complaints with how we have conducted ourselves so far this year. 


Looking forward to another little trip out to West Yorkshire, hope the night goes as well as last Friday, should be a good atmosphere amongst the Faithful.

Good win. How far have we come when we beat Cas at there place by 10 and most of us are a bit disappointed. As most have said last 20 was flat but hey ho we got the job done .. Real shame about Cust as him and Seizer look a good pair. Forwards looked good and Briscoe was a real handful. Shame he dropped the ball over the line but will forgive him that one. TBF Litten went well to....Still not seeing it with Moy . Kids young but ATM apart from being brave not doing a lot. Against Rovers it's gonna be a problem who plays 6?..That's up to the coach to sort out ... Hopefully Hardaker back ..

Thought at times we played ok, ball in hand.. The last 10 mins was a bit disappointing, put the cue on the rack.-IMO.
Was very impressed with Eseh, carried the ball strong, and good work rate. I thought it was Briscoe's best game since he's returned..

Next week, it would be massive IF Will Pryce was earmarked to play, just for the reaction from the other side of the city..
If not I'd like to see Rapana at 6, maybe Hardaker or Litten at FB, Moy at the moment, is too lightweight, and needs to work more under the high ball 

It was a pretty sloppy last 20, but for me that was down to the decision on the Briscoe strip to not either go for the two or set up for the drop to make it a 3 converted try plus game, especially as Hoy is a poor goalkicker. 


Hindsight is wonderful but if they did that I think they close the game out comfortably instead of going for the Hollywood pass for a winner. In a bigger game they might have made that decision anyway, if not hopefully that last 10 mins in a warning to do so in future. 


Aside from that a great performance considering the disruption losing Cust and Borough. Rovers game is realistically done now, they have an easy game on Sunday and will likely rest players, could see us picking up knocks/bans last night a mile off but we are in no position yet to rest players when 2 points at stake, glad we got them especially with a tough run in coming up.  

Aaron Bower: Hull FC have won more Super League games in six matches this season (4) than they did in their previous 36 matches spanning two seasons (3). Some start from John Cartwright