SL Preview: It’s Hull’s time

James Gordon

Double Challenge Cup winners Hull will go in to 2018 in prime position to finally become the fifth Super League champion.

With the progress that Lee Radford and his squad has made, together with the challenges and trophies they’ve won along the way, it is now the time for this group of players to grab that elusive Super League title.

They have kept the bulk of last season’s squad together, including key halves Marc Sneyd and Albert Kelly, who could be in his last season on these shores; and have offset the departures of Mahe Fonua and Gareth Ellis with the signings of Bureta Faraimo and Mickey Paea.

On their day, Hull are capable of beating anyone in Super League and they just need to find that little bit more consistency, avoiding slip ups like the home thrashing by Salford, over the course of the season to see them all the way to the Grand Final.

Head Coach: Lee Radford
Assistant Coach: Andy Last
Captain: Danny Houghton
Key Man: Albert Kelly
One to Watch: Jansin Turgut

Ins: Bureta Faraimo (New Zealand Warriors), Mickey Paea (Newcastle), Hakim Miloudi (Carcassonne)
Outs: Mahe Fonua (Wests), Gareth Ellis (retired), Jordan Thompson (Leigh), Nick Rawsthorne (Toronto)

Squad: 1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Bureta Faraimo, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Josh Griffin, 5. Fetuli Talanoa, 6. Albert Kelly, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 10. Liam Watts, 11. Dean Hadley, 12. Mark Minichiello, 13. Josh Bowden, 14. Jake Connor, 15. Chris Green, 16. Jordan Abdull, 17. Danny Washbrook, 20. Brad Fash, 21. Sika Manu, 22. Jez Litten, 23. Mickey Paea, 24. Jack Logan, 25. Jansin Turgut, 26. Jordan Lane, 27. Jack Downs, 28. Hakim Miloudi, 29. Masi Matongo, 30. Cameron Scott, 31. Ross Osborne, 32. Jack Sanderson.

Prediction: 2nd