Hull FC got their seventh Super League win of the season on Saturday evening – defeating Catalans Dragons 34-0 in Perpignan.
Elsewhere, there was a defeat for the academy, while the club’s women’s side lost the first derby of the season. Here is the latest notebook.
Hull FC’s current position
After 13 Super League rounds, Hull sit fifth in the Super League table. They have got back up and running after four straight defeats, winning at Leigh and Catalans, and now look set for a big play-off push.
There are still 14 rounds to go and plenty of twists and turns to come, but Hull will fancy their chances of picking up a first home win of the season against Castleford next time out, and then it’s onto struggling Salford.
However, there will be no complacency creeping into camp with John Cartwright being very strict on the side’s week-by-week mentality. They won’t be thinking about the table or what’s ahead – just on beating Castleford the Friday after next.
Do that, and they’ll be sitting pretty – with their destiny in their own hands. Not bad for a team largely tipped to be in the bottom half, even the bottom four, by many.
Hermanator continues spell
Herman Ese’ese scored his ninth try of the season at Catalans – his seventh in Super League. He’s on course for a competition record this term, chasing Alex Walmsley’s record for tries scored by an out-and-out prop in one season, which stands at 11. He needs four more to equal it and five to beat it.
Taking Amir Bourouh’s pass to charge over the line, Ese’ese has proven to be destructive in good ball territory. He has nine tries in his last dozen games – mental. His overall form also remains out of the top tier, with the 30-year-old signed up at Hull until at least the end of the 2029 season.
And as for try scoring…
Lewis Martin now has 16 tries in 16 appearances for Hull FC this season, touching down in Perpignan for a long-range score. He has two hat-tricks to his name against York Acorn and Wigan – both in the Challenge Cup.
Perhaps more impressive has been his longevity. As well as being ever present this year, Martin, still only 20 years old, played in 25 of Hull’s 28 games last year – with his debut coming in the final game of 2023. He scored ten tries before this year, taking his total to 27 to date. In total, he’s played in 42 of Hull’s 45 games since his first appearance. In the three games he missed, he was 18th man, so he’s always been available for the Black and Whites. Not bad.
Academy edged out
Hull FC Academy were beaten 26-24 by Bradford Bulls on Friday night. Played at the University of Hull, the Black and Whites trailed 20-4 at half-time before a second-half comeback almost snatched the two points.
Winger Kirils Prigorkins scored a brace of tries for Hull, while Kieran Calvert, Rhys Yorke, and Preston Ward all crossed over. Finlay Davies kicked two goals.
Hull Starting XIII: Eccles; Yorke, Nelson-Hewitt, L Kemp, Prigorkins; Horne, C Kemp; Goodband, Power, Turner; Kassim, Wilson; Shepherdson
Interchange: Calvert, Davies, Smith, Ward
Dual reg and loan appearances
Hull FC full-back Logan Moy played for Doncaster on dual reg over the weekend. The teenager scored a try in the Dons’ 30-22 defeat to Bradford Bulls, coming off the bench to make his first appearance in the Championship. Will Gardiner also featured off the interchange.
Elsewhere, Ryan Westerman made his debut for Hunslet. However, it was a tough afternoon for the West Yorkshire side, losing 54-4 to Oldham.
Women defeated
Hull FC were beaten 12-4 by Hull KR on Sunday in the women’s championship.