A final round victory for Hull FC and Tom Briscoe – who defeated Leeds Rhinos at Headingley on a night where youth shone bright.
Hull FC’s Tom Briscoe during his final professional game. (Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC battled their way to a gritty victory at Headingley in their final game of the 2026 season on Friday night, running out 18-12 winners over Leeds Rhinos – and in doing so, securing a rare Super League double over their Yorkshire rivals.
The Black and Whites, in Tom Briscoe’s 400th Super League and final career game, fronted up throughout the 80 minutes. They spoke about performing for their departing players pre-match – Davy Litten, Zak Hardaker, Hugo Salabio, and the like – and they did just that. They were energised, they were tenacious, and they scrambled hard – and attitude-wise, they were polar opposites to what they produced early on in Toulouse last week.
On that front, it really is head scratching territory to the difference in performance level that you get from Hull week to week, but here they gave as good as they got and made their final match of the season a contest, showing plenty of desire and determination to earn a result from a match where they were battered in terms of field position and possession, but where they came up trumps where it matters most: the scoreboard.
Truth be told, Hull did much more than that. They rolled their sleeves up and gave it a real crack, and in doing so, gave a few glimpses of their future as their oldest statesman Briscoe, a modern-day club great, bowed out. They were led by the likes of Logan Moy, who has the heart of a lion at full-back, scoring a superb try, and Lloyd Kemp, who was solid and safe playing in the hooker role from the start.
In fact, Kemp, in his new position, was outstanding, also scoring a try for good measure and holding his own in the middle of the field. He was helped by Harvie Hill, too, who relished the physical battle on what was a tough and gritty, if not the highest quality, night at Headingley.
There was also time for Lennon Clark, rewarded with a new deal for 2027 after an encouraging spell in the first team this year, to get in on the act, with Hull rounding off what has been a disappointing season with a hard-earned and well-deserved victory.
Andy Last made four changes to his side, with Aidan Sezer out with a foot injury and Amir Bourouh also absent. Ligi Sao (HIA) and Sam Lisone (personal reasons) were already known, with Briscoe joined in the side by Hardaker, Salabio, and James Bell.
As for the contest, Hull weathered the storm early on. The Rhinos tried to throw some shape at them but the FC side dug in and stood firm – particularly on Maika Sivo, with Harvey Barron getting stuck in the winger. That was a sign of things to come.
Hull then began to get their own footing in the contest and, after earning a penalty, took the lead after 20 or so minutes via Moy, who came onto Briscoe’s offload at a frantic pace to beat the Rhinos’ cover defence and dot the ball down for an impressive try.
Hull stuck at it and had opportunities to hit Leeds again, but the Rhinos equally shut them out. They then hit back towards the end of the first half, and from an FC point of view, in soft fashion, as Chris Hankinson bundled his way over from a scoot close to the line. That was the only time the scoreboard changed hands, mind, with the teams returning to the sheds 6-6 at half-time.
Hull started the second half as they did the first. They repelled Leeds and then got their chance at the other end, scoring through Kemp, who showed good composure to gather the Rhinos’ short drop-out as the ball bounced over the ten-metre line and then battled his way over the try line to score.
The FC side had to dig deep again, repelling Leeds on their own try line. They were helped with some Rhinos errors, but it took nothing away from their defence, which was at times excellent. They, to a man, fronted up, and showed bags of spirit to shut the home side out.
Young Clark then got his moment, taking Hardaker’s pass to score under the sticks and give Hull a 12-point lead, but the side weren’t home and dry just yet.
Kallum Watkins scored for Leeds, and they then rolled the dice again, but after surging forward on their left edge, an attempted offload went forward and that was that. A win for Hull in the final round, and something to smile about, at the least. Now it’s on to next year, and to the Steve McNamara and Daly Cherry-Evans era. The only way is up.
Teams
Leeds Starting XIII: 4. Ash Handley; 2. Maika Sivo, 3. Harry Newman, 33. Jack Bird, 5. Ryan Hall; 6. Brodie Croft, 7. Jake Connor; 8. Mikolaj Oledzki, 9. Jarrod O’Connor, 31. Matt Lodge; 20 Presley Cassell, 14. Chris Hankinson; 13. Keenan Palasia.
Interchange: 17. Cameron Smith, 11. Kallum Watkins, 15. Cooper Jenkins, 10. Tom Holroyd. 18th Man: 28. Fergie McCormack
Hull Starting XIII: 24. Logan Moy; 2. Harvey Barron, 3. Davy Litten, 19. Tom Briscoe, 5. Lewis Martin; 22. Connor Bailey, 6. Jake Arthur; 8. Herman Ese’ese, 32. Lloyd Kemp, 10. Harvie Hill; 21. Arthur Romano, 39. Ethan O’Neill; 15. James Bell.
Interchange: 4. Zak Hardaker, 25. Matty Laidlaw, 26. Hugo Salabio, 36. Lennon Clark. 18th Man: 29. Will Hutchinson
Scorers
Leeds Tries: Hankinson, Watkins. Goals: Connor 2/2
Hull Tries: Moy, Kemp, Clark. Goals: Kemp 3/3
Scoring System: 0-6, 6-6, HT, 6-12, 6-18, FT
Referee: Aaron Moore. Video Referee: Liam Rush
Attendance: 16,402