How we got Hull afloat again
WHEN the inquest began into Hull’s 46-6 thumping at Widnes in early March, there was anguish, anger and more than a dash of indignation.
While head coach Lee Radford was questioning his ability to do the job, senior Hull players were questioning their stomach for the fight.
Amid the recriminations came an extraordinary twist. In the immediate aftermath of the televised horror show, Radford and his backroom staff were ordered to leave the dressing room by the players.
Captain Gareth Ellis said: “Nobody wants to be on the end of that kind of hiding, so we took it upon ourselves to take responsibility for such a dismal performance.
“It was looking like another typical Hull FC season – full of promise but failing to deliver – so a group of senior players, led by myself, Danny Houghton and Mark Minichiello, all had our say.
“It was nothing sinister, it was just we felt that Radders and his staff had given us everything we needed in preparation for the game.
“For whatever reason, we didn’t perform so we decided to accept responsibility and not burden them with it. Everyone felt the same, which was really important, and we looked at ourselves in the mirror.”
That led to a staggering upturn in form which has made Hull the story of the season heading into the Challenge Cup final against Warrington today.
Since that awful night in Widnes, Radford’s men have been largely unstoppable as they aim to win at Wembley for the first time in the club’s history, at the ninth attempt. Forward
EXCLUSIVE
Ellis had his pick of clubs when he decided to return home in 2013 after four years at NRL outfit Wests Tigers.
The 35-year-old former Leeds player, whose form this year has made him a Man of Steel contender as the Super League’s best player, was a member of the Leeds side who lost to Hull in 2005 and played for the Black and Whites in their 2013 defeat against Wigan.
He said: “We would be heroes for doing it because there’ll never be another first Hull team to win at Wembley.” Standing in Hull’s way, though, is a star-studded Warrington side who have grown accustomed to Wembley glory.
Tony Smith’s men have lifted the trophy three times since 2009 and it is impossible to separate the sides who sit first and second respectively in the Super League table.
Smith said: “There are quite a few guys in our group who have experienced Wembley in both victory and defeat but it’s more about what we can do together. We’re building it up and we’re going to give it our best shot.
“We’re probably slight underdogs having not beaten Hull this year but this will be a pretty good stage to get our first victory against them.”
HOW THEY LINE UP
Shaul, Michaels, Fonua, Sneyd, Yeaman, Talanoa, Tuimavave, Taylor, Houghton, Watts, Minichiello, Manu, Ellis. Interchange: Green, Bowden, Pritchard, Washbrook. Ratchford, Russell, T King, Atkins, R Evans, Gidley, Sandow, Hill, Clark, Sims, Currie, Hughes, Westerman. Interchange: Dwyer, Westwood, G King, Bailey. REFEREE: Gareth Hewer KICK-OFF: 3pm TV: BBC1