John Cartwright has insisted that the level of discipline his Hull FC side showed at Leeds last Friday night has to become the norm going forward.
The Black and Whites didn’t get the result at Headingley, but they were much improved, leading for much of the game before Ryan Hall’s 79th-minute try.
And in the eyes of Cartwright, it’s that same disciplined approach that will get the side results in the remaining 16 rounds of Super League, with the side falling out of top six positions for the first time since round two.
Looking to strike some consistency and maintain their discipline levels at Leigh this Thursday night, the Hull head coach wants his players to play with the same composure in all aspects – from how they defend to how they attack and then turn the ball over, with a high competition rate paving the way for what was statistically their best performance of the season last week.
Knowing the challenges ahead, Hull know they need to play to that level again but also strike when the opportunities arise and ensure they put teams away – a challenge Cartwright has set all season.
Speaking to Hull Live, the head coach said ahead of the clash: “Last week, we just controlled the ball a little bit better. We played a little bit more conservatively, which is what you have to do to win big games.
“Sometimes we have been guilty of trying to score points too often and in the wrong parts of the field. Maybe that was a result of winning a few games early, but it’s something that I and the coaches have got to take some blame for.
“We brought things right back to basics last week, and we’ve just got to keep doing that. You can have little dips and peaks, but you just can’t handle the big dips we’ve had over the last month.
“The players know where they need to be, and that’s our challenge now going forward. I know we’ll compete against anyone going forward if we just need to worry about ourselves and get that part of our game right.”
Looking to end a run of four successive defeats, Cartwright’s message to his Hull side is to stay cool. The head coach isn’t worried about results or the table – just focusing on what they need to do to ensure they stay on track against another top opponent.
He continued: “I’ve been doing it for a while now (coaching). A few years ago I would have worried – but if you get concerned with where you are on the table and winning and losing, it drains too much energy, and players see through you.
“We have had a tough run. I rate Leeds really highly. I think they’re going to be right up there; they’re really evolving as a team, and defensively, they’re as good as anyone.
“They’re moving in the right direction, and they’re hard to defend. It was a tough physical game last week, and Leigh are really similar.
“They’ve got a really dangerous spine and a really good set of middles and some dangerous guys on the edge. We’ve played some of the better sides over the last six or so weeks, and that’s good – it makes you see where you are, if you’re far away or not too far away.
“It’s a Thursday night over at Leigh, and we can’t use things as excuses – the travel, the crowd – they are all things we are aware of, but the vibe is really good, and the mood is really good.”
Identifying the key threat, Cartwright has been impressed with Leigh hooker Edwin Ipape, with Hull’s challenge to try and restrict the Papua New Guinea international as much as they can.
“I watched the Wigan game, and they scored some really good tries – they’re a really dangerous side, and they’re very physical,” Cartwright explained. “They’ve got a real physical pack of forwards, and the hooker (Ipape) is rare – he’s a real game-changer with and without the ball.
“We did a reasonable job on him in the first game, but it’s just so hard to contain him for eighty minutes. He plays big minutes, and his effort doesn’t change from the first minute until the last minute. It’s going to be a real challenge to keep him quiet.”
Hull will see a number of their new signings go up against Leigh, including John Asiata, Ed Chamberlain and Zak Hardaker. In turn, Leigh also have former Hull trio Darnell McIntosh, Ben McNamara, and Brad Dwyer all in the squad.
Asked if that adds an extra incentive to the battle, Cartwright added: “Personally, it does. The boys that are here from Leigh – and I’m not sure on the ins and outs – but they will want to show they shouldn’t have let them go.
“But at the end of the day, when you play against your mates, you try that little bit harder. You want to get some bragging rights.”