It is increasingly difficult to call any result a shock in a Super League season which has the champions, Leeds, bottom of the table, and at the start of a weekend which could largely determine the final make-up of the table before the Super 8s, this match was a microcosm of the unpredictability the competition is providing in 2016.
Huddersfield, without a coach and destined for the qualifiers, looked more like the side who have been title contenders in recent years as opposed to a group with only five wins all year prior to this. That is in stark contrast to the league leaders Hull, who were on a run of 10 successive wins in all competitions, but their below-par performance proved that nothing can be taken for granted this season.
There is an unwanted tradition in rugby league surrounding sides losing their focus and form with a major Challenge Cup tie on the horizon – but with their cup semi-final against Wigan still a month away this was an inexplicable loss of form from a side who have looked unbeatable of late.
They were without the injured Liam Watts, Jamie Shaul and Gareth Ellis, and the fact the latter duo were absent for Hull’s only other blot on their copybook since March, a defeat at Leeds, illustrates their importance to Lee Radford’s side. Yet their biggest undoing on the night was a future Hull player who helped play an ironic role in their downfall.
The transfer of Jake Connor to Hull next year has provoked anger from the Huddersfield camp following FC’s confirmation of the deal for 2017, and on this basis it was easy to see why, as Hull fans were able to see first-hand the calibre of player they are getting next season. “He’s going to be a great player for Hull because he’s shown that he doesn’t listen to the coach,” joked Radford, who had insisted pre-match that Connor did not need to impress him here.
Hull’s attacking play has so often rested on the shoulders of the scrum-half Marc Sneyd this year – but this was a worrying indicator of how limited they can become in attack if he is not firing. Sneyd’s usual pinpoint kicking game was off-range all evening, and Hull were never able to find the subsequent guile to replace that threat.
“My concern is that the weather was Grand Final weather,” Radford said. “If you show no patience in these conditions then we’ll be having these conversations again at the end of the year. We were schooled in how to play wet-weather football.”
The game was taken away from them with a run of three tries in seven second-half minutes which killed off any brief hope of a second-half turnaround from Hull after trailing 8-0 at the interval. They reduced the gap to 8-6 three minutes after half-time thanks to Danny Washbrook’s try, but indiscipline and poor attacking play from the visitors handed Huddersfield an opportunity they would not spurn.
They led at the interval thanks to a Michael Lawrence try and two goals from the boot of Jamie Ellis, and when Kyle Wood’s inch-perfect kick found Tom Symonds shortly after Washbrook’s try, it tipped the balance back in Huddersfield’s favour. By the hour they were 22-6 in front thanks to two tries from Jermaine McGillvary, both created by Connor – and in the conditions, it always seemed a commanding gap. Mahe Fonua would strike back with a late try, but the damage had already been done for Hull.
This may not yet turn out to be a significant result for the Giants in the long run – but with Huddersfield’s players out to impress whomever Paul Anderson’s replacement may be following his departure earlier this month, it was at least a reminder that the new man will inherit a squad capable of competing with the league’s best following a season to forget.
“I’m really pleased for the group,” said Andy Kelly, the interim coach who revealed he could still be in charge for next week’s game against Hull KR. “I’m pleased for the players after a disappointing period – they took responsibility for each other tonight.”
Huddersfield Connor; McGillvary, Cudjoe, S Wood, Murphy; Ellis, Brierley; Rapira, Leeming, Ta’ai, Symonds, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe. Interchange Crabtree, K Wood, Mason, Roberts.
Tries Lawrence, Symonds, McGillvary 2. Goals Ellis 3.
Hull FC Naughton; Michaels, Fonua, Tuimavave, Talanoa; Pryce, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Green, Manu, Minichiello, Pritchard. Interchange Thompson, Hadley, Bowden, Washbrook.
Tries Washbrook, Fonua. Goals Sneyd 2.
Referee C Kendall. Attendance 4,143.
