Hull FC are being backed for a cup run this year.

Hull FCs Joe Batchelor celebrates scoring a try.

Jon Wilkin has tipped Hull FC to ‘go on a cup run’ this year and is backing them to get past Leigh Leopards next month.

The Black and Whites, who beat Salford RLFC 60-0 last Friday night, will head over the Pennines to take on the Leythers in the round of 16 clash, with the winner just two games away from the final at Wembley on May 30. And while there are four Super League rounds to play before the cup takes centre stage again, Wilkin fancies Hull’s chances of success this year.

Speaking after the cup draw, which was broadcast on BBC Radio Manchester on Monday evening, Wilkin said: “Hull essentially pinched Leigh’s best players last year. John Asiata, their captain their talisman, he went over to Hull, so there’s a bit of needle between those two teams. That’s a big draw.

“I’m going Hull FC. If they beat Leigh, I fancy Hull FC to go on a cup run this year. In 2015, the year before Hull FC did really well and went back to back in the Challenge Cup in 2016 and 2017, I think there’s a lot of similarities to where Hull are at now to where they were in 2015. Maybe good omens for John Cartwright.”

Meanwhile, Kevin Brown is backing a potential derby final for Hull against cross-city rivals Hull KR, who face Huddersfield Giants in the fourth round. The two sides contest one final in 1980 and met in the cup for the first time since 1986 last year.

The former half-back conducted the draw with Wilkin and said: I’ve just got a feeling it (the final) will be a big derby, either a Hull FC-Hull KR or a Wigan-Saints. It’s going to be something special this year. I think there will be a really big derby game in the final.“

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