Hull FC have won their first game in five matches after a 36-12 win over Huddersfield Giants.
A double from Ethan O’Neill helped them to the two points, with the Leeds Rhinos loanee putting in a strong case to head coach Brad Arthur.
Logan Moy, Jake Arthur, Harvey Barron and Amir Bourouh also scored for the home side, who looked a vastly improved side to the showings they have put out in recent weeks.
Jim Lenihan’s task of a first win as Giants boss continues for another week, and after scoring the first try through Oliver Russell, they looked to be well in with a chance of victory.
However, a second-half collapse from the West Yorkshire side saw them comfortable losers, and it left boss Lenihan with more questions than answers.
Hull FC v Huddersfield Giants talking points
Win at Last:
FC interim boss Andy Last picked up his first win at the helm since his return to the hot seat back in April when they thumped Castleford Tigers.
Since then, it has been a rocky road, with plenty of dismal displays suggesting that the side’s season is over before the half-way mark.
However, with a win this afternoon it puts them up to ninth in the table provisionally and eight points of the top six.
Jed Cartwright made his return from injury with a 45-minute stint, whilst Herman Ese’ese came through unscathed in just his second game since returning.
Excellent full-back battle:
Thursday night’s game between Warrington and St Helens saw three of England’s next generation of half-backs on full show, and today it was the turn of the full-backs.
FC’s Logan Moy and Huddersfield’s George Flanagan Jr produced a great battle, with Moy coming out on top.
Scoring Hull’s opening try and assisting Harvey Barron’s score, he was the biggest attacking threat for the home side, and he made the most of those chances on many occasions. He made a total of 233 metres from 23 carries
Flanagan Jr had a much more difficult afternoon, being unable to provide any attacking threat, but that could also be down to the halves pairing of Russell and Lolohea making very poor decisions on last plays, and that often halted the Giants momentum when in good ball.
Legends remembered:
Ahead of the game, Hull remembered their 2005 Challenge Cup winning coach, John Kear, who died two weeks ago when travelling back home from the Challenge Cup Final.
A wreath was laid by former FC player Richard Horne, before a wonderfully observed minute’s silence encapsulated the MKM Stadium.
For Huddersfield, they also had someone to remember, with this week marking 10 years since the death of academy player Ronan Costello. The Giants wore black armbands in tribute.
Disciplinary concerns:
Hull will have two disciplinary worries ahead of the Match Review Panel’s verdict on Monday.
First, Jeremiah Mata’utia went in with the knees as he tried to stop Oliver Russell from scoring the opening try of the game.
Later in the first half, Amir Bourouh was put on report for a dangerous tackle on Mathieu Cozza. The hooker was third man in to the tackle and came forcefully in at the thigh of the Huddersfield man.
