Hull FC are looking to end an eight game derby losing streak this Thursday night.
Hull FC walk out for the Magic Weekend derby. (Image: SW PIX)
It’s been 1,109 days since Hull FC last tasted a derby win, with July 9, 2023, the last date the Black and Whites were victorious in this fixture.
In the eight games that have followed since, and whether at the MKM Stadium, Craven Park, or Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, it’s been one-way traffic.
There is no getting away from those facts, and that hurt, and that’s the motivation for Andy Last and his Hull side in the third and final meeting of the 2026 season on Thursday night: set the record straight.
“It’d be massive for us as a club, as a team, and for the supporters to get the win,” Last told Hull Live. “It’s a big game and the players are fully aware of the importance of this game, what it means to the club, and what it means to the fans.
“Motivation-wise, we know exactly what’s at stake. The challenge for us as a coaching staff and for those players is performing at their best and getting close to what they’re capable of, because it’s going to be a challenge.
“We’ve got huge respect for Hull Kingston Rovers and the way that they go about the business. We need to be at our best and we’ve spoken about consistency over the last two or three weeks and there’s been too much inconsistency in our performance. We need a real solid 80 minutes and that’s what we’re striving for on Thursday.”
Enduring a poor season, Hull have little to play for now other than pride, but pride itself is a big motivator for this fixture. It’s one Hull are sick of losing, and it’s one they about time tasted a win in again.
It’s also one they believe can help drive some positivity ahead of the changes coming next year – changes pinpointed in a club statement from owners Andrew Thirkill and David Hood earlier this week.
“The owners have accepted a little bit of responsibility and accountability, as have I,” Last said. “It hasn’t been good enough this year; we’re fully aware of that, but there is a lot of positive news coming out of the club and there’s a lot to look forward to at this club.
“We’re excited about the future, but I don’t want to talk too much about the future. I just want to get the moment right and the present right and that’s Thursday night against Hull KR.
“There would be no better way to kickstart the positivity moving into next year than with a win against Hull KR. We need to put in a real strong performance.
“We need to make sure we get the technical and tactical element of the game right, but we’ve spoken about using emotion to fuel our actions, making sure that we bring the crowd into the game early.
“We can do that by our actions being positive, our line speed being good, our contact being strong, and our carries coming with intent and some aggression. And then obviously when the supporters see that, that fuels our confidence.”
Outlining what his side need to get right, Last continued: “We have spoken about the importance of the start and making sure that we’re able to start well and get that first 20 minutes right. That normally sets the tone for how the match is going to look, and then the challenge for us is to maintain it for 80 minutes and nail our moments when those opportunities come.
“We’re excited. It’s a big occasion and I’m looking forward to the atmosphere that our supporters are going to generate and their supporters are going to generate. And hopefully we’ll have a really, really good game between two evenly matched teams who are desperate for a win.
“The last time I had a home derby, we played in St Helens (back in 2020). It would be nice if we got the same sort of performance and result. Hopefully that’s a good omen for us.”