Frustrating stars and growing casualty list
Hull FC were convincingly second best against Catalans Dragons on Saturday, losing 36-8 at the Stade Gilbert Brutus. Here’s a look at some of the key talking points.
Only themselves to blame
The Black and Whites were nowhere near good enough as they slumped to a convincing and heavy defeat in Perpignan.
Mistakes were made both with and without the ball and their completion rate was desperately poor, especially in attacking areas.
It meant Brett Hodgson’s side proved to be their own worst enemies at times, as they were forced to defend more than they needed to in the blazing heat.
Had things been cleaner and crisper with the ball in hand, FC may have been able to ask questions of the hosts, but that’s something they failed to do for huge periods.
However, as poor as FC were at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, the effort of Hodgson’s troops cannot be questioned, with the forwards digging in deep for the cause and the backs putting in the hard yards.
Kane Evans was arguably FC’S best in the pack, playing huge minutes and putting his body on the line defensively, while the likes of Josh Griffin, Carlos Tuimavave and Darnell Mcintosh did well in wide areas.
Frustrating figures
Eyes were on Luke Gale and Josh Reynolds to take the creative reins following the injury to Jake Connor.
Connor has assisted 24 tries this season and his absence was always going to be felt, but the hope was the pair would step up and carve out the opportunities needed to keep FC ticking over.
Neither Gale nor Reynolds managed to do that, though, as they both turned in performances they’ll be keen to forget.
Gale cut a frustrated figure for most of the match as passes hit the deck and his kicking game left much to be desired, while Reynolds was embarrassed defensively on a number of occasions.
There’s already been huge questions asked about FC’S half-backs this season and their respective performances in France will do little to silence the critics.
A huge miss
FC saw Connor ruled out for a lengthy period of time last week and it seems Tuimavave could be set to join him in the treatment room.
The centre went down in the second half of the contest holding his ankle and he needed to be helped off the field by FC’S medical staff.
Hodgson admitted after the game that Tuimavave appears to have ruptured his Achilles and if that is the case, he will be ruled out for the remainder of the season at the very least.
He’s had his injury issues this season, but the centre will be a huge miss moving forward.
Adam Swift picked up a groin injury, too, but Hodgson was unable to provide any more information on that injury.
Jordan Lane and Cam Scott missed the game with back complaints, the head coach also revealed.
A key period
FC have a fortnight until they next take to the field at Warrington and it seems they have plenty to improve on.
Of course, some players will be involved for the Combined Nations All Stars against England at the weekend, but those who remain in camp will be challenged to make big improvements as a group.
Hodgson knows all too well how quickly negative momentum can set in following the club’s difficult end to last season and he’ll be desperate to see a reaction at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The phrase ‘make or break’ is bandied about, but it could genuinely apply to the run of games FC now have coming up.
Following Warrington, Hull take on Leeds, Hull KR, Wigan and Castleford and the pressure is on to emerge from that run intact.