It’s the most Hull FC thing ever to topple Super League’s reigning champions in their own backyard and then lose to one of the competition’s struggling sides the following week.
But that doesn’t take away the disappointment of what was a big blow to Hull’s play-off push, with a lacklustre account seeing them slip to a 30-14 defeat to Huddersfield Giants at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
It was another match that went against the grain, and not for the first time this year. Hull, when written off and the underdog, tend to thrive, but when the clear favourite, they come unstuck.
Whether that’s the weight of expectation and the pressure that comes with it or too much energy zapped out after a season-high win last week, who knows, but it’s an issue clearly hindering this side’s charge to the top six. They were brilliant last week at Wigan when few saw victory coming, but here they stumbled again against an opposition they were largely expected and tipped to beat.
In fact, you could sense what was coming after just ten minutes. Hull were struggling and looked flat and lethargic in a game where they were predicted to take it by the scruff of the neck. But they did anything but.
It was a slow and tedious match with painful play of the ball speed, but it takes nothing away from written-off Huddersfield, who deserved their win, and favourites Hull, who got what they deserved – nothing.
And it’s far from the first time that has happened this season, with Hull too tasting defeat to Huddersfield at Magic. They also lost to Castleford at home yet have won at Wigan twice, Catalans twice, and the likes of Leigh, Wakefield, and Warrington this year.
On one hand, that’s a testament to Super League and the unpredictability of the competition, but on the other, it’s showing the inconsistency of Hull – an element that is threatening to derail their play-off aspirations. However, it’s also a reality of where they sit in their rebuild and the long road still ahead.
Consistency is a sign of a very good side, and it’s the best sides that can rock up every week, face different challenges, and still get results. Hull aren’t at that level yet. They are in the midst of building something under John Cartwright and are more than capable of producing a performance, but there’s a reason why they are superb one week and off the pace the next.
It’s not down to attitude and mentality, as insisted by their head coach, but again, more of a reality of where the squad is at and the level they still have to go through. But that’s not to write them off for the rest of the season, far from it, but accept that this year was always going to swing between different levels of performance.
It’s also important to not forget last year’s account was one of the worst in the club’s entire history, but this one, with the side still in the mix, is clearly much better. There’s been a lot of good in Hull this year to turn that around, with this group of players restoring pride, endeavour, spirit, and the like – but results like this do show again that they still have a long way to go.
Hull need time, that is clear, to continue their upward trajectory with new signings and the right retention. They have shown improvement, and the challenge is to keep on showing improvement. The hope now is they will do just that with key players returning, none more so than John Asiata and Will Pryce.
Hopefully, their returns will be enough to achieve their target of a top-six place, but with seven rounds still to go, there will be plenty more twists and turns. Wakefield may hold the advantage right now by a single point, but that table will change again and again in the final two months of the season.
Whether Hull, who have five of their last seven at home, can hold their nerve and get more results going for them than against them is the challenge.
Lewis Martin is box office
It would be remiss not to mention Lewis Martin after his hat-trick show, albeit in defeat. The young Hull FC winger has been superb this season, with his total now standing at 23 tries in 23 games.
That was his third hat trick of the year, his first in the Super League, with his first and second tries of the mould we’ve come to expect. But his third was genuinely outstanding. That’s Martin – raw pace and raw talent, and getting better and better. He’ll make his 50th appearance for the club against Salford next time out and already has 33 tries to his name. His future is bright, to say the least.
Speed it up
Cartwright alluded to it post-match, but the flops and holding down during the game were a joke. Rugby league is at its brilliant best when it’s a fast-paced game and that at times was akin to a tortoise turning on a sixpence. Not easy on the eye and not what we all sign up for.
Huddersfield
For the avoidance of doubt, the Giants were deserved winners. No one can take that win from them. They had a plan, and they polished it to good effect while stifling Hull’s threats. Credit to them.