Hull FC v Salford preview
Hull FC have named five of their pre-season signings in the squad for their first game of the new Super League campaign against Salford.
Hull FC have named five of their pre-season signings in the squad for their first game of the new Super League campaign against Salford.
Hull are set to give debuts to new signings Mahe Fonua, Sika Manu, Frank Pritchard, former Salford prop Scott Taylor and Carlos Tuimavave but there is no place for former Leeds and Wakefield full-back Lee Smith, who is currently on trial at the club and captain Gareth Ellis is being given more time to fully recover from a ruptured Achilles tendon.
"We've had a really good pre-season and I've really enjoyed settling into life in Hull," Fonua told the club's official website.
"It's been an easy transition for the new boys and the team has a really strong bond. We're going into Round 1 as a tight unit."
Salford could have as many as nine players on debut after including newcomers Justin Carney, Mark Flanagan, Josh Jones, Phil Joseph, Craig Kopczak, Rob Lui. Ben Murdoch-Masila, Gareth O'Brien and Matt Sarsfield in their 19-man squad.
The club's other close-season recruit, Daniel Vidot, is out with a shoulder injury.
Hull FC : Bowden, Fonua, Green, Houghton, Logan, Manu, Minichiello, Paleaaesina, Pritchard, Pryce, Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa, Taylor, Thompson, Tuimavave, Washbrook, Watts, Yeaman.
Salford: Carney, Dobson, Evalds, Flanagan, G Griffin, J Griffin, Jones, Joseph, Kopczak, Krasniqi, Lannon, Lee, Lui, Murdoch-Masila, O'Brien, Sarsfield, Sa'u, Tomkins, Walne.
