John Cartwright isn’t reading anything into Hull FC’s favourites tag ahead of Saturday’s Super League clash against Huddersfield Giants – and has instead challenged his side to be more like their last opponents, Wigan Warriors.
The Black and Whites go up against the Fartowners for the third time of the year and the first at the MKM Stadium, with the two sides sharing one win apiece so far this season. And for that alone, Cartwright, who saw his side run out outstanding 32-12 winners at Wigan last weekend, is taking nothing for granted.
Experienced enough to know nothing less than Hull’s best will do, the FC boss is targeting another professional performance after what was a solid display at the champions and one all based on a firm foundation of strong running, completed sets, and assertive defence.
Speaking on that favourites tag, Cartwright, who is targeting the same level of preparation from his players, said: “We can’t read anything into it or look into it (the favourite’s tag) and we can’t worry about anything we’ve done at Wigan. Our season has shown us that no matter who you play, if you don’t turn up ready to go with an attitude that says ‘nothing is going to stop us’, then you will get beat.
“But I got a sense at the captain’s run that we were going to be ready to play at Wigan, and that came to fruition. We’ll prepare for this week now; we’ll get through training and into the captain’s run on Friday and make sure we’re in that zone where nothing is going to stop us.
“I’m a huge admirer of Wigan – the way that the club handles themselves and the way the team handles themselves, how they play, how they respond. It’s certainly something we’re aspiring to be at Hull FC. To come here and get a win over a club I have so much respect for – it’s a great feeling.”
Hull only fielded 16 players at Wigan, with Tom Briscoe an unused interchange option. However, Cartwright has hinted he could go the same way against Huddersfield, with the likes of Liam Knight and Herman Ese’ese putting in huge stints in the middle of the field, along with Yusuf Aydin.
Asked about his team selection, Cartwright explained: “They’re a really good group of lads, and there’s disappointment when things don’t go their way. Poor old Tom Briscoe sat there for 80 minutes, but he understands his role. I don’t mind having a back on the bench just in case.
“We saw Wigan today when (Zak) Eckersely went down; they really struggled. It’s hard to find a replacement there if you don’t go with the specialist. I think we can go with three, and then that fourth one is there just in case.”
Cartwright is also calling on Hull’s fans to bring the noise and help get his side home on Saturday. The Black and Whites got their home campaign up and running against Wakefield earlier this month and are now targeting a 13th win of the season in all competitions.
“They get behind us every week, and it’s fantastic to enjoy the wins with them,” Cartwright added. “In moments of the games, they really do help us out. We just need to give them something to cheer about.
“We certainly know that they cheer, and even when there’s not much to cheer, they still do it. It was great to see them and the lads get around them to celebrate. It’s a part of the game that you can’t talk about too much, but when it happens, it’s really enjoyable.”