Hull FC were beaten on the road again in what was an ugly watch in Warrington.
Hull FC prop Herman Ese’ese.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Hull FC were defeated 12-4 at Warrington Wolves on Friday night. Here Hull Live looks at some talking points.
A dire game
First things first, that was a hard, ugly watch, with errors high and quality low in a Super League contest that won’t go down in the memory – at least for the right reasons. The number of balls that went to ground was ridiculous as both sides struggled for any sort of attacking rhythm and fluency. Neither side iced their moments and neither side built pressure or earned the right to post points. It was a dire watch.
For Hull, it was more of the same. They’re just not posing enough of a threat to get on the scoreboard, with just one try scored in three of their last four games (the other saw two scored). It’s a sad reality of where they are currently at, with the attack not on the same page and not clinical enough to trouble a Super League-standard opposition. Hull aren’t asking enough questions in good ball, they’re not in sync and they’re taking too many wrong options. There are basic errors in their game, too, with a lack of polish telling. Hull are also playing too laterally, a frustration for large parts of this season, instead of going direct and hard – something they will hopefully see more of now with Herman Ese’ese’s return to the side.
Of course, there’s still a reality to consider with 14 players and over £1 million worth of salary cap out injured or suspended, in particular the most crucial parts in Will Pryce and John Asiata, but it doesn’t excuse the level of attack currently on show. Hull are trying; no one is questioning effort, but they need to start offering a bit more quality to win games.
The positives
For all the frustration with Hull’s performance, there were some elements to like. They are resilient, spirited, and gritty; they are built of sterner stuff these days, and they are certainly more robust. They can defend and they can soak up pressure, but again, they have got to be cuter with the ball and post some points when the chances occur.
In terms of individuals, Joe Batchelor stood up as a leader of the side with a big defensive effort. He epitomised Hull’s grit without the ball in a tenacious showing. Hopefully he can stay fit now and have a big second half of the year.
Lloyd Kemp also went well. The teenager threw himself at everything defensively and made some inroads in attack. Elsewhere, Will Kirby got through some minutes, while Logan Moy was busy with the ball and had some bright moments.
The biggest positive, mind, was the return of Herman Ese’ese. The powerful prop came off the bench to make his first appearance in nine months, adding some punch to the pack. He immediately bounced off tackles and punched a few holes in the Warrington defence. It was a welcome return with some good minutes in the tank, and Ese’ese can take some confidence from that as he builds up his form once again.
Loan decisions to come
Hull FC are hoping to keep Leeds Rhinos loan duo Ethan O’Neill and Jeremiah Mata’utua for another month. The two clubs will speak over the weekend, with Rhinos thought to remain in a healthy position after their game against St Helens.
“We’re looking to keep Ethan and Jeremiah for another month,” Last said post-match. “By all accounts, I think Leeds have had a clean bill of health. They got through the game against St Helens without anyone looking as though they had got any major injuries, so that bodes well, obviously, for us and our discussions with them. We want to keep Ethan and Jeremiah for a little bit longer.”
Next up
It’s a must-win game next week for Hull FC, who take on Huddersfield Giants at the MKM Stadium on Saturday afternoon. They need a win, any win, to pick themselves up, restore some confidence, and give themselves something to go on. It’s crucial that they do just that.