Jon Wilkin has highlighted three youngsters as the key to why and how Hull FC have transformed from a bottom two side to one who are in play-off contentions. Among that trio is Lewis Martin with Wilkin putting his name in the conversation for this year’s upcoming Ashes.
Martin scored yet another try last night as he extends his lead atop Super League’s try-scoring charts this year, however, his score came in vain as Hull FC lost 16-10 to St Helens in a hard-fought affair at the Totally Wicked Stadium.
St Helens’ pack proved too big against an injury-affected Hull FC with Jed Cartwright the latest victim, seemingly suffering a dislocated shoulder after just three minutes.
Despite Saints’ clear size advantages, something that John Cartwright noted post-match, Hull FC stuck in the match and they had a lifeline when Martin crossed over late on.
Speaking ahead of the match, Jon Wilkin pointed to Lewis Martin and the club’s other young outside backs as ‘exemplifying what’s good about Hull FC’.
He added: “You can talk about the imports and who has been recruited it but what’s been most impressive for me is the outside backs and how they’ve delivered.”
Hull FC winger to be an England bolter?
Martin would finish last night’s game with just shy of 100 metres having ran for over 150 metres in his previous three games, highlighting how well the Saints contained him.
Jon Wilkin highlighted his metre making ability as one of the reasons why England head coach Shaun Wane will be considering the 21-year-old for this year’s Ashes.
He explained: “It’s Lewis Martin to focus on in terms of the Ashes watch and rightly so. This kid has been in the mind of Shaun Wane for an England call up and not just because of his finishing, where he has 21 tries which is fifth in a (Super League) season for Hull FC.
“It’s his work rate as well, a 150 metres in a game is his average. It’s his work rate, as well as his try scoring.”
St Helens’ Jodie Cunningham agreed, adding: “It just seems that the pressure is off him for such a young lad. He came into a struggling side last year and he shone, he was one of the positives last year.
“You see him now and he’s really just coming into his own and scoring tries for fun. He’s up there now and possibly breaking records for Hull FC this season. It’s only upwards for Lewis Martin.”
With Matty Ashton out of the Ashes and Dom Young having lost some form in the NRL, the wing spots are wide open and Martin is expected to be competing alongside the likes of Liam Marshall, Joe Burgess and Tom Davies for a spot.
