In one of the upsets of the season, Hull FC managed to beat Wigan Warriors 24-22 with the victory marking just the third win for the Black and Whites, whilst ending Wigan’s winning run that stretched back to early May.
Ironically, the last time Wigan Warriors tasted defeat was in Hull with FC’s cross-city rivals beating Matt Peet’s side 26-10 at Craven Park in Round Nine of Super League. Wigan had since avenged that in the Challenge Cup semi-final and gone on a ten-game tear in which they conceded an average of less than eight points per game.
Hull FC put up triple that yesterday with their 24-point tally the second-most Wigan Warriors have conceded all season, even more than against NRL champions Penrith in the World Club Challenge.
Wigan’s slow start allowed Hull FC to capitalise with Jack Walker opening the scoresheet on his return to the side. Liam Marshall hit back but centres Liam Sutcliffe and Davy Litten put the hosts ahead at the break.
Tyler Dupree’s ill-discipline saw him sin-binned and allowed FC to score again with the man advantage and whilst Wigan did fight back, it was the missed conversion in the first half that cost them as they lost 24-22.
Despite being a man not used to giving comments after defeat, Wigan Warriors’ Matt Peet spoke with grace as he labelled the Black and Whites’ performance as outstanding.
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How Matt Peet reacted after Wigan Warriors shock loss to Hull FC
Credit: Imago Images
Castleford’s win at St Helens from a few weeks ago might still be a bigger upset but there’s no denying what a huge win this was for Hull FC, a testament to the work that Simon Grix is doing at the club.
It could also be viewed as fallout from Wigan’s incredibly hard-fought derby win over St Helens last week, an attritional game that can perhaps help explain both Saints and Wigan’s below-par performances.
Wigan Warriors’ boss Matt Peet wasn’t making excuses though as he told BBC Radio Manchester: “We were below our best but that’s in part due to Hull FC playing outstandingly well. They finished their sets really well and defended with energy.
“They played with desperation, a desperation that we lacked, disappointingly.”
Peet also noted the value in the lessons of defeat for some of the club’s younger stars who have rarely suffered defeats in their career whilst donning Wigan’s colours.
It marked the first-ever loss of Jack Farrimond’s five-game career in Cherry and White, just the second of Zach Eckersley’s and the sixth of Junior Nsemba’s, despite the second-rower having played 32 times for the club.
Peet noted: “There’s be some valuable lessons in there for the likes of Junior [Nsemba], Jack [Farrimond] and Zach [Eckersley], all of our players really, they’re not nice when they come along, those lessons.
“When we look back at it, to lose a game by two points, we’ll see loads of areas where those two points could be made up.”
They’ll face Warrington Wolves next week in a huge top-of-the-table clash with a heavy defeat potentially meaning Wigan Warriors won’t be atop Super League.
