Hull FC v Salford Red Devils verdict, player ratings and talking points

Hull FC hosted Salford Red Devils in a game where the Black and Whites were just playing for pride but also looking to avoid another embarrassing defeat.

They were unable to do that as Salford ran riot from very early on as Hull FC shipped more than 50 points for the second week in a row with the Red Devils running out as 58-4 winners. That margin of defeat was so severe that Hull FC have actually dropped to the foot of Super League on points difference prior to London’s clash with Catalans.

It was another under par squad for Hull FC who have been hammered with injuries and suspensions all season and that was the case once again.

Interim head coach Simon Grix had made two changes with Davy Litten and Ed Chamberlain coming into the starting 13, both men returning from injury.

They were without Ligi Sao due to an ankle injury, Tom Briscoe with illness and the suspended Jed Cartwright as well as their long-term absentees.

As for Salford, Paul Rowley was able to welcome back Loghan Lewis, the influential second-rower who was been impactful in his time at the club. He started from the bench with Sam Stone dropping out through injury.

For the Red Devils, a win would guarantee them play-offs and the chance at fourth place in Super League and that crucial home play-off clash.

Hull FC hammered once again as Sneyd silences the MKM

It didn’t take long for Salford Red Devils to get on the board with the opening try coming via Tim Lafai after just five minutes, signalling the start of a long afternoon for Hull FC. That lead was then doubled when Salford made the most of a scrum play after a Logan Moy dropped catch. Nikorima swung it wide left and Deon Cross crashed over.

The returning Lewis would then make an impact as his powerful run offered field position before Joe Mellor darted through from dummy-half to make it 16-0 after 20 minutes. Five minutes later, Brad Singleton got involved in the action with yet another try under the sticks.

Hull FC managed to put up a ten-minute period of resistance as they started to get somewhat of a foothold in the game but that was dramatically cut short when Tim Lafai intercepted a pass and raced 60 metres to score his second of the game just after the half-hour mark to make it 28-0.

Hull FC thought they’d got on the board early in the second half but it was disallowed and Salford punished that, scoring three quickly through Nene Macdonald, Shane Wright and then captain Kallum Watkins to take it to 46-0 with former Black and White Marc Sneyd bowing after the sideline conversion.

Salford then put up a contender for try-of-the-season as Marc Sneyd took the play down the short side and after a handful of offloads, Tim Lafai walked over for his hattrick to take them past the 50-point mark.

Hull FC did score a consolation after 66 minutes with Zach Jebson on the end of a looping pass after Hull FC capitalised on a rare Salford error. Joe Mellor capped off the game with a late try to make it 58-4. Chris Hankinson looked to score in the final minute as he broke the line and chased his own kick but the centre failed to ground the ball.

Man of the Match

Marc Sneyd was brilliant once again but you can’t ignore Tim Lafai who scored a hattrick. Nene Macdonald has got plenty of plaudits at centre for Salford this year but Lafai was at his brilliant best today. His intercept showed elite perception and his offload game remains the best in Super League. Brad Singleton is also worthy of a mention with a bruising performance down the middle.

Talking Points

Is Marc Sneyd the greatest ever kicker in Super League history? Plenty will argue for the likes of Kevin Sinfield and those with far more points but Sneyd has consistently kicked at an elite level, often being the difference between wins and losses. His haul today saw him surpass Sean Long and into number seven on the all-time Super League point-scoring list, despite the fact he only has 39 tries to his name.

Is Joe Mellor the signing of the season? Salford were put in a tough situation with their squad building for 2024 as they lost key spine players as well as their elite wingers Ken Sio and Joe Burgess. Plenty of the departures came late in the window and meant they were picking up ‘scraps’, so to speak. One of those signings, Joe Mellor, has gone under the radar as one of the best signings of the Super League season. He was brilliant once again, adding control to Salford’s performance and allowing Sneyd to be creative, whilst scoring two of his own.

What next for Hull FC? They’ve confirmed NRL signings Jordan Rapana and Aidan Sezer this week who will join the likes of John Asiata, Jordan Abdull, Zak Hardaker, Amir Bourouh and others but how many of those are true difference makers? Is there a direction in the recruitment or is their a policy to sign Leigh Leopards’ players and aging NRL stars? John Cartwright faces a mammoth task over the next three years with his side now rooted at the foot of Super League.

Hull FC player ratings

Logan Moy 4, Harvey Barron 5, Davy Litten 5, Ed Chamberlain 4, Lewis Martin 6, Jack Charles 5, Jack Walker 4, Herman Ese’ese 5, Morgan Smith 4, Will Gardiner 4, Jordan Lane 6, Brad Fash 3, Yusuf Aydin 4

Interchanges: Jack Ashworth 4, Denive Balmforth 4, Tiaki Chan 3, Zach Jebson 4

Salford Red Devils player ratings

Ryan Brierley 7, Ethan Ryan 7, Nene Macdonald 8, Tim Lafai 9, Deon Cross 8, Jayden Nikorima 7, Marc Sneyd 9, Brad Singleton 8, Joe Mellor 9, Gil Dudson 7, Shane Wright 7, Kallum Watkins 8, Oliver Partington 7

Interchanges: Joe Shorrocks 6, Chris Hankinson 6, Loghan Lewis 7, Joe Bullock 7