Hull FC mid-season verdict as key factors offer hope and suggestion of more to come

It’s fair to say Hull FC have had a satisfactory first half of the season. It’s not time to get carried away, but they currently sit fifth in Super League, they have sorted out their home form, and they are sticking to their own processes and systems.

It’s been a significant improvement on the second half of last year, a run that saw the club lose nine of their last ten matches. It’s also an improvement beyond what many within the game saw coming. Hull are exceeding expectation, yet there’s plenty more to come as well. It’s easy to see why many within the club are so optimistic.

Winning eight of their opening thirteen league fixtures, Hull under Brett Hodgson are turning a few heads. They have found their middle ground, and whilst they can play with both guile and flair, they can also roll their sleeves up when required. In victory this season there has been an identity about them, and whether blowing teams away or sticking within the grind, there’s been a foundation to their recent performances.

The fight in Hull is back, with resilience, spirit, and hunger words you can associate with the side again. It’s no surprise either with juggernauts like Ligi Sao and Manu Ma’u, two forwards who have hit their best patch of form with the club in recent weeks. Then there’s the maverick Jake Connor, and of course, the young talents who have risen from within. The likes of Connor Wynne, Jack Brown and Brad Fash have all made an impression on Super League this year, and it’s that direction that Hull hope will lead them into the future.

There is a plan here. The club are making plenty of noises about their academy set ups right now, and with good reason. They appointed Michael Shenton at the end of last year, lured Pete Riding away