Hull must change perceptions in face of Wolves threat
CAN FC OVERCOME CONNOR’S LENGTHY ABSENCE?
After a two-week break, Hull FC return to action tonight, travelling to Warrington Wolves looking to get their season back on track. The Black and Whites have lost their last two games to Wakefield and Catalans, but still hold onto fifth spot in Super League.
There is little room for breathing space below them, though, with Brett Hodgson’s side needing the win to change a few perceptions and take the pressure off.
Here the Mail looks at a few talking points head of the round-16 clash.
Perception
Perception is a key word at Hull FC and right now there is a perception amongst both fans and media that no Jake Connor equals no party.
It’s a viewpoint Hull must change as soon as possible.
Connor, who made an impressive 24 try assists before injuring his knee, has been Hull’s go-to man all season.
He’s been the key to unlocking an opposition defence with his slick sleight of hand and trusty boot, with the side so far struggling to create without him.
That’s the first challenge for this Hull team and other creative outlets need to step up and deliver.
First and foremost, they’ve got to find new ways of getting over the line, and that might mean changing the structure of their attack.
Hull this season have hinged on getting
Connor into areas of the field to strike, but with the fullback now injured, they don’t have the same type of number one in Jamie Shaul.
However, they do have other strengths that the Hull-born fullback brings to the table, and it’s imperative that FC play to them.
The display at Headingley is the blueprint here.
Against Leeds, Hull’s pack of forwards played about as direct as you can get and they got a roll on which the Rhinos were helpless to prevent.
They played hard and they played fast. It was simple, but it was effective.
A similar plan with Luke Gale barking out the instructions and Shaul probing on the back of half breaks and offloads could be the way to go.
Completion in good ball
Hull’s exit sets were reasonable at Catalans. What let them down was their errors in good ball.
Hull can’t afford to make the same mistakes at Warrington, and when presented with good opportunities in good field position, it’s not always about scoring.
It’s about building pressure too and thinking about the next set and the one after that.
The best half backs have that composure and temperament about them and it’s a massive challenge for Gale to show those traits and lead his side around the park.
If Hull continue to complete in good ball, they will put Warrington under pressure, and eventually the points will come.
It’s about finding a balance and that balance was way off in Catalans.
Completing on your own terms generally means you can get your defence right as well, but Hull instead put themselves under pressure in Perpignan after dropped ball.
They compounded their errors with poor discipline, whether shooting off the line or hitting high, with Catalans, who therefore played on the front foot, dominating the game with that field position.
That’s got to be the focus for Hull at Warrington.
Look to complete, build pressure, and don’t panic. It’s easier said than done, but it’s a process Hull nailed after a mini blip either side of Easter. It’s on them to get it right, and it always has been.
Warrington threat
In a torrid run of form, Warrington have lost their last five Super League games and sit ninth in the table, level on points with Salford and Wakefield.
However, every game they lose makes the Wire more dangerous, as surely, given their resources, spending power, and the quality at their disposal, their losing run can’t go on forever.
Losing to Wakefield last time out was a bitter pill to swallow after being embarrassed on home turf by Leeds, but before that, Warrington were spirited in defeat to St Helens.
They pushed the three-peat champions all the way and it’s that type of Wire that Hull should be expecting tonight - one who are intense and fast out the blocks.
Hull need no introduction to what Warrington are capable of. The Wire have humbled the Black and Whites on many occasions in recent years, and only Hull’s best will get a pressure-relieving two points.