Team spirit and FC’S togetherness got the job done at Wakefield
AS HULL NOTCH THIRD STRAIGHT WIN
Hull FC got their third consecutive win with a controlled 26-6 triumph over Wakefield Trinity. It wasn’t a classic, but it was comfortable, after the Black and Whites withstood their hosts’ pressure in the first half.
Here the Mail looks at some talking points.
Job done
That was a potential banana skin for Hull FC. Previous Hull sides would, and in fact have, arrived as favourites and got turned over. It happened just last year.
It would have been typical Hull to beat two heavily fancied teams in Huddersfield and Wigan and then arrive at winless Wakefield and taste defeat. This was, therefore, a big test of Hull’s mentality and professionalism and they came through the challenge.
It was another connected and cohesive performance with the team’s spirit shining through in a game they never looked like losing.
Of course, Hull have a long way to go before they really turn heads but picking things up one week at a time will do for now. There is improvement in them. They are far from flawless but the defensive attitude is streets ahead of what it was several weeks ago. There are also signs in attack but again a long way to go. Things are getting better. That’s fair to say, but they can get even better. Some credit must go to Wakefield too, they had a real dig, but Hull had enough about them to grind through the tough periods and then show their class when needed. It was a good performance, nothing to get carried away about, but certainly another step in the right direction.
Classy Sutcliffe
How good was Liam Sutcliffe yet again. What a signing he’s been. The centre is thriving in a Hull shirt, scoring his sixth try of the season. But it’s more than just the show and go that was perfectly executed for his score.
Sutcliffe is efficient and dependable. He does a lot of backfield work. He cleans up. He grafts hard. He does everything right.
He’s just a proper all-round rugby league player and along with Carlos Tuimavave, ensures that Hull have two classy centres picking up some form. It can only bode well for the second half of the season.
Scott Taylor rolling back the years
Scott Taylor is hitting his straps again. That’s an understatement. It’s the Taylor of old. It’s the Taylor completely over his injuries and enjoying his rugby league again.
Taylor was superb at Wakefield. Clearly embracing the contest, he drove the ball in with intent and defended with the same vigour. It was such a passionate display.
He’s clearly been given a new lease of life under Tony Smith and he’s in his element again. Custard pies at the ready. I’ll go first. Same goes for Danny Houghton. Both have taken some stick and some rightly so, but both deserve some praise now having stepped up.
Davy Litten
The young full-back gave another solid account of himself at the back. So energetic, he popped up everywhere and was firm in handling the kicks Wakefield threw at him before limping off late on.
Tony Smith said post-match that he twisted his ankle and was seen with ice on it. There’s not much to go on yet and the situation will be assessed more in recovery.
The spirit is back
It’s three wins and there’s still a lot of redemption ahead but to see the fight again in the performance, the effort and that willingness to dig in for one another is all most reasonable Hull fans ask for.
That spirit is everything. That’s rugby league. It’s how much you want to go the extra mile for the player next to you, to scramble together, to dig in, and have a go. You then get your rewards at the end and make no mistake about it, there’s no better feeling than winning matches alongside your mates.
It may be perceived as a small thing to some, but Hull showed how connected up they are with the squeeze. It was seen every week in the cup winning years and it’s back now. You can imagine the words said in there. The satisfaction. The pride. The motivation. It makes you want to run on the pitch and join in.
Fair play to Hull. Again, a long way to go, but they’ve been through some poor form and some tough periods but they have shown their spirit, belief and confidence, they’ve stuck together, and now they’ve turned a few corners. It’ll be interesting, and hopefully exciting, to see how far and how long they can keep it going.