Opening salvo key for Hull to turn heat on Saints
AS HE approaches a 100th game in charge of his beloved Hull FC, head coach Lee Radford has urged his opposite number at St Helens Keiron Cunningham to “stay above” the doubters.
Saints head to the KCOM Stadium tonight with club legend Cunningham under immense pressure from some of the club’s supporters for not just poor results but a lack of footballing style, too.
Even though he has a statue of himself outside their ground, the former Great Britain hooker is not escaping criticism after they lost at home to Wakefield Trinity last week – a side that had not won in eight months – and at newly-promoted Leigh Centurions before that.
Granted, they defeated Leeds Rhinos on the opening night but tension does seem to be mounting for Cunningham.
However, Radford said: “I think it’s probably two weeks earlier than last season for Keiron and he managed to get them to a position last season where I thought they were robbed of making the Grand Final.
“We had the conversation yesterday that as a coach you’ve got to try and stay above it and not read the papers or go on social media because things can change quickly.
“They’ve changed in a fortnight for us; we had a half-back who couldn’t pass two weeks ago and we couldn’t attack, but seven days later we’ve hit our straps and everyone is flying.”
Radford refereed to Marc Sneyd who came under attack from Garry Schofield for his performance in the home loss to Catalans Dragons – 0nly to respond last week with a hat-trick in Hull’s 48-8 win at Huddersfield Giants.
The Airlie Birds chief, who has come under scrutiny plenty of times himself during his four years at the helm, continued: “It’s a long old season and I think it’s important for people like Keiron to stay above it and stay focussed on the job at hand.
“You might need earplugs and sunglasses at times because it is difficult and it causes apprehension among the group – but that’s team sport.
“It’s always happened, it’s nothing new, but because of the success Saints had earlier in Super League their supporters become accustomed to the trophy cabinet. But the power has shifted somewhat.
“They’ll be relieved they’re playing away from home; I think they’ve got the old Crystal Palace syndrome where the speccies are on them when one thing goes wrong.
“They’ll find it easier playing away from home so it is to their advantage that it is at our place.”
Radford has implored his side, who have two wins from three so far having also beaten Wakefield, to start well tonight and not offer their beleaguered opponents any encouragement.
“They’ve openly admitted their starts to the games have been poor so the opening exchanges will be important for both sides,” he said.
“With us being at home we need to make sure we come out of the blocks flying and quicker than they do.
“We need to put some added pressure onto the pressure they’re under at the moment: the last thing we want to do is give them a shot in the arm because when they hit form they’ll be a quality side.
“I’m pleased with our defence and on Friday we need to keep doing that – but we need to show more signs of improvement with ball in hand.”
On the prospect of reaching his ton, the former Hull player, who was promoted from assistant at the end of 2013, admitted: “It’s a privilege to get to that point.
“I didn’t realise until earlier in the week. It’s Danny Houghton’s 250th Super League game too so there’s a couple of milestones there and it would be nice to celebrate them with a win.
“Two hundred and fifty games is something a lot of players have done but if you work out Danny’s average minutes and tackle count, that’s what sets him aside from the average player.
“I’m really pleased for him and, hopefully, we can get that result.”
Man of Steel Houghton, the hooker who has topped Super League’s tackle count in two of the last three years and is doing so again now, will lead the side as well.
Captain Gareth Ellis has, for the second time, failed the mandatory head test following a concussion suffered against Catalans.
Radford admitted: “Gaz is no good; he failed the test.
“He needs to do a little less better first time because he got the highest score in the team first time around so to beat that would be miraculous but that’s how competitive he is.”
You might need earplugs and sunglasses at times because it is difficult. Hull FC’s Lee Radford on the perils of being a head coach.