Hull FC swoop to sign Wigan Warriors forward

[josie andrews]

I bow to all your complaints. Moved to the Main forum.

Do you think he will be here for the rest of this season btw?

[jobo]

Not happy about this

First off this nonsense of announcing deals so early frankly ridiculous and we need to go back to the way it was look at the Byrne deal utter madness.

As for Hill it’s an odd one I’m not happy after all the work Wigan have put into him off he goes to another club possibly to reap the rewards and all we get from Wigan is silence Christ they couldn’t shut up about vegas but in important matters such as player retention etc nothing

Agree with you there Fozzie.
It's a strange one this. I believe MP thinks highly of him and although from a fan's perspective, he's had a few ups and downs, his ups for me, far outweigh his downs.

Hull must have offered him a fabulous contract and Wigan saying nothing, leads you to believe they either couldn’t or wouldn't match it.

[pearsy]

Maybe the money they save on Hill will be used to keep Field

[Wiganer Ted]

Squads change all the time.
A year ago we had an ageing 2nd row with Isa & Faz. Walters had been brought in presumably as replacement. He broke his collar bone in preseason so was out when Isa got injured.
In stepped Nsemba, good big lad with plenty potential.

Twelve months on and Isa has retired, Nsemba has developed into one of the best 2nd rowers in SL
Walters has now been moved to prop and has been excellent. I never expected Nsemba to progress so soon as he did. Neither did I think Walters would be so good "as a middle".

Whether MP, Lockers and Tommy saw how this would turn out 12 months ago I don't know. I somehow doubt it in that Junior would have a six year deal prior to the end of last season.

The club has to deal with it. Maybe they've seen that a better option as prop than Hill would be Ellis move to front row with Kerr going to 13. They've had to fit all the long term contracts under the SC and maybe this is why Hill plus others have left or are out on loan.

[Charriots Offiah]

I don't think Hill has really kicked on as expected. His early appearances showed promise. I thought last year was a step back and he started to look a bit sluggish. Then he was our best performer in pre-season but his 2 appearances this year have been a bit lacklustre.

In the past I think we've got a bit too attached to our homegrown forwards. I've said it plenty of times about props but those who excel at a young age are few and far between and generally have shown it quite early. The others tend to take a long time to really mature and often only start to hit their peak in their mid-20's.

I don't know if he was keen to leave or whether we didn't really offer what he wanted (or if we offered anything at all) but this isn't one that I'm devastated about as long as we're actively looking to recruit better for next year. We certainly need to be looking to get rid of Chan and Eseh.

It's also worth considering that Ellis might move back to prop sooner rather than later if Taylor Kerr continues to impress. Ellis is contracted until the end of next season (I'd be looking to tie him down for longeer) and if Kerr does make the first team then it's another middle to compete with.

Because it is about Hull FC

It's about a current Wigan player. Surely that makes it more appropriate for the main forum?

I think that Wigan will enter the market whether that is for a prop or a backrow forward I don’t know. Kerr is a good player but I see him as more of a ball playing loose forward rather than a middle/prop.

We are still well stacked for props having Thompson, Havard, Walters, Dupree, Mago, Ellis and Makin.

[Mike]

We are still well stacked for props having Thompson, Havard, Walters, Dupree, Mago, Ellis and Makin.

I'm not sure we are, seeing as we play two starters (and Ellis who's in as loose), and three on the bench - from that list we've only got 1 reserve player (Makin) who as far as I'm aware hasn't played a first team game yet? Two injuries and we're off the back of that list already (without Hill)

[Charriots Offiah]

Maybe the money they save on Hill will be used to keep Field

If Field wants to stay then I don’t think money would have been a problem. I think he will be a marquee player and therefore any pay increase will not affect the salary cap. There is a two year option attached to his contract, I would like to know who that is in favour of. I think a bigger concern about Jai is his recurring injury problems.

[Mike]

Maybe the money they save on Hill will be used to keep Field

If Field wants to stay then I don’t think money would have been a problem. I think he will be a marquee player and therefore any pay increase will not affect the salary cap. There is a two year option attached to his contract, I would like to know who that is in favour of. I think a bigger concern about Jai is his recurring injury problems.

Yeah, would we risk a marquee spot on a player who's going to be out around 50% of the time?

[Charriots Offiah]

We are still well stacked for props having Thompson, Havard, Walters, Dupree, Mago, Ellis and Makin.

I'm not sure we are, seeing as we play two starters (and Ellis who's in as loose), and three on the bench - from that list we've only got 1 reserve player (Makin) who as far as I'm aware hasn't played a first team game yet? Two injuries and we're off the back of that list already (without Hill)

Not many teams have seven props in their squads. Personally, I would like a bit of variety on our bench.

[widdenoldboy]

I don't think Hill has really kicked on as expected. His early appearances showed promise. I thought last year was a step back and he started to look a bit sluggish. Then he was our best performer in pre-season but his 2 appearances this year have been a bit lacklustre.

In the past I think we've got a bit too attached to our homegrown forwards. I've said it plenty of times about props but those who excel at a young age are few and far between and generally have shown it quite early. The others tend to take a long time to really mature and often only start to hit their peak in their mid-20's.

I don't know if he was keen to leave or whether we didn't really offer what he wanted (or if we offered anything at all) but this isn't one that I'm devastated about as long as we're actively looking to recruit better for next year. We certainly need to be looking to get rid of Chan and Eseh.

It's also worth considering that Ellis might move back to prop sooner rather than later if Taylor Kerr continues to impress. Ellis is contracted until the end of next season (I'd be looking to tie him down for longeer) and if Kerr does make the first team then it's another middle to compete with.

Because it is about Hull FC

It's about a current Wigan player. Surely that makes it more appropriate for the main forum?

Pretty much agree with this EEP, really puzzled that Hill hasn't kicked on after an outstanding pre-season. He could have offered us something different - his footwork and skills are exceptional but he isn't showing that at the top level (yet) and is getting dominated in the tackle. If he addresses that he will be a great signing for Hull . Makin is more of a conventional prop and is developing well in that mould. Kerr is a fantastic prospect. Eseh still has time to develop and stake is claim, I think Chan is near to being let go.

I guess Hill could be sent out on loan now, maybe to Hull?