Hull FC preview

Last season

Having fought so hard to make the play-offs, Hull's season came to a tame end when they were thumped at Leeds. It was their 11th straight loss to the Rhinos and meant a rather sorry end to the Richard Agar era.

An eighth-placed finish at the end of the regular season was a drop down on sixth from the previous year - they won three fewer matches too, meaning they ended up behind city rivals Rovers in the final table.

They did, however, enjoy a 36-18 victory over the Robins at the KC Stadium in a game that saw former Saints duo Sean Long and Martin Gleeson to the fore. That, though, was to be a rare highlight for the pair.

There was a 24-10 win at Warrington but way too many comfortable defeats to the top teams in the rest of the summer, including a 42-10 pasting at Headingley that put paid to their dreams of reaching Old Trafford.

The same opponents ended the Airlie Birds' run in the Challenge Cup at the quarter-final stage, meaning owner Adam Pearson, who took over in July, decided Agar - who rejected the chance to remain as director of rugby - would not be kept on as coach.

Instead it was announced former St Helens and Salford boss Shaun McRae would take up the post Agar didn't want, with compatriot Peter Gentle then appointed as coach. The pair have been given the tall order of getting the Black and Whites back amongst the big boys.

Ins and outs

As it seems is the case every winter, Hull have not been slow to shake things up amongst their squad.

The retirements of Sean Long and Craig Fitzgibbon - who can be seen at opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to the impact they made during their time in the north east - freed up some salary cap space.

Lee Radford also hung up his boots to join the club's coaching staff, while tough-running forward Epalahame Lauaki was sold to Wigan.

The cash that came in from the Warriors helped cover the outlay for Bradford forward Andy Lynch, Hull having to fork out a "significant six-figure fee" to get the Bulls captain out of Odsal. He will be joined in the pack by former Wigan prop Eamon O'Carroll, while Martin Aspinwall has been given the chance to relaunch his career at the KC.

The failed experiment with Sam Obst and the departure of Long means another new partner for Richard Horne. Half-back Brett Seymour arrives from the New Zealand Warriors, as too does hooker Aaron Heremaia.

Full-back Wade McKinnon is the third overseas recruit and with Tony Martin coming in from Crusaders, the Black and Whites will have a much-changed back-line in 2012.

Gleeson will not be part of it, the former England international one of three former Hull employers - the others being chief executive James Rule and fitness conditioner Ben Cooper - to be banned by the RFL over attempts to cover up a failed drugs test by the player.

Outlook

It is easy to forget that back in 2006 Hull lost a Grand Final. They finished fourth the following season too, but since then the Black and Whites have fallen on harder times.

While the last two seasons have seen them return to the play-offs, they have suffered early exits on both occasions. A heavy defeat to Leeds was the end of Agar, who opted not to stay on in a different role at the KC.

Instead Australians McRae and Gentle have been paired together in an attempt to find a way of pushing Hull back amongst the top clubs - just reaching the play-offs is simply not enough.

As ever, money has been spent to try and improve their fortunes. New skipper Lynch did not come cheap, but his arrival, to go alongside Mark O'Meley, gives them one of the most fearsome front-row tandems in the competition.

And that packs looks to be the key for the Airlie Birds - if they can make metres then Hull have the backs to score points, provided Richard Horne and new boy Brett Seymour can strike up an understanding in the halves.

Hull fans - and neutrals - will be hoping they can, meaning opportunuties will be forthcoming for the likes of England duo Tom Briscoe and Kirk Yeaman, as well as new full-back Wade McKinnon. If key players can stay healthy (always a big 'IF' for Hull), then Gentle has a squad capable of competing.