Hull FC have a blueprint this year – and Joe Batchelor is taking inspiration from it.
Hull FC back rower Joe Batchelor was a try scorer against Bradford.
The old rugby league adage is that defence wins matches and ultimately, titles. And while it’s very early days, the old adage came to the fore for Hull FC last Saturday night.
Simply put, if Lewis Martin doesn’t track down the Bradford attack, and if Will Pryce doesn’t then scramble hard not once but twice and put his body on the line and stop a Bulls try, then Hull don’t walk away with two Super League competition points.
And while there was satisfaction in the drop goal from Hull’s fiery full-back, who was outstanding throughout, and from Cade Cist’s match-clinching try, it was the defensive moments that stood out.
It’s a view Joe Batchelor, who knows a thing or two about winning trophies, having done it all with St Helens, shares – and there’s no doubt those minerals shown by Pryce and co. are the pride Hull took most from their opening round win.
“It’s inspiring,” Batchelor, speaking to Hull Live, said. “Prycey played really tough at points. He’s got a big role to play defensively and he knows it and doesn’t shy away from it.
“He was outstanding with the ball, but his defensive work was something that really stood out to me. He’s not afraid to stick his body where it hurts. He’s practised all that and he’s trained hard.
“I’ve been really impressed with him in the pre-season with how hard he has pushed his body in fitness, through drills, and just what he wants to get better at. He’s hungry and I’m excited to see how he goes. I think this is only the start, too, so touch wood he can stay fit and we can get a good run of Will Pryce in the team.”
Those defensive moments are what psych Hull up, who certainly rolled up their sleeves to get the job done, and what Batchelor, a hard working player, has prided his whole career on.
“You’ve got to be prepared to put your body where it hurts and do something that’s probably not in your job description but to help the team win,” Batchelor continued. “But also the number of people in the picture on that play, Harvey Barron chasing back, and Zak Hardaker was also there, and we had 10 in the line scrambling to get back.
“It’s a real confidence booster for the group and puts a bit of trust in each other that we will turn up for each other when it matters most. At St Helens, that’s something that we certainly prided ourselves on – if you’ve got the best defence in the competition, you’re usually there or thereabouts come the end of the season.
“But you’ve got to keep doing it and keep turning up for your mate; it’s attitude first and foremost, and we’ve got a good group here who are committed to one another and who want to stop other teams scoring.”
Of course it’s early days, but Hull know they will need that attitude if they want to achieve anything special this year. And they know they will need it, and all the effort, grit, and determination, against Wigan this Saturday night if they want to come away with another two competition points.
“It’s something the club has been working on,” Batchelor, already at home at his new club, said. “This is only one game, but they are the sort of games that can easily go against you if you’re not prepared to fight, dig in, and get the result. It was really pleasing to see that we managed to find a way after going behind to get ourselves back in and ultimately win it.
“Massive credit to Bradford; they really challenged us, and they made us earn everything that they got from it. We had to be right on it, but that’s rugby league. It’s a hard enough game and nobody is going to give you anything on a plate. You’ve got to work for it.
“But it’s a good habit to have – to be able to win when you’re not quite at your best throughout the game. We showed we can come out of the other side; we went behind late on, but we found a way to get back into the game and get level, and then the composure we showed to roll down the field to get the drop goal set up, with Seze and Prycey working together well to get it over and then we managed to not just shut up shop but to score again. There’s a definite will to win there and that’s a good trait to have.”
Hull will need that will to win against Wigan on Saturday, with Batchelor up for what promises to be a fiery reception as a former St Helens player.
“It will be interesting,” he said. “It’s their first home game, so they will be right up for it and I’m sure they will want to lay a marker down, but we’ve got to be right up for it to build on this week and hopefully go get a result again.”
And can Batchelor go three from three in terms of tries at the other end? He certainly hopes so – especially with Pryce in the team.
“I had hit a bit of a scoring draught before, so if I carry on like that, I’ll be after Lewis Martin’s new contract,” the back rower joked. “I’m just glad to get over and I’m glad I got a good bounce as well – I’m not sure I could have bent down if I had stayed on the floor.
“It was good from Pryce to find a bit of space and then to put the kick through; it was outstanding. Long may it continue.”