A third straight win has propelled Hull to the top of the English Super League, with their impressive impressive 34-10 success over Warrington making their title rivals take notice.
The Black and Whites followed up their victory over previous leaders Castleford by condemning Warrington to their first defeat in six matches, without a host of their senior players.
Centre Jake Connor was the hero for Hull, scoring the first try and providing the final passes for two more, while the game management of scrum-half Marc Sneyd ensured the home side were able to build on a slender 14-10 interval lead, with stand-off Albert Kelly scoring two tries to take his tally for the season to 11.
Warrington, who had the chance to climb out of the bottom four for the first time this year, had Kurt Gidley at hooker in the absence of Daryl Clark, who was ruled out with a minor hamstring problem – and that disrupted their attacking flow.
Hull coach Lee Radford was without without five regulars – including captain Gareth Ellis and Man of Steel Danny Houghton – and was delighted with the win.
“With the table, as long as we’re in and among it, that’s where we need to be,” Radford said. “I think it’s just reward for how we’ve performed tonight.
“Because it was the least numbers I’ve had to select from this season it highlighted how important it was for the young boys to step up and do a job for us and that makes it even more pleasing.”
The only downside for Hull was the sin binning of Sika Manu for a “chicken-wing tackle.”
Radford had no argument with the yellow card handed to Manu, whose participation in next Saturday’s Test match for Tonga in Sydney could be thrown into doubt if he is charged by the Rugby Football League’s match-review panel.
“He flies out Monday and the disciplinary is on Tuesday so maybe it’s going to be the quickest landing and return flight you’ve ever seen,” said Radford. “I don’t know how we’re going to get around it.”
Warrington will monitor the fitness of Westerman after he went off with a pinched nerve in his neck but Gidley is expected to face St Helens next Friday despite going off just before the end with a burst eardrum.
Meanwhile St Helens, who are still under the caretaker charge of Sean Long, Jamahl Lolesi and Derek Traynor following the departure of Kieron Cunningham, picked up their fifth Super League win of the season with a convincing 22-6 victory over Leigh.
Mark Percival scored a try and kicked four goals as Saints gained revenge for a 24-16 defeat in the reverse fixture in February.
