Hull FC suffered a significant setback, losing 42-6 to Leigh Leopards in a Super League clash. Josh Charnley’s hat-trick was a key factor in Leigh’s victory, bringing him closer to Ryan Hall’s Super League record. Umyla Hanley’s virtuoso performance at centre also contributed to the Leopards’ success at Leigh Sports Village.
Charnley’s Tries and Hanley’s Assists Dominate
Josh Charnley was the star of the show with a hat-trick, putting him within two tries of Ryan Hall’s Super League record of 271 touchdowns. Charnley’s finishing ability was on full display. Umyla Hanley’s contributions were also instrumental. The 24-year-old had three assists, scored a try himself, and played a key role in another try.
Hanley’s pace and vision proved difficult for Hull FC to handle. His assist for Charnley’s second try involved an inside pass while being taken over the sideline. Hanley’s pace and a darting run set up Charnley’s hat-trick. Despite his overall strong showing, Hanley did have one negative moment when he took over kicking duties from Adam Cook and missed a conversion.
Leigh’s Dominance and Hull FC’s Struggles
Leigh Leopards secured their biggest win of the season, scoring nine tries after initially trailing 6-4. This victory marks their fourth in the last five games. Leigh are currently seventh but have closed the gap on the top six to two points. With Hanley’s playmaking ability, they appear to be aiming for a top-six finish and harbour Grand Final ambitions.
Hull FC, however, struggled throughout the match. Andy Last’s side has now suffered five defeats in their last six Super League games. The team was already dealing with an injury to full-back Davy Litten, who injured his medial ligament in training and is expected to be out for up to six weeks. The loss compounded the feeling that a turnaround in fortunes feels a long way off for the Black and Whites.
Coaches’ Reactions
Leigh head coach Adrian Lam commented on Hanley taking over kicking duties, saying it wasn’t his call. He added that he was hoping Adam Cook would continue kicking, despite Cook missing five of his first six attempts. Lam also mentioned that kicking is something they need to work on, referencing missed goals in the previous week’s game against Hull KR.
- Adam Cook missed five of his first six goal attempts.
- Hanley took over kicking duties and missed a conversion.
- Leigh’s kicking is something they need to work on.
Hull FC interim coach Andy Last expressed pride in giving debuts to a couple of young players. He noted that his team stayed in the fight for the first 40 minutes, but the game got away from them in the second half. Last said the players were disappointed and that a couple of moments didn’t go their way when they didn’t pick the right option.
Leigh Leopards are moving through the gears as the season progresses.