Make yer Marc on big game

MARC SNEYD has urged Hull to prove they aren’t big-game bottlers.

The Airlie Birds have crashed since appearing to have nailed a play-off spot four weeks ago.

They are now outside the top five and need to beat leaders St Helens in their final game — and then hope other results go their way.

Scrum-half Sneyd (above) said: “We have buckled basically when it’s come to the crunch at the end of the year.

“A few weeks ago we were pushing for second and in the good spot that we’d talked about wanting at the start of the year.

“But since then we haven’t turned up. But if you want to get in that top five you have got to be a hell of a lot better than that.”

Hull could have clinched a play-off spot if they had beaten Castleford on Thursday but instead they dished up a dire display in a 44-12 defeat.

The Tigers leapfrogged them into fifth and, even though they have a tough trip to Wigan in their final game, Castleford’s fate is now in their own hands.

Sneyd added: “It was a terrible performance against Cas. We’ve just not wanted it.

“I really wish I could say why we have played like we have over the last three or four weeks but I don’t know why we haven’t turned up.

“We have done all the right things in training and trained really well but for some reason when it comes to game day we decide to knock on, forward pass, refuse to complete sets and are reluctant to defend.

“That game will be hard to watch because it was awful, but we need to learn from that.

“Saints have been flying high all year but they are a beatable team like anyone is. But I can guarantee that if we turn up like we have been doing recently then it’s not going to happen.”

Hull have lost five of their last six games, including the Challenge Cup semi-final to Warrington, and have already been stuffed 40-12 and 62-16 by Saints this season.

Team-mate Gareth Ellis (inset) said: “When we find ourselves in a tough period we don’t seem to have the mettle to get out of it. It’s something we have to address.” MICHAEL SHENTON would love to end the nightmare of a freak injury with a push for Grand Final glory.

But the Castleford captain (below) admits there’s a risk he’ll miss out — because the team is playing well without him. He has been out since ankle surgery in April, before breaking his leg during his recovery without even realising.

He said: “It’s normally eight to nine weeks of rehab and I was on track. I was doing a field session and something didn’t feel right, but it took a while to diagnose.

“It turned out I’d got a fracture in my tibia. It’s been a nightmare, bad luck and hasn’t been pleasant but I am a lot happier now than I have been.”