Hull FC are up and running but they were made to work for it by a spirited Bradford side.
Hull FC full-back Will Pryce. (Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC kicked off their Super League season with a 27-20 win over Bradford Bulls on Saturday night. However, they didn’t have it all their way in a contest that swung one way and the other before ending with a black and white victory. Here are some talking points.
Hull made to work for it
Newsflash: Super League isn’t made to be easy, and that was far from easy. First things first, credit to Bradford, who, in a fast-paced and entertaining contest, pushed Hull all the way before the home side pulled away for good in the final few minutes.
Not here to make up the numbers, Bradford did exactly what they said on the tin. Head coach Kurt Haggerty has said all pre-season that he is shaping his side up to play, and they did just that. They were very easy on the eye at times and moved the ball well, finding some joy on their edges and cutting Hull apart. In the end, effort, grit, and determination saved the home side, who scrambled hard defensively and managed to force some errors out of a tired Bulls side, but it wasn’t without a fight.
Bradford put up that fight throughout and at times looked more than capable of completing a promoted side clean sweep after victories for York Knights over Hull KR and Toulouse Olympique over Wakefield Trinity, but Hull did enough to rip up that script.
And winning when you’re not at your best and when you’re not at full strength – with five influential players in John Asiata, Herman Ese’ese, Jed Cartwright, James Bell, and Jake Arthur all out – are both good signs, and Hull, who were willing to dig deep, can take the positives out of that. They were far from perfect in their shape and systems, and with their defensive contact in a second half that certainly changed momentum, but they still won the game, a tough game, and at the start of any season, that’s all that really matters.
Priceless Pryce
While Hull could be considered clunky at times, their major talent was not. A naturally gifted player, Will Pryce is aiming to be the complete full-back in 2026. Renowned for the attacking elements of his game, he wants the defensive attributes to now follow suit. And they did just that against the Bulls, with the Bradford-born star standing tall on his own try line to produce at least two try-saving tackles.
Showing the bravery and determination needed to pull off such plays, Pryce put his body on the line for the cause – and he felt it. He was outstanding and while it’s a team effort – exemplified by the chase back from Lewis Martin and co before Pryce’s last-ditch save – without those plays, Hull don’t win the game.
And for good measure, his attack also dazzled. Hull’s big moments with the ball came through Pryce. Breaking the line, he evaded tackles before kicking for Joe Batchelor to score and also fired a cut-out pass for Harvey Barron to add another. He then landed the drop goal to edge Hull ahead at the death and was five from five from the tee. As far as influential performances go, that was right up there, but the challenge now is to back it up.
The impact of the bench
One other big positive for Hull was the impact of their bench. Sam Lisone lifted the side when he came on. He made an immediate contribution, winning penalties after some strong front-foot carries. Bradford couldn’t live with his physicality at times as he drove Hull forward. That spell is exactly why the club sought to sign the player – and paired with Ligi Sao, who has started the season strongly, ensured that Hull’s velocity went up another level.
“I was really happy,” Cartwright told Hull Live. “The first changes we made with Sam and Ligi coming on, it really turned the screw on them, and we came up with some tries. It was all on the back of the momentum that those boys had.”
Add Liam Knight and Harvie Hill to that, who were solid, as was Yusuf Aydin, not to mention Ese’ese and the two loose forwards Asiata and Bell when they return to the fold and it’s a pack that can certainly create some carnage this season.
Injury boosts
John Cartwright confirmed post-match that Hull FC, at least on first glance, have picked up no fresh injuries after Saturday’s game. They could have two welcome returns at Wigan next week too: Jed Cartwright and Jake Arthur. Cartwright just needs to pass his final return-to-play checks after a head knock, while Arthur will hope to return from a minor hamstring issue. The half-back could have pushed through the game here but Hull, with a long season ahead and teenage gun Callum Kemp having the trust to step in, opted not to risk him. A smart move, and one that paid off.