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.

Six weeks ago, Fc winning four of our opening six games would have been the least predictable of those earth-shattering events you listed!! The world has been turned on its head in more ways than one! 
Imagine Trump as president of the RFL!! God in heaven knows what the outcome would be! 100% tariffs on the NRL or something!!!

Think we should be happy with our forwards esp when we get Cartwright back. Thought Eseh was strong, Ashworth has a turn of pace and is direct. I like Knight too. I’m not sure of the concussion protocol but it’s 9 days until the rovers game if cust is ok can he play  after that time? Don’t think it was a jaw fracture as someone suggested, he was icing his forehead. Harsh on a Senior I thought.  I think if we can put together an 80 minutes instead of the odd 30 we can challenge any team. I guess that is what Cartwright wants. We will just have to suck up the injuries as that’s life. Strength in depth is what we are also striving for? 

First eight games as Hull FC coach:


Cartwright W6 D1 L1
Grix W1 L7
Smith W2 L6
Hodgson W5 D1 L2
Last W4 L4
Radford W3 L5
Gentle W6 D1 L1

HIA is min 11 days I think.

I mentioned his jaw as it looked swollen but could have been the camera angle although he was rubbing his jaw on the field before he came off

Etherington Beaumont and wood are no doubt about to clone into the same thing