Slow start, but Evans is now moving up gears
After a slow start, Kane Evans is upping through the gears at Hull FC. Standing at 6ft 7in, the prop has now made 10 appearances for his new club, and is very much part of a strong pack of forwards.
Getting better by the week after shaking off niggly injuries, the Fijian international’s recipe is pretty simple, and its all centred on hard work - even if playing in the scorching French heat.
“We’re going well bro, just grafting hard,” Evans told the Mail.
“Our forward pack has made a promise to each other that we’re going to keep on working hard every day.
“We’re making sure that we’re the last ones out of the gym and off the field. We’re just concentrating day by day to get a win this week and that’s the plan.
“Weather shouldn’t be affecting our game - I think that’s more of a mental thing.
“You can use that as an excuse but if you’re a player in any sport that’s just going to blame the weather it just shows where you’re mentally at.
“This week is just another game and we’ve just got to go there and get the win. That’s the most important thing.”
Discipline was more of a factor in Perpignan than the weather. Hull actually completed their exit sets well against Catalans, with errors in good ball being their undoing.
They then compounded those errors with poor discipline, and from that the Dragons took advantage.
There’s no kidding what areas
Hull need to tighten up at Warrington tomorrow night, though, and for Evans personally, who is setting his targets high.
“Definitely the penalty stuff,” Evans pointed out as a Hull shortcoming.
“We’ve spoken about our discipline in defence and not trying to shoot the line.
“I think a few times we were a bit
too keen to get off the line and make a hit.
“We’ve been working on that and that’s going to our main focus this week. “Personally I’m at the point where I think I’ve just got to be my best from now on. I had a talk with coach the other day and he set out what I need to do to improve.
“Obviously I had all those little niggles and I’ve been building, and now I’ve got to be at my best.
“There’s no excuse for the end of the season. It’s time for me to go up a level with my game and hold it. It’s a challenge for me but it’s good as we’ll see how I turn out for the rest of the year which I’m excited for.”
Making his mark, Hull fans are now warming to Evans, who is getting stronger by the week.
He knows what he has to do now. Lead by example, focus on his roles, and let the results do the talking.
He’s under no confusions either on what he needs to do to make all that a reality.
“For me being a tall, lanky person, when I get a bit tired, I’m not as powerful going into contact,” Evans continued. “Some of the teams are getting under me and getting three or four in and driving me back.
“I’ve got to be more aware and get a bit more fitter so I can power into contact and find my front rather than get pushed back and it be a slow play of the ball for the next person. That’s something I’ve got to work on and in defence just my movement, so when I’m tired to have that extra kick off the line. I’ve still got loads to work on which is exciting. I’m embracing it and going hard every day.”
And as far as the team goes, Evans is confident the pack at least will continue to tick those boxes.
“I think our forward pack in general is good,” he added. “I’ve never felt as safe. We’re all hard grafters and we’re going hard for each other.
“We just need to keep sticking together, but I take real confidence each week playing with these lads next to me.”
Super League is now past the halfway point with the table starting to have more of a strategic importance. Hull FC, who travel to Warrington tomorrow night, know that more than most as they look to put two consecutive defeats behind them.
Brett Hodgson’s side were starting to find a bit of groove before the Challenge Cup Final break, winning four out of five, including a season-best victory over eventual cup winners Wigan.
Tasting the dizzy heights, that win had them in touch with the top four, but since then, defeats have followed at both Wakefield and Catalans, with top four whispers quickly turning into a battle to make the top six.
However right now at least, Hull are still in fifth position, a spot many would have taken at the start of the year, but rather than looking up, the club are now nervously looking over their shoulder at two teams that will be fully prepared for a play-off scrap.
After difficult starts, Castleford and Hull KR have picked up their respective form, with both clubs sitting just two points behind Hull, with Huddersfield in fourth place starting to pull away.
Ian Watson’s side have really kicked on this season, both pushing Wigan all the way in the cup final and maintaining their Super League form.
Currently, they are five points clear of Hull, and just one point behind both Wigan and Catalans in third and second, with St Helens in top spot - obviously.
For Hull, this week at Warrington is a huge game for a few reasons.
Most importantly, it’s a chance for Hodgson’s side to get back on track after two bad results, but in context of both the table and their season, it’s an opportunity to pull ahead of the chasing pack.
It’s also a chance to show that they can perform without their star player Jake Connor, who is sidelined for around three months with a knee injury.
The perception right now with many fans and pundits is that with no Connor, there’s no party.
It’s on the Hull players now to change that perception, and the last thing the side want is to be sucked into a battle to make the top six.
Luckily in rugby league, perceptions can
WOLVES change pretty quickly and it’s amazing what a couple of wins can do.
Hull have been in the driving seat for a good couple of months now and they need to pick themselves up quickly after what was a satisfactory first half of the season at worst.
Sitting six points clear of tomorrow’s opponents, a win over Warrington would pretty much end the Wire as a play-off threat for Hull too.
It would keep the pressure on the likes of Leeds, who have had one or two better results under their new head coach Rohan Smith, not to mention Castleford and
Rovers, who they could pull four points ahead of.
A defeat, though, opens the door for both Castleford and Hull KR to draw level on points, although at present Hull hold the advantage with points difference.
That’s the swing Hull could be facing this weekend.
With games coming up for Hull in July against Leeds, Hull KR, and Castleford, it’s certainly a make or break part in their season, and like the Mail reported last week, if Hodgson’s side win four of their next six, then they will certainly hold the advantage.
July also brings a first trip to Toulouse, as well as another away trip to Wigan.
It’s without question the defining month of Hull’s season so far, yet having beaten the likes of Warrington and Catalans as well already this year, they should be confident that they have the fighting qualities to get through it, even with their star man on the sidelines.
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