Hull FC 18-33 St Helens: Player ratings and major talking points

In a controversial and enthralling Challenge Cup semi-final, St Helens booked their place at Wembley with victory over Hull FC. Now can the Saints end their 13-year wait for the trophy?

Major Talking Points:

1. Griffin-Fages controversy

It’s what everyone’s talking about. Josh Griffin went down injured, dropped the ball and Theo Fages picked it up and scored. Many questioned whether Fages was right to score the try. It perhaps wasn’t within the spirit of the game and, on a weekend where the wider rugby and sporting worlds were watching, it didn’t make the sport look very good. It could also be said that the referee should’ve blown up as soon as he saw that Griffin was injured. In a tight game, this was perhaps the difference or at least contributed to a St Helens victory. It perhaps could’ve been handled better and fairer. It’ll be talked about for a long time.

2. Grace the hero

Despite being on the wing, Regan Grace has by far been St Helens’ best player this season and when they needed him most he stepped up with the match winning try. Not only that, he got St Helens in front early on with a brilliant finish that emphasised his ability to score even the most difficult chances. He’s only going to get better from here.

3. Hull continue to blow hot and cold

The Black and Whites for stints matched the reigning Super League Champions. In fact, at times they were outplaying them. But a few moments of misfortune took the game away from them as did spells when they simply couldn’t match what St Helens brought. This game epitomised where they are. They’re a side who can hang with the very best but lack the consistency to dominate. If they could’ve taken the good elements of this performance and expanded them for the full 80 they’d have won. As it happens, they lost and still need to improve their consistency if they want to really compete but it could very well come with time.

Player Ratings:

Hull FC

1 Jake Connor – 8

5 Mahe Fonua – 7

3 Carlos Tuimavave – 8

4 Josh Griffin – 6

21 Adam Swift – 6

6 Josh Reynolds – 7

7 Marc Sneyd – 7

10 Chris Satae – 7

9 Danny Houghton – 7

13 Ligi Sao – 7

11 Andre Savelio – 7

12 Manu Ma’u – 8

16 Jordan Lane – 6

Substitutes

17 Brad Fash – 6

20 Jack Brown – 6

22 Josh Bowden – 6

24 Cameron Scott – 7

St Helens

1 Lachlan Coote – 8

2 Tommy Makinson – 7

3 Kevin Naiqama – 6

18 Jack Welsby – 8

5 Regan Grace – 9

6 Jonny Lomax – 7

7 Theo Fages – 8

8 Alex Walmsley – 8

9 James Roby – 7

15 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook – 7

11 Joel Thompson – 6

14 Sione Mata’utia – 6

13 Morgan Knowles – 8

Substitutes

16 Kyle Amor – 6

20 Joe Batchelor – N/A

21 Lewis Dodd – 6

25 Dan Norman – N/A