Hull FC produced a shocker at the MKM Stadium.
Hull FC’s Jake Arthur.
Hull FC have been notorious for looking back at missed opportunities. Time and time again, they have lost matches they were expected to win, only to be left with egg on their face.
And here we are again, with Toulouse Olympique running out 12-4 winners at the MKM Stadium on Sunday afternoon, and in the process, ending their own seven match losing run.
The French side fully deserved their victory, their third of the season, but Hull, who spoke all week about turning up with the right attitude, were utterly dreadful. Their attack lacked any organisation or fluidity, with connection sorely lacking in what will go down as a really poor home defeat.
Hull were beaten to the punch early on and struggled to get going. They had a mountain of field position, especially in the second half, but Toulouse, who defended their line again and again, shut them out. And while they showed spirit, it was Hull’s attack that faltered in what again was a totally disjointed performance – their worst of the season to date.
The Black and Whites welcomed back Joe Batchelor into the side after a two-game lay off in what was their only personnel change. And after Toulouse started as the better side, the 31-year-old was soon thrown into the action off the bench, replacing Connor Bailey.
The French side, playing with that swagger and flamboyance of a true Treiziste, chanced their arm and got their reward. Led by Jake Shorrocks and former Hull loose-forward Joe Cator, they shaped up well and soon clicked into gear, carving up Hull’s right edge and scoring through talented full-back Olly Ashall-Bott.
It didn’t take long for Toulouse to double their lead either, with Cator running a strong line to evade the Hull defence and score near the sticks. That stunned the home crowd, who had to wait a while to see their side click into gear.
Hull’s first and only try came after 35 minutes through Tom Briscoe, who took Logan Moy’s pass to score in the corner, but as far as the first half was concerned, that was as good as it got, with Toulouse holding an eight point lead at the break.
The second half was more of the same. Hull just couldn’t get going. They had all the territory. In fact, they camped on Toulouse’s line, but their attack couldn’t land the decisive blows. There were so out of sync, off the pace, lethargic, and for a side who clicked so effectively at Castleford Tigers just nine days away, it was all the more bizarre.
But that’s Hull FC, and unfortunately, they have always had these displays in them, especially at home. And given comments made by Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı suggesting their future at the MKM Stadium is in ‘trouble’ – with their lease expiring at the end of next year – it all couldn’t have come at a worse time. An utterly pitiful display, and one Andy Last and co will look to get the bottom of quickly.
Teams
Hull Starting XIII: 24. Logan Moy; 19. Tom Briscoe, 27. Harry Newman, 3. Davy Litten 5. Lewis Martin; 6. Jake Arthur, 7. Aidan Sezer; 23. Brad Fash, 9. Amir Bourouh, 10. Harvie Hill; 22. Connor Bailey, 4. Zak Hardaker; 15. James Bell.
Interchange: 11. Joe Batchelor, 14. Cade Cust, 20. Yusuf Aydin, 38. Jeremiah Mata’utiah. 18th Man: 25. Matty Laidlaw
Toulouse Starting XIII: 1. Olly Ashall-Bott; 5. Benjamin Laguerre, 25. Luke Poselli, 12. Mathiue Jussaume, 2. Paul Ulberg; 29. Cesar Rouge, 7. Jake Shorrocks; 10. James Roumanos, 9. Brendan Hnads, 30. Tiaki Chan; 22. Henry O’Kane, 11. Maxime Stefani; 15. Joe Cator
Interchange: 13. Anthony Marion, 17. Rob Butler, 20. AJ Wallace, 21. Ellis Gillam. 18th Man: Baptiste Rodriguez
Scorers
Hull Tries: Briscoe. Goals: Hardaker 0/1
Toulouse Tries: Ashall-Bott, Cator. Goals: Shorrocks 2/2
Scoring System: 0-6, 0-12, 4-12, HT, FT.
Referee: Matty Lynn. Video Referee: Aaron Moore
Attendance: 12,612