The Black and Whites need a spark.
Hull FC’s Davy Litten catches a high ball.(Image: SW PIX)
Jon Wilkin has stated that Hull FC need to find someone with ‘incision’ who is ‘a genuine running threat’ to build on the promising work of John Asiata.
The Black and Whites’ vice-captain was their greatest attacking spark in Thursday’s 14-10 defeat to Wakefield Trinity, linking to effect in the middle of the field to get Hull the space out wide to score two first-half tries.
But the pundit, speaking on Sky Sports, believes the side needs to find more ways of breaking teams open following the ‘catastrophic’ loss of Will Pryce, with the pundit suggesting that spark could come from a new full-back or an addition to the dummy half role.
Active in the recruitment market, Hull have some significant cap space and a quota spot available following Pryce’s ACL blow and the release of Liam Knight, and are currently weighing up their options before they make a move. And in the eyes of Wilkin, that addition has to be someone with attacking prowess – who has the ability to break the game open down the middle of the field.
“I think Will Pryce is a catastrophic loss for them and the nature of his injury,” Wilkin told Sky Sports. “They look like they need someone who is a genuine running threat.
“John Asiata is creating the space and he needs someone with incision off the back of it. You look at Wigan and Leeds; they have players who can break tackles and make line breaks and I think that’s maybe the challenge.
“Without Will Pryce, just that one missing piece within the people who touch the ball the most in that team, it’s a really big loss for John Cartwright.
“I think they need a running threat through the middle of the field. If you haven’t got a Will Pryce who’s a threat, that third link off the two halves playing, and then he’s there, you have to break the ruck open.
“Amir Bourouh isn’t a natural runner of the ball. He had a few tidy runs tonight. I think they have to focus on that middle third, but they need incision to win rugby league matches and that’s what I don’t see Hull FC having right now.”
Fellow pundit Jones-Buchanan also pointed out the need to find some speed from the ruck, with Hull playing games on the back foot so far and struggling to meet the speed demands following new ruck interpretations introduced to the Super League competition this year.
He added: “You can only play with the ingredients that you’ve got and the bench is a big frame and with Herman Ese’ese and Joe Batchelor to come back, for me it would be all about that middle third and trying to get some ruck speed out of dummy half.”