Hull FC boss hails Leeds Rhinos ‘joker’ amid Brad Arthur verdict

Jake Connor will be the dangerman Hull FC will be trying to nullify when they go to Headingley to face Leeds Rhinos on Friday night. That’s according to head coach John Cartwright who has described the former Black and Whites star as Leeds’ ‘joker’.

Connor only joined the Rhinos over the off-season, but he’s made quite the impact under Brad Arthur, with his ingenuity and creativity on the ball powering the Rhinos’ attack. He currently sits three points clear at the top of the Man of Steel rankings and in 10 league appearances this season he has racked up 13 assists and two tries.

Hull fans don’t need telling about how dangerous the England international can be when he’s confident and firing on all cylinders, given he had six seasons with FC before leaving at the end of the 2022 season, and Cartwright knows stopping him could be the key to frustrating Leeds this week.

“He’s made a big difference to them with his attacking flair,” Cartwright said in his pre-match press conference. “They’ve really worked hard defensively, you can see that, but in a lot of their tries, he’s been around.

“He’s probably their joker – he supplies that X-factor for them in and among that tough, grinding mentality. Players like that make a difference and you’ve got to be on your game. If they have a night out, you basically don’t win the game.”

Hull FC boss issues Leeds Rhinos verdict

Friday’s clash sees fourth take on fifth in the Super League table, but the two sides are in very different places, it’s fair to say. Hull have lost their last three and approach the game with plenty of question marks hanging over them after their defeat to Huddersfield Giants at Magic Weekend.

Leeds, on the other hand, are improving week on week and have won three of their last four.

“They’re a tough team,” Cartwright said. “It’s going to be a really good atmosphere there – I dare say it will be close to a full house.

“They’re playing really well – even in the games they have lost, they have competed. They’ve also beaten some of the better teams. They pushed KR all the way, and they beat Wigan.

“You look at them on paper, and they’ve got class all over the park, and they’re very physical – that’s why they compete in games. They compete at every play, and they make themselves hard to beat.

“Brad hasn’t been there all that long, but he is getting the best out of them defensively, and now they’re starting to score some points as well. Their best days look like they’re in front of them.”