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Hull FC lost again to Hull KR on New Friday. The result was their seventh straight loss in this game, with the Airlie Birds second to the Robins again.
Admittedly, a 24-6 victory cheated Rovers, but there can be no arguing that they were deserved winners. Here, we dig into what went wrong, analyze the controversial moments, and see where the Blacks and Whites go after another costly day on the field.
The effort and grit is there but Hull need more quality
Hull had a lot of effort and energy in their play but in the end it was the usual issues of ball control and discipline that held them back – especially early on. Under the cosh, they had no right to be in the game in the second half, but they were there, and that is a testament to their determination. They are built of much harder stuff now. They hung in there, and it happened again. Hull were against them early on, but they weathered the storm and trailed by just four points at half-time.
They could have easily taken the lead in the second half with a Lewis Martin try disallowed, and if John Asiata had stayed on the pitch, who knows what would have happened? That’s all, and maybe now, but regardless, Hull’s effort, grit, and perseverance are streets ahead of what they were two years ago – and it gives them an advantage in every game they play.
The DNA of the group is day and night from what it was. Hull are not going away at the moment and they have the ability to hang on in the games. They have passion and determination, but as their head coach said, that only gets you so far. What they need now is quality. Hull didn’t have enough quality for Rovers. They didn’t build enough pressure and didn’t cause Rovers enough problems. There is no doubt about the outcome on that front. Hull has shown a lot of spirit, but finds that the next level of experience, structure, and performance remains their ongoing challenge.
Should that feature come from being hired?
In short, yes. Hull still have some great players on the pitch, but the reality is that if they want to achieve something this season, they have to make some signings. In fact, they are active in the recruitment market; they’ve been working for a few weeks now after a season-ending injury to Will Pryce and the exit of Liam Knight, and they have the quota and cap space to make a move(s), but have been reluctant to rush so far.
There is no fear and Hull are keeping their powder dry, but other teams – Castleford Tigers, St Helens, and Huddersfield Giants, to name just three – have shown us that there are options out there.
Hull are looking at the backfield and looking at the prop. They need to hire, and given Logan Moy and Zak Hardaker are the two options at the back, and when John Asiata is expected to be absent for a while, when James Bell is willing to move to the loose man, it is a pack (prop and back row) that can be said to need a lot of attention – and especially given the injuries of Yusuf Aydin, Jed Cartwright, Jed Cartwright, Jed Cartwright. They cannot expect to run with so many soldiers and in fact expect miracles.
Of course, the team is paying attention to the way it works under the new regime, and yes, there are many different types at play, but again, if they want to do something this time, they need to bring something. They should act quickly.
Martin’s overturning test
Lewis Martin thought he had equalized at Craven Park. Slipping on after Davy Litten went down, the winger was awarded a try by on-field official Aaron Moore before the break when video referee Liam Rush sought to confirm the on-field decision. And then came the dreaded timer. We’re going up. A few minutes of waiting and a few repetitions later, and Rush doesn’t allow the test.
Suspicious, to say the least. If it goes up as a try, then the video referee needs to find clear evidence to prove it’s not a try, right? Was that the case here? Again, suspicious. Or as Jon Wilkin puts it: “a shocking decision.”
In what ended up being a five tries to one game, it wasn’t the reason Hull lost, but to take ages to reach a decision and with no angles to prove a clear break and overturn a try seemed unfair. And it denied us the whole set-up of what would have been an even more tiring final quarter.
There was also a controversial moment involving Elliot Minchella in the first half, who appeared to catch Sam Lisone in a dangerous encounter. Despite Lison’s protests, nothing came of it.
New risks
Hull have yet to learn the true cost of their derby defeat. They’ll get a full rundown on the injuries of John Asiata, Joe Batchelor, and Arthur Romano in the coming days, but early signs don’t look good — at least for Asiata and Romano.
Cartwright said Asiata has a “very bad” hamstring injury and given his struggles last season, missing 13 of Hull’s 30 games, it is no wonder they are concerned. There are also fears that Romano, one of the bright lights so far this year, has sprained his ankle too badly.
Batchelor’s hamstring is not considered too serious, but regardless, a week off now appears to be a possibility. Hulls are battered. They need time to recover and regroup before they host St Helens on April 16.
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