Aidan Sezer magic, early referee controversy, Christian Wade and Wigan Warriors v Hull FC talking points

Hull FC turned in one of their most impressive showings of the season as they pumped Wigan Warriors 32-12 at the Brick Community Stadium.

Here’s our talking points.

Hull of a performance

Matt Peet will be very concerned about what he saw from his side with errors and a lack of physicality costing them dear against the Black and Whites. Wigan were jaded with the ball in hand, creating next to nothing, and without it they were someway short of the resolute, organised and gritty side we’ve come to expect.

Hull FC still had to beat them, though, and they certainly did that with a performance they’ll cherish for some time. They were everything Wigan weren’t defensively and they took advantage with the ball in hand with Aidan Sezer bossing the game.

The Australian set up the first with his kick to Wade putting Jed Cartwright over for his first and he carved out Cartwright’s second, too, slipping through the gap between Ethan Havard and Harry Smith to feed the back-rower.

Sezer got a try himself towards the end of the second half with some powerful running to hammer home his status as the best man on the field. Jordan Rapana made sure of the points before Jack Ashworth finished Zak Hardaker’s grubber through the line with three minutes to go.

Controversy early

Did Zach Eckersley get the ball down? That will be the question most Wigan fans will be asking as they leave the Brick Community Stadium.
The centre made the most of some loose defending from the Black and Whites in the opening minutes to get over the line but there was some doubt about whether he grounded the ball, with the ball bouncing up as it hit the turf.

Referee Liam Moore made the call of no try and Wigan didn’t seem to question that, but replays seemed to suggest the Cherry and Whites may have had a case if it was sent to the video referee. It might have been a different game had that effort been allowed to stand.

Eckersley blow

About 20 or so minutes after failing to get the ball down, Eckersley could be seen limping out of the action with a leg injury. The Warriors are already short of numbers in the outside backs, with Abbas Miski injured and Adam Keighran playing in the halves, and the last thing they needed was another injury.

That prompted a shake up as Liam Farrell moved to centre and Ethan Havard stepped into back-row and the latter’s inexperience in the position showed as Aidan Sezer slipped by him in the build up to Hull’s second try.

Wade woes

Christian Wade may have got his second rugby league try in as many games for the Warriors, but he found himself struggling for large periods of this game, particularly under the high ball.

Hull FC picked him out with high kick after high kick and he must have spilled more than he caught. At least two of those errors directly led to Hull tries, with Jed Cartwright and Jordan Rapana capitalising.

He looked a threat with the ball in hand but under the high ball the former rugby union man was a glaring weak link.

Top six favourites?

Hull FC will finish the weekend in the top six and on the back of a bit of form building with two wins in their last two. There’s still eight games left to play but Hull play six of those at home and you’d back them to build on this result by seeing off Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils at the MKM Stadium next up.

Wakefield Trinity and Warrington Wolves provide very game competition but Hull have to be considered favourites to make the six from this point on.

A stellar showing from @hullfcofficial 👏#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/OXt7V6Lv3G

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 19, 2025