A massive cup ties awaits Hull – and a chance to get their season up and running.
Hull FC loose-forward John Asiata.(Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC head to Leigh Leopards on Saturday afternoon, looking to kickstart their 2026 season after three consecutive Super League defeats.
Set for Challenge Cup action, there’s no second chance for the Black and Whites, who know they must improve on the last three weeks to get the result they crave and get their campaign up and running. Here, Hull Live looks at three ways they can do just that.
Play the game on the front foot
Hull have played large stages of their four Super League outings so far on the back foot. They’ve been pinned in their own half chasing games, and as they’ve tried to turn the tide and grasp momentum, fatigue has set in and ultimately errors and poor discipline have taken centre stage. It’s been a vicious cycle and it was there to see against York and at Wakefield in the second half last week.
To their credit, Hull actually started well against Wakefield. They completed at a high percentage in the first half and with thirty seconds to go until half-time, had a deserved six-point lead. However, a crucial error changed that and after the break it was a different story, with errors and poor discipline again helping Wakefield to play the game in Hull’s half. Up against it, the Black and Whites were dominated in terms of territory and they couldn’t break that stranglehold. It ended up draining them.
Now looking to turn the tide, Hull have got to get a fair percentage of possession over the game and in good positions. They can’t afford to get into that vicious cycle again where they’re coming off their own line again and again and kicking from deep with no real attacking opportunity. That was the case in the second half last week and it gave them little chance for victory. But if that territory battle becomes more of an even keel and allows Hull the opportunity to build pressure and turn the screw on their opposition, then there’s certainly a chance of victory as a sequence of strong carries and then six agains unfolds.
But playing the game on the front foot is crucial. Hull can’t afford to be chasing the contest again. They need to finish sets on their own terms, put their opponent into undesired areas, get their line speed going, and then repeat that process over and over and over again. Do that and there’s every chance they will be in the hat next week.
Maintain the same defensive attitude
While the desire is to get a strong foothold and maintain it, the reality is you won’t have everything your own way for 80 minutes in a game of rugby league. You can restrict your opponents influence in how you shape up, but eventually they will have a say and when they do, you have to front up. Hull did that last week. They were dominated in terms of territory and therefore had to defend their own goal line again and again but they scrambled hard and they showed a desperation to keep that line intact. There was grit, effort, and attitude – and all three components will now be needed again.
And while the desire is to stop the onslaught, last week did show whatever the analysis of Hull this year, they are still up for the fight. They could and perhaps should have been well beaten, but they hung in – and that’s what they’ll have to do again this week.
Asiata needs to play the majority of the game
If Hull are to come away with victory, then they need their most important player out on the field for as long as possible. John Cartwright has already suggested the loose forward – who is understandably being carefully managed following his return from hamstring surgery – is set for another minute increase against Leigh, having played for nearly 50 minutes against Wakefield.
Returning to the side, Asiata did the final 30 against York off the bench and, after starting the game against the Trin and getting through another half an hour, returned for the final 17 or so minutes. And as he gears up for the third game of his return, it’s fair to anticipate those minutes going up again.
Of course, Asiata’s influence on the side needs no introduction. He is the glue that holds everything together and the middle pivot that gets Hull’s shape ticking. He also has a massive effect on the likes of Aidan Sezer and co., and like every good leader, brings the best out of those around him. A massive game awaits.