Hull FC were good value in a 34-2 victory over Warrington.
Hull FC hammered Warrington Wolves 34-2 on Saturday evening, taking Super League’s play-off race down to the final round.
And while it’s Wakefield Trinity who still hold the ascendancy after their impressive win over Hull KR, the Black and Whites did their bit – scoring six tries with plenty of young talent on show. Here, Hull Live looks at some talking points.
The youth
There’s only one place to start after a result like that, with 12 of the 18 who played all coming through the Hull FC system. Of the dozen, nine were 24 or younger, with a glimpse of the future given. They all played their part too, showing the depth and competition John Cartwright is trying to implement in his squad.
And they also proved that just because they’re not all playing in the first team every week, whether on loan or on dual reg, it doesn’t mean they’re out of the picture or surplus to requirements – a common misconception when a player hasn’t played for a while.
All nine players took their opportunities. Lewis Martin, Harvey Barron, and Davy Litten have played regularly and starred all season, but Logan Moy, in the Hull side for the first time in five months, let nobody down and did his job to effect.
Denive Balmforth also returned from his loan spell and led the way. Starting the game, he was superb. His distribution was disciplined and tidy, and then he began to make things happen – going over for a first-half try and having a big say in others. He also remained defensively astute.
Both of those players are contracted long-term, and they’ll get continue to get plenty of chances to make their mark in this side. As always with young players, it’s about nurturing, patience, and development – and most importantly, not exposing them to too much too soon. Get that balance right and Hull, who also saw another maturing and hard-hitting performance from Matty Laidlaw, big and quality minutes from Will Gardiner, a composed and fearless showing from Callum Kemp, and a cameo from Lloyd Kemp, will reap the rewards in the years to come.
The flying wings
While it was the returning youth that got their plaudits, the best player on the field was Harvey Barron. He was outstanding. The tall and athletic winger has put some serious size on over the last twelve months and he looks all the better for it. He’s big, strong, and fast and is playing with confidence. He ran the ball like every carry was his last, and when he got the opportunity to get into space, he burnt Warrington on the outside – breaking away before finding Balmforth to score a terrific try. Defensively, Barron also nailed his reads when required. He looks every bit the Super League player and fully emphasises the message above.
Debuting at Toulouse three years ago, Barron has been drip-fed into this Hull team, but this season has really seen him make his mark. Along with Lewis Martin, who scored his 30th try of the season, he is one of the first names on the team sheet. He ticks every box and is only going to get better and better in the years to come.
A proper leader
Youth took the plaudits but Aidan Sezer was equally as impressive against Warrington. The half-back stepped his way over for a try and put two more on a plate for Harvey Barron and Jordan Lane, who, along with Brad Fash, really stepped up as two senior forwards.
But Sezer, along with Zak Hardaker, led the way as he has all season. He isn’t pigeonholed to one side of the field; he pops up on both sides like a proper old-school scrum half, dictates play, orchestrates shape, leads the kicking, and gets Hull going. He’s been a superb signing for the club and still has a massive role to play over the next two years – both on and off the field.
On to the final round
Hull deserve all their plaudits for beating Warrington. They weathered the storm early on in a disciplined account where they defended well and completed high, and then when they got the opportunity to strike after a sin bin for Lachlan Fitzgibbon, they didn’t pass it by.
It was a controlled and measured performance, albeit against an opponent whose campaign has fizzled out over the last three months. Warrington kept going – they held up Sezer over the line and also got Barron into touch in the corner – but they were well off the pace. Hull took advantage. They played some eye-catching rugby league at times with some real speed on show. It was a good account, with one final push now against Catalans on Thursday.
Hull, should they defeat the French side, will be in a play-off spot for 24 hours, with Wakefield then having a say whether they stay there or not when they take on Salford on Friday. What will be, will be, but regardless, there’s no denying the progress seen from the Black and Whites this year. It’s been a year of growth, with spirit, grit, and togetherness seen by the bucketload, and with what’s coming through the system and also coming in to the club, the only way is up.