Praise for Bourouh and Arthur, Asiata gets through mammoth stint, and Sao set for milestone – the latest Hull FC notebook.
Hull FC hooker Amir Bourouh.(Image: SW PIX)
Hull FC host Catalans Dragons in Super League round six this Sunday afternoon. The Black and Whites are looking to make it back-to-back wins after last week’s victory over Leeds Rhinos, with some pressure relieved following a four-game losing run.
Aware of the challenge, head coach John Cartwright is counting on his players to come good again, with John Asiata getting through around 75 minutes of the Leeds clash in just his fourth game back into the side. Elsewhere, the head coach has made a strong comeback to any Amir Bourouh critics, while Ligi Sao is poised for his 100th Super League game.
Meanwhile, the club’s scholarship side got their season underway with a huge win over Leeds on Wednesday night. Here is the latest notebook.
Amir Bourouh’s justification
The little Hull FC hooker arguably had his best game for the club in victory over Leeds. He assisted a try for Ligi Sao with a neat offload and was tenacious in defence as always as the Black and Whites turned around a narrow half-time deficit.
On the critics, particularly for individual players, Cartwright said: “I always wonder who those critics are who want to talk players down, but yeah, social media, it’s not something I’d take advice from.
“Amir is tough. Ask his teammates. If you’re going to ask anyone what they think about Amir, I’d ask his teammates. I know they will go to war for him and he will go to war for them.
“I love what Amir brings to the team. He’s improving all the time. He tries to improve his game all of the time. He’s not Jez Litten; he’s Amir Bourouh and he brings what Amir Bourouh brings.
“He’s competitive, tough, he brings teamwork, and he’s someone his teammates want to play for. To a man, they would all tell you the same thing.”
Another player under fire so far this year has been new half-back Jake Arthur, but again Cartwright was full of praise for his Aussie star.
“He probably had his best game for the club at the weekend, but I’ve been really happy with him throughout, to be honest with you,” Cartwright said. “It’s hard playing in the halves on the back of a side not going forward as well as we possibly can, but he was doing everything he asked of him.
“It is a team game, and you need everyone. Everyone relies on each other to do their job so they can excel at their job. At the weekend, it was the best we’ve been, 1-17, and that let Jake do his thing.”
John Asiata minutes
Hull FC’s stand-in captain was the best player on the pitch against Leeds, playing 71 minutes before returning to the field.
“He marks himself pretty highly, does Johnny,” Cartwright said. “He’s a great team man and a real competitor. His craft at what he does is as good as anyone’s.
And on his minutes, with Asiata coming back on to finish the game just minutes after leaving the field, Cartwright continued: “He felt like he was fine to get through the game. It worked out okay. He got a quick breather and then finished the game.
“He doesn’t like coming off but sometimes you’ve got to protect him from himself. It was really important we kept playing football and whenever he is out there, we’ll continue to play to what we set out to do.”
Ligi Sao milestone
The Hull FC prop is set for his 100th Super League appearance on Sunday. Signed from New Zealand Warriors ahead of the 2020 season, Sao is now primed for a UK milestone, having returned to the team this year after a serious knee injury last season.
“We’re really fortunate that he is fit and healthy again,” Cartwright said. “Some players have a certain aura about them and Ligi is one of those guys. When he runs onto the field, everyone knows he’s out there.
“He’s physical and he’s aggressive. He plays the game tough and those guys are pretty invaluable for you. It’s hard to put how important he is, but I know when he runs on the field the opposition are looking for him.”
Scholarship scalp
Hull FC’s scholarship side hammered Leeds Rhinos 58-0 at the University of Hull on Wednesday night, scoring 11 tries in total. A large proportion of the all-conquering West Hull team were on show, including full-back Callum Windley, who scored three tries, while first-team assistant coach Andy Last saw his twins, Jacob and Isaac, play their part.
“You get good age groups every now and then and they’re going to be very strong through this competition,” Cartwright said. “The West Hull club age group have won everything before them and even played up an age last year.
“It’s an age group where there are a lot of very good kids playing together at the one club. It’s exciting for the club and for our fans. The under-16s – they’re a fair way off – but again, that’s where you start looking at kids for development. They’re under our banner now and we’re really looking forward to seeing how they progress.”