Hull FC head coach John Cartwright was in two minds when reflecting on his side’s performance against Warrington Wolves on Saturday night.
Whilst the Black and Whites came away with a 28-16 victory, their first-half display was far superior to what they produced in the second half.
However, the Hull FC boss admitted that his players will lead by example in working out what went wrong and how to start turning in eighty-minute performances going forward.
Talking to Sky Sports post-match, Cartwright said: “It was a game of two halves, wasn’t it? I thought our first half was probably the best we’ve been able to put together for the whole season.
“I thought we dominated the middle and our edges looked dangerous. It was just a complete performance pretty much in the first half.
“In the second half, we won’t beat Hull KR playing like that, just some of the brain snaps we had, things we can control, such as dropped balls.
“Our discipline has got to get a lot better when you’re playing the very best.”
He stressed that when you’re facing a side with as much quality as the Wolves, you need to be able to hang in there.
Warrington scored three unanswered tries in the second half but it still wasn’t enough to take the victory.
The Hull FC boss added: “It’s like a storm that you know is coming but you don’t really know how to stop it, you’ve just got to stick to what’s worked for you in the first half.
“Momentum changed. Deep down, you worry that they can turn it on so quickly with blokes like (Matt) Dufty and (George) Williams, hanging around the ruck there against tired middles.
“We got the job done in the end. Put it this way, six weeks ago, we’d have been over the moon with that but I think the players will probably be more disappointed than the coaches are when we debrief that on Monday.”
Hull FC boss talks balanced squad in 2025 and heaps praise on key men
Cartwright wanted to point out several players who put in a massive shift in their victory over Warrington, from youngsters to experienced talent.
He shared that the new additions to the club have really led the team into its new era, especially when it comes to attitude.
He added: “I thought Sezer was absolutely outstanding today, he was all over the field, he dictated and he kicked well. John Asista, as well, the front rowers are doing a great job.
“It’s a good balance, the older, experienced guys, they play big minutes wek after week at the moment. I’m really excited about what Pryce is bringing forward, what Davy Litten brings and what Lewis Martin brings.”
The Hull FC boss wanted to single out one player who’s gone under the radar in 2025 but has been one of the vital components in Hull FC’s success so far.
He said: “I think the little unsung hero has been Amir (Bourouh) in the middle of the field.
“He’s played eighty minutes, he makes 50 tackles minimum every week and those big boys keep running at him.”
With a Good Friday derby looming, it will be second versus first in the Super League table as this win sends Hull FC just a point behind Hull KR.
Cartwright finished: “There’s a lot to get excited about but probably the thing that I’m most excited about is we haven’t put two halves of footy together yet.
Cross our fingers that we can put an eighty-minute performance together next week, it’s going to be another huge occasion for us, the Good Friday derby game, that’s one we’re certainly looking forward to.”
Hang it in the Ferens 🖼️
⚫️⚪️ #COYH | @ecostrad pic.twitter.com/SQgmzJpUtI
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) April 12, 2025
