FC have reasons to be cheerful for Warriors’ clash
HODGSON CONTEMPLATES CHANGES TO LINE-UP
Hull FC return to the MKM Stadium today as they take on Wigan Warriors in round 13 of Super League. Here’s a look at some pre-match talking points.
Gale to return?
A few eyebrows were raised last Friday night when the news filtered through that Brett Hodgson had left his skipper at home.
Luke Gale was eligible to take part in the game after serving a two-game suspension, but the head coach chose to go with Josh Reynolds and Joe Lovodua in the halves for the clash at St Helens.
Gale has struggled for form since making the move from Leeds Rhinos and Hodgson made the point in his press conference that he will always reward those who have performed well. However, after watching his side fall to a defeat at the Totally Wicked Stadium, he admitted in hindsight he may have got it wrong.
As such, it seems Gale could be set to come back into the side this week to take on Wigan and he’ll be under a bit of pressure to prove a point at the MKM.
Last week’s decision won’t have sat well with him and while he has responded well in training, by all accounts, he’ll be determined to showcase his worth to the side.
Reasons to be confident
The Black and Whites may have fallen short in Merseyside but they have every right to believe they are capable of beating Wigan.
Hodgson’s outfit were second best against St Helens, but for periods of the match they were the better side and had they taken their chances, it could have been a very different result.
They’ll take confidence from finishing the game well with a Darnell Mcintosh try, but they’ll also take a lot from their last meeting with Wigan at the DW in March.
Hull should have been victorious that evening after leading for much of the game.
However, a couple of lapses of concentration allowed the hosts to claw their way back and a drop goal from Harry Smith saw the Warriors snatch the points in the closing minutes.
That performance should give Hull the belief needed that they can turn Wigan over on home soil and close the gap between themselves and the top three.
Cup distractions?
Wigan will be travelling down to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to compete in the Challenge Cup final next week and it’s only natural that some will have one eye on that big game.
Matt Peet will hope his side are professional and mature enough to keep their minds on the task at hand, though, and he was quick to point out in his prematch press conference that places for the final are still up for grabs.
As such, after watching his side lose at Huddersfield Giants last week, he’ll be demanding a better performance at the MKM this time around.
Big day out
The Black and Whites have pushed the boat out for their ‘Hull and Proud’ week this year and so far it has been a roaring success.
Events such a quiz night, a cook off and a video analysis session have been well attended and the club are hoping for a sizeable crowd.
Tickets in the East Stand are extremely limited and it seems the West and South Stands are filling up quickly, too, for what will hopefully be a cracker of a contest.
Fans can buy tickets online up until kickoff and are being urged to head to West Park for some pre-match entertainment.