
Hull FC slipped out of the Super League play-off places after Saturday’s 13-6 defeat to St Helens. It was a loss that had a similar feel about it to previous defeats at Warrington and the like. There’s no questioning effort, but in terms of brains, the performance again left a lot to be desired. Here, Hull Live looks at some talking points.
Own worst enemy
John Cartwright said post-match that it was really difficult for Hull to win the game on the back of the ‘statistics they posted’, and one glance at them tells the story. Hull made 15 errors during the clash and completed at just 66%. For context, St Helens made ten and completed at 87%.
That has a chain effect elsewhere. For good measure, Saints had 42 play the balls in Hull’s 20. Hull had 10. In total, Saints had 57% of the possession, making over 400 metres more than Hull, with the Black and Whites making over 80 more tackles.
That stranglehold told. Saints started strong, completed well, and turned the ball over in their desired areas. In fact, it took Hull 20 minutes to get out of their own half, and the first play the ball they had in Saints territory, they lost the ball in contact. That theme continued. When Hull got into Saints’ 20 for the first time, they coughed up possession again and again. When they got good field position in the second half, they lost the ball on the first tackle. They continuously shot themselves in the foot and, in the end, got what they deserved.
But why does it keep happening?
Whether it’s sloppiness or a lack of patience or even confidence, who knows? But ultimately, when you make errors, you create a vicious cycle. You’re using up energy defending your own line, and if you manage to keep it intact, you’re then getting out of your own end with further energy-zapping carries against an opposition defence that is revved up and ready to squeeze. Therefore, the carries are tougher, the play the balls are slower, and the metre totals are restricted, and you’re then kicking from deep and again scrambling to gain any field position. It’s a tough place to be, and it takes some real character to get out of.
Now that’s one thing Hull have got by the bucketload this year. They’re a very resilient team who fight to the death. They are full of effort, grit and desperation, but that alone does not win you games at this level. Sure, Hull’s effort is indisputable and was shown when they dug into a first half where Saints had the possession and chances to win the game three times over, but what was then frustrating was when Hull eventually stopped that cycle, overcame the adversity, and got down the other end, they didn’t build pressure.
As mentioned after previous games, they go too lateral instead of playing direct, they are static when receiving the ball, and they look erratic when trying to make something of every play or set when better composure would have seen them play out their sets, turn the ball over in better areas, and get into a rhythm. There was no rhythm here, and every chance was fizzled out with an error.
Hull are clearly missing the composure of John Asiata, and they need to calm down, be patient, and complete sets on their own terms, then restrict the metres of the opposition, ensure they kick from deeper positions, and then get into that cycle where they gain an ascendancy themselves instead of chasing the game. That’s been the case in three of their last four outings – and consequently, it has been their undoing, draining energy and leaving them with a mountain to climb.
You can have all the effort and grit in the world, but if you can’t complete the basics of the game, you’re going to struggle. And while Cartwright said he sounds like a broken record, it’s exactly that record this Hull side needs to hear on repeat: hold the ball, play the ball, and do it again, and again, and again.
A positive
Zak Hardaker. The 33-year-old was immense yet again. After playing the last ten games in the back row, he stepped up into the full-back role and let nobody down. He was everywhere, making tackles on the goal line, running the ball, making half breaks, and just generally competing hard for everything.
Hardaker is Hull’s signing of the season and is making a strong case to be their player of the year. He never shied away from his respect for this club when he was an opposition player, and now he’s here, he gives it everything every week. A class act.
It’s not quite do or die, but…
There are ten rounds to go, but there’s no doubting the enormity of Thursday’s game against Wakefield – who went above Hull with victory over Catalans. But table positions aside, Hull, who don’t want to see a gap open up on themselves and the top six, need to get back on track and ensure their season doesn’t fizzle out. They have won just three of their last ten games and come against an opposition who are flying. Time to see what they’re made of. The effort is undisputed. But they’ve got to be smarter and show more polish if they want to reach their season targets and secure a play-off finish. A massive game awaits.