Hull FC 14-8 Catalans Dragons: Highlights, player ratings and talking points

Hull FC took on Catalans Dragons at the MKM Stadium tonight.

Hull took a 14-4 lead at half-time courtesy of tries to Jordan Lane and Chris Satae with Fouad Yaha responding.

Mitchell Pearce brought the Dragons back to within six late in the second-half after a brilliant individual score, but the French side just couldn’t claw the deficit back.

Highlights

Fouad Yaha grabbing his 87th try in Catalans colours made him the joint leading try-scorer at the French club alongside Vincent Duport.

Chris Satae charging over from close range was a joy to behold.

Chris Satae smashing Sam Kasiano late in the second-half was like a collision of two trains in midfield.

Talking points

1. Catalans looked lost

Catalans almost looked like rabbits caught in the headlights at the MKM Stadium with a poor first-half showing and they didn’t improve much in the second forty minutes either

2. Tiredness galore

It’s the third game around the Easter period that players say takes it out of them more than any of them – not Good Friday nor Easter Monday but the following weekend. And, that was evident with both Hull and Catalans looking leggy and fatigued at times – especially towards the back end of both halves.

3. Catalans missed Tomkins

He’s a brilliant player, Sam Tomkins, and Catalans certainly felt his absence – especially in the goalkicking department. Arthur Mourgue has a fine future ahead of him, but he looked nervous at the back and he missed two conversions which would have made proceedings 14-12 instead of 14-8.

4. Lane train

Jordan Lane just keeps getting better and better with each passing game. Underrated by most, the forward is a vital part of this Hull side so there’s no wonder he is thought of so highly by head coach Brett Hodgson.

Player ratings

Hull FC

1 Jake Connor – 7
5 Darnell McIntosh – 8
3 Carlos Tuimavave – 7
25 Mitieli Vulikijapani – 7
29 Jamie Shaul – 6
6 Josh Reynolds – 8
14 Joe Lovodua – 8
8 Ligi Sao – 8
9 Danny Houghton – 7
16 Kane Evans – 6
13 Jordan Lane – 9
12 Manu Ma’u – 7
17 Brad Fash – 6
Substitutes
10 Chris Satae – 8
20 Jack Brown – 6
21 Jordan Johnstone – 6
30 Scott Taylor – 6

Catalans Dragons

1 Arthur Mourgue – 7
2 Tom Davies – 6
18 Mathieu Laguerre – 8
20 Tyrone May – 7
5 Fouad Yaha – 7
6 Mitchell Pearce – 8
7 Josh Drinkwater -6
8 Gil Dudson – 8
9 Michael McIlorum – 7
22 Dylan Napa – 6
11 Matt Whitley – 7
15 Benjamin Jullien – 6
13 Benjamin Garcia – 7
Substitutes
14 Alrix Da Costa – 6
16 Paul Seguier – 6
17 Mickael Goudemand – 6
28 Sam Kasiano – 7