ON THE LEVEL AFTER A DROP GOALS DRAMA
RIVAL coaches Brett Hodgson and Steve Price refused to criticise their playmakers after Super League’s first draw since the introduction of golden point in 2019.
The teams missed a total of nine drop-goal attempts over the course of two five-minute periods before eventually sharing the spoils.
It came after Warrington centre Jake Mamo notched a dramatic last-gasp try as the hooter sounded on 80 minutes to send the game into extra-time.
But neither Hull boss Hodgson or his Wolves counterpart Price laid any blame at the door of kickers Marc Sneyd, Jake Connor, Blake Austin or Gareth Widdop.
Hodgson said: “That’s what golden point is - I don’t think many teams play their best rugby at that time. It’s a little bit underwhelming not to get a result but we’ll take a point.
“Credit to Warrington – I thought that was their best performance for a number of games.”
It was certainly a significant improvement on the Wolves’ opening defeat to Castleford but they still looked to be heading for a second defeat from three before Mamo swooped.
“It was a fantastic individual try by Jakey,”
HULL FC WARRINGTON
14 14 Price said. “It’s a fine line in golden point and we’ve been pretty good at it over the last 18 months or so. Sometimes you win those and sometimes you don’t and hopefully next time we’ll get it right.”
The only points of the first half saw Sneyd and Stefan Ratchford trade penalties before the game came to life just before the hour mark.
Connor sent Jordan Lane through a hole inside his own half and then supported to take the return pass and touch down by the posts.
Warrington responded when Daryl Clark offloaded as he was pushed back over the line and Chris Hill finished.
But Hull looked to have sealed victory with a superb handling move that saw Carlos Tuimavave score in the corner.
Sneyd’s conversion gave his side a six-point lead but Mamo beat some tired defence to send the match into added time.
Both sides then missed a succession of drop goal efforts in two five minute periods for a first top-flight draw since Leeds and Wakefield in July 2018.