Hull FC showed plenty of encouragement against Wigan but they must improve one key area.
Hull FC can take plenty of positives out of their Wigan performance but they must improve one key area.
Hull FC produced one of their best performances of the season against Wigan Warriors on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to prevent a 20-16 defeat at the MKM Stadium but there’s still a lot the side can take from it ahead of next week’s Magic Weekend derby against Hull KR.
First things first, they got their intent right. They started the game with aggression and punch. They were challenged by Andy Last to meet fire with fire and they did exactly that. The forward pack relished that challenge. They got stuck into Wigan and got through some monster stints.
Herman Ese’ese got his first start of the season in his fourth game back from injury and constantly smashed into Wigan, as did Hugo Salabio, while Harvie Hill went strong against his former club and Jed Cartwright was also a menace off the bench. The pack came to the fore. They were criticised against Wakefield after getting rolled downfield but here they embraced the fight and ensured Hull got on the front foot and built into the game.
As always with Hull these days, there are loads of grit, spirit, tenacity, and resilience about them. They are qualities fully instilled into this side now and qualities that go such a long way. Given Wigan’s recent form, many anticipated a significant defeat, but Hull’s DNA has changed from the team that used to crumble under adversity. They are tough to beat now and tough to break down, and Wigan knew that. It took a moment of brilliance from Harry Smith to win the game and that was that.
Unfortunately, that extra dose of quality is what undid Hull. While there was plenty of bite and passion in their performance, they lacked that bit of extra quality in good ball when it mattered most. After all, sport at the very top level is ruthless and it’s those one per cent things that make the difference: shape, execution, timing of runs, passes, etc. They are all crucial and Hull just weren’t fully in sync when they had those good ball opportunities.
Hull had the chances to really kick on after taking the lead in the first half through Lewis Martin and then Harvey Barron and again in the second, and they had to come away with more points. Of course, Wigan deserve credit for fronting up in defence. They are a side that really stands up physically and they don’t just roll over but equally Hull had to throw more at them to get over the line.
That’s not a pop at half-backs Aidan Sezer and Jake Arthur, who have reverted roles and look much better for it, with Arthur now the dominant first receiver and Sezer playing wider, or Amir Bourouh and Logan Moy at hooker and full-back who both had some moments, but collectively as a team, and especially in terms of runners and timings and the like. It’s something that they need to nail in the future to beat the best teams in this competition.
They scored three tries here but it could and should have been more. On that front, Tom Briscoe continued to roll back the years in a strong spell of form and was controversially denied a try by the video referee but Hull also left points on the field after Cartwright scored his try in the second half. They had the chances on Wigan’s line but didn’t take them – and at 16-8 that could have killed the game off.
Still, it was an encouraging account from Hull. They’ve been depleted with injuries all season but they have never backed down – despite a hefty penalty count against them, something Andy Last – amid a breakdown of the countdown clock late on that caused some late drama with confusion of time left – rightly took issue with post-match. The difference in the effort-based fundamentals of this team compared to two/three years ago is astronomical. They just don’t go away. They never give in.
It’s just finding that bit of extra quality now that is key, but Hull, even if they’re perceived to be in limbo waiting for Steve McNamara’s arrival ahead of next season, still have plenty about them, and if they add to the positives with some improvements, more wins will come this year. And regardless if the play-offs are beyond them, there’s nothing quite like winning. And no one of a Black and White persuasion needs any reminder of that going into next week. Bring it on.