Hull FC put sorry Salford to the sword on Sunday afternoon.
Hull FC were always going to get the job done on Sunday afternoon. It was just a case of what the manner of it would look like and on that front, it’s hard to grumble with 14 tries and 80 points.
For the opening 65 minutes or so, it was clinical and professional, even if it didn’t feel quite right. But as the cliche goes, you can only play what’s in front of you, and Hull did that, hammering a crisis-stricken Salford Red Devils side 80-6.
And now with six rounds of the regular season to go, they’re in a Super League top six position, and that, all things considered, is a pretty good place to be. Of course, they’ll know tougher challenges await, and none more so than against Leigh Leopards on Saturday evening. That one could be a humdinger of a contest but for now, it’s a case of a job well done, with plenty of things to go at. Here, Hull Live looks at some talking points.
Asiata and Pryce’s return
Hull have missed John Asiata and Will Pryce – there’s no bones about it. Asiata in particular is the glue that holds Hull together, the link to middles Herman Ese’ese and Liam Watts and to the pivots, in this case Pryce, Zak Hardaker and Cade Cust. He’s a leader by his actions and by his words. He galvanises the group and with the ball, he’s instrumental to the shape and structure of the side. All the attacks go through him, and that was evident to see throughout the first half. In fact, it’s no coincidence at all that Hull dipped in the second half without him. He’s crucial – albeit John Cartwright didn’t make any interchanges after half time, a fact probably telling in the last quarter or so that did see Hull ease off from the throat of Salford, something they can’t do next week.
But sticking with the theme, in Pryce, Hull have such a threat. He’s so good on his feet and after 10 weeks out, to produce five try assists and over 100 running metres was a fair effort. Again, Hull will have tougher tests to come in games where they won’t have everything their own way, but for a first game back, it was certainly a box ticked. Both players, Asiata playing 40 minutes and Pryce around 50, came through unscathed in terms of their hamstrings and with a big contest up next, that’s all that matters.
The new competition try leader
Lewis Martin now has 27 tries to his name this year, with four more added to his tally against Salford. 20 in Super League. Seven in the Challenge Cup. And with seven coming in his last two games, he now leads the way in Super League, overtaking Mikey Lewis in what continues to be a superb season for the 20-year-old winger, who has now beaten Tom Lineham’s previous club record for tries in a Super League era season (26).
The Hull-born flyer continues to go from strength to strength. It’s not just his try scoring either, but his all-round game. He’s big, fast, and tough; he’s hard-working in the backfield, and he’s reliable under the high ball. He grafts his backside off every game and is getting better and better. The sky is the limit. It’s genuinely not outlandish to talk about England honours in the future. Martin can be that good.
And it’s not based on four tries and 100-metre efforts against the bottom-placed side. This is a young gun who rounds the calibre of Bevan French to score winning tries away at Wigan. His talent has no boundary. 50 games under his belt now. 37 tries. And he’s only just getting started.
Don’t forget the veterans
While the likes of Zak Hardaker continue to shine, and no matter where he’s played, there was a sentimental moment for Tom Briscoe on Sunday, scoring his 100th Hull FC try. And it was set up by who else but Hardaker, who carved his way through the Salford line countless times. But for Briscoe, who first played for Hull in 2008 as a teenager, the joy was there to see. He becomes just the 25th Hull player to reach the milestone. And given over 1,200 players have played for the club over the last 160-odd years, that’s not bad going.
A few words on Salford
Sunday’s win needs perspective. While it was professional and while Hull got the job done, it was against a cobbled-together Salford side featuring nine loan players, seven of whom were signed 48 hours or so before the game. It was a turbulent and dismal week coming to an end, with Salford crippled by financial woes and led still by two silent and unpopular owners, who will have heard the ‘You’re not fit to run our club’ chants from the away end.
As mentioned above, the way Hull took them to the cleaners, at one stage going five tries without Salford touching the ball, almost felt wrong. It was uneasy watching at times and did nothing for the integrity of the competition, with Salford literally filling contract obligations to Sky Sports in playing the fixture and nothing more.
But at what cost? This was a team full of kids – several of whom are from fellow Super League clubs – who aren’t ready for top-flight rugby league. It seems like a long six games ahead now to finish the year. Will we hear from the owners or even the RFL? They won’t want to hear it, but their handling of the situation has been terrible this year.
It’s uncharted waters, for sure, but the situation has sorely lacked firm governance and leadership, with many people in all corners prepared to sit and watch without taking action. And yet the people you feel for, other than the players and Paul Rowley and his staff, were in that north stand. Fair play to them. They never stopped singing, and they got the respect they deserved post-match, with both teams going over to them in what was a strong message of unity.
On to Leigh
Saturday’s clash with high-flying Leigh promises to be a rip-roaring contest. Hull need to win to keep their destiny in their own hands, whereas the Leythers are going for the top two. It’s potentially a fascinating contest in a play-off race that is set for plenty more twists and turns. Hull are going to feel them as much as anyone and they need to be on next week and play to the best of their ability. They’ve got to complete well, execute, defend tough, and play intense. They should get some confidence from the 14 tries here, with some positivity and a feel-good factor to take into next week. A massive game awaits.