It’s safe to say that neither Hull FC nor Leigh Leopards would have gone into today’s game happy with their starts to the season.
The Black and Whites have been ravaged by injury and suspension to open the Super League season. They suffered a disappointing defeat to Hull KR to start the season and a week later they battled the Warrington Wolves.
They were well and truly in the game against Warrington until a controversial and confirmed to be incorrect red card for Fa’amanu Brown. They did get a win over London Broncos but only just and despite a valiant effort against Catalans Dragons they lost in the South of France. That said they still had a chance to open up a four point lead on Leigh Leopards who were yet to win after defeats to Huddersfield Giants, St Helens and Leeds Rhinos even though they led 16-0 at halftime.
The Leopards have also been struck by injury but you wouldn’t have realised with a lovely set play giving them a 4-0 lead early on in the game against Hull FC. Umyla Hanley finished the move to score his second try in two games.
Then the Leopards extended their lead with a try for Josh Charnley with a delightful finish in the corner. Hull FC hit back with Tex Hoy squeezing through a gap to score but by the break Leigh led 30-4. Hull FC were left in the dusty after tries from Ricky Leutele, Rob Mulhern and Ben McNamara against his former club.
Leigh scored the first try of the second half after a wild offload was patted to Oliver Holmes to score. He scored a second after good work from Zak Hardaker and Ben McNamara.
Then Matt Moylan notched a deserved try after a great break from Ricky Leutele. Leutele would then get himself a tryu to take Hull FC over 50.
Hull FC defence branded “an embarrassment”
Credit: Imago Images
Speaking on Sky Sports, pundit Jon Wells was very critical of Hull FC‘s defence as they conceded to a Rob Mulhern drive.
He said: “The most embarrassing moment, the one that will probably get a lot of interest, a lot of criticism, a lot of critique in the video review early next week for Hull FC was the try they conceded from Rob Mulhern because conceding from a pass directly from the ruck from two metres out is a real no-no and that’s an embarrassment.”
It was made clear that at halftime, Tony Smith would likely have not been happy: “And I tell you what, I would love to be a fly on the wall inside the Hull FC dressing room. I imagine that there’s been varnish torn off some of the furniture, perhaps the teacups will be being thrown about all over the place.”
