After a torrid start to the 2024 Super League season which started with a disappointing derby day defeat to Hull KR, Hull FC looked to re-ignite their season as they went away to Craven Park with the hope that they would be able to repeat their heroics from the 2023 season when they won away at the home of the Robins?
Hull FC had only won one game going into the game and that was thanks to a last minute winning try against newly promoted London Broncos. Hull KR meanwhile had only lost twice going down to Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils this season.
Hull FC were hoping for a big restart to their season but in the first half their hopes were emphatically extinguished. A great bit of play between Tyrone May and Mikey Lewis saw Hull KR break down field with Niall Evalds on hand to score. This sparked a brilliant display from Evalds.
His delightful pass would pave the way for Joe Burgess to make it 8-0 before he dummied through on a kick return prior to teeing up Mikey Lewis to score a sensational try.
Evalds kept causing problems with an inside ball for Peta Hiku as he tore through the heart of the Hull FC defence and teed up James Batchelor to score. That made it 16-0 and at this stage it was only the fact Jez Litten had failed to nail a goal that meant Hull KR weren’t out of sight but they soon would be.
Tries for Peta Hiku and Joe Burgess, both converted by Litten who shook off his goalkicking problems to fire Hull KR 28-0 ahead.
To Hull FC’s credit they battled back with tries from Jayden Okunbor after a charge down before Cameron Scott finished in the corner to make it 28-10.
Hull KR did hit back with a rampant try from Kelepi Tanginoa.
Hull FC set for long season says Tomkins
Credit Imago Images
Speaking on Sky Sports during the game, Sam Tomkins brutally slammed the defence from Hull FC saying it was “soft defence.”
He said: “What’s Tony Smith going to tell them? Is he going to tell Fa’amanu Brown to make a one on one tackle. Is he going to tell them to not let away an offload when they have three men in the tackle? You know it’s the basics that they’re not doing.”
Tomkins would add to that at the end of the coverage. When asked where the Black and Whites would finish, he said: “Low down. Maybe only London below them. There has been few positives. Maybe some youngsters in the side.”
