Hull FC were superb to defeat Leeds Rhinos. What a win.
Hull FC celebrate Ligi Sao’s try. (Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Hands up if you saw that one coming? Well, Hull FC did, and that’s all that matters, with the unfancied Black and Whites, written off by the bookies, pundits, and just about everyone else, digging deep to record a superb 24-16 victory over Leeds Rhinos on Sunday afternoon.
Defying any talk of pressure, Hull’s John Cartwright and co. were bullish pre-match and insisted they haven’t paid attention to the outside noise after four successive defeats got the alarming bells ringing.
And led by the sensational John Asiata, they showed just why. In camp, there’s every confidence and belief that they can turn a poor start to the season around, and on the field, where it matters most, they justified that mentality with action.
Hull were superb. They took the game to Leeds and played some great rugby league. They completed high, kicked well, and defended vigorously, earning a foothold in the game through honest hard work. And when they got opportunities to strike, they didn’t let them go to waste.
Asiata shaped the side up superbly but he wasn’t on his own, with Jake Arthur, up against Dad and Leeds head coach Brad Arthur, announcing himself as a Hull player with his best game to date. Cade Cust, paired in the halves, also proved his worth, while the starting front row duo of Ligi Sao and Harvie Hill were immense. Amir Bourouh also had arguably his best game in a Hull shirt.
Hull played with a swagger at times and fully deserved their win – their second of the Super League season and one they hope will kickstart their campaign into action. But they were also robust. Defence hasn’t been an issue this year and it came to the fore again, but what was most telling is Hull got out of their vicious cycle of errors and penalties, instead earning field position to play instead of defending on the back foot again and again.
It told. Hull were superb early on until a six-again farce unfolded. There was no consistency to decisions, with John Cartwright visibly frustrated watching on the west stand upper. Those two points will feel sweet.
Making two changes, Hull took the game to Leeds early on – and after the Rhinos struck first through a Jake Connor penalty goal, they clicked into gear. Sticking in the contest, the home side got their reward, with Arthur putting James Bell through a gap in the Leeds defence with a well-timed pass before supporting the Kiwi to take the return ball and score the first try.
With some momentum behind them, Hull weren’t done. They got favourable territory again and didn’t let it go to waste, with Sao taking Amir Bourouh’s offload to score Hull’s second. Zak Hardaker then added a penalty goal before Leeds hit back in the latter part of the first half.
The Rhinos kept the ball alive well, with James McDonnell first to Brodie Croft’s kick to score. And it was second-phase play that came up trumps again, with the away side finding the offload before Ash Handley kicked back towards the posts for Croft to dive over. That drew the Rhinos level and they edged themselves ahead before half-time through another Connor penalty goal.
Hull cancelled that advantage out with a penalty goal early in the second half and then added another to edge themselves ahead. And then they struck a crucial blow as Davy Litten was first to John Asiata’s grubber kick for their third try.
That put Hull – who saw some disruption as Lewis Martin went off for an HIA – eight points ahead, a lead they held into the final quarter of the game. And it was a lead Hull weren’t prepared to let slip. They scrambled in defence to keep Leeds out, forcing the error and maintaining their strong kicking and chasing game to record a massive win in the context of their season. That’s a huge victory. But now they must kick on, with Catalans Dragons up next on March 29.
Teams
Hull Starting XIII: 4. Zak Hardaker; 19. Tom Briscoe, 3. Davy Litten; 21. Arthur Romano, 5. Lewis Martin; 14. Cade Cust, 6. Jake Arthur; 10. Harvie Hill, 9. Amir Bourouh, 18. Ligi Sao; 15. James Bell, 22. Connor Bailey; 13. John Asiata
Interchange: 16. Sam Lisone, 23. Brad Fash, 25. Matty Laidlaw, 27. Callum Kemp (unused). 18th Man: 24. Logan Moy
Leeds Starting XIII: 1. Lachie Miller; 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Harry Newman, 4. Ash Handley, 14. Chris Hankinson; 6. Brodie Coft, 7. Jake Connor; 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 23. Danny Levi, 13. Keenan Palasia; 11. Kallum Watkins, 12. James McDonnell; 17. Cameron Smith
Interchange: 15. Cooper Jenkins, 10. Tom Holroyd, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 33. Jack Bird. 18th Man: 16. Ethan O’Neil
Scorers
Hull Tries: Arthur, Sao, Litten. Goals: Hardaker 6/6
Leeds Tries: McDonnell, Croft. Goals: Connor 4/4
Scoring System: 0-2, 6-2, 12-2, 14-2, 14-8, 14-14, 14-16, HT, 16-16, 18-16, 24-16,
Referee: Liam Moore. Video Referee: Chris Kendall
Attendance: 12,871