Nobody at Hull FC, particularly their head coach, will be getting carried away just yet. But perhaps the tide is turning at a club where lofty expectations can so often produce intolerable pressure.
With two wins from their opening nine games, the threat of relegation appeared seriously real for one of Super League’s biggest-spending clubs. But how quickly things change; back-to-back wins over Huddersfield and now, the league leaders, Wigan, and Hull are eight points clear of the bottom side, Wakefield. Defeat Trinity next week, and any talk of relegation will be all-but over, just a few weeks removed from the fear of dropping into the Championship feeling greater than ever.
This was a game they would have undoubtedly lost a few weeks ago, when they were in the midst of a seven-game losing run. Hull did well to establish a 14-0 first-half lead, with the outstanding Jake Clifford setting one up for Darnell McIntosh before scoring another of his own. He then added a penalty to put the seal on a majestic first-half display from the Australian, who delivered his best performance in a Hull shirt since arriving from the NRL.
Tries from Iain Thornley either side of half-time, however, cut Hull’s lead to just four points. But they defended heroically throughout the second half in dismal conditions, with torrential rain making it impossible for either side to execute how they would have wanted. “Wigan weren’t at their best, but I’m delighted,” the Hull coach, Tony Smith, said, before erring on the side of caution about his side’s upturn in form.
“We knew we were going to come through and get some good wins, but we won’t get carried away. I’m happy … with most of it. The first half, I thought we were terrific, the second half we hung on … just. On another night, it could have gone another way.”
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Wigan are struggling with injuries to key playmakers and had to blood several youngsters. But they still had the talent to score enough points to win this game, and should Warrington defeat Wakefield on Friday night, they will surrender top spot as we approach the midway point of the season. “The first half, I thought we weren’t where we needed to be, particularly defensively,” their coach, Matt Peet, said.
His side certainly had chances to win the game, not least in the final minute when an error from Hull’s Davy Litten gave Wigan a chance to strike. However, in a moment which could symbolise a turning point in their own season, Hull dug deep to force a Warriors error in response, and perhaps it was fitting that it was Clifford who delivered the crucial tackle.
