Hull FC may have tasted a first defeat of the season against Wigan Warriors on Friday night, and a heavy one at that, but the mood surrounding it is completely different from last season.

Despite the 46-4 scoreline, there was effort, and there were moments. However, those moments weren’t polished enough to trouble the Cherry and Whites, with Hull’s execution requiring improvement and that extra bit of quality lacking.

When they did get the opportunity, Hull took the wrong options, particularly with the kick, and they didn’t build enough pressure. They are disappointed, and there is an acceptance that they can and they will be better, but to swing the axe at them after one defeat to a ridiculously well-oiled machine would be premature, to say the least.

READ MORE: Matt Peet's Hull FC comment amid victory satisfaction and Jai Field prediction

READ MORE: Hull FC hoping for double injury boost ahead of Huddersfield Giants clash

Enter Wigan. The Super League champions were relentless. They were brilliant at times. They started well, they were patient, they built into the game, and they posted points, with the likes of Jai Field unplayable as the Warrior powered home.

Wigan have freakishly good players to call on and an unbelievable system under Matt Peet where every player knows their role. They were crisp, dynamic, and tough, and they controlled the game from the start. To use John Cartwright’s assessment, it felt like Hull was hanging on at times.

Sometimes you just have to credit your opposition—one that has conceded one try in their last six Super League games. There’s nothing wrong with that. Wigan are the champions, quadruple champions for that matter, for a reason, and coming to Hull on the back of an opening round loss to Leigh last week, they were absolutely ruthless.

But Hull’s season won’t be defined by a loss to the best team in the land. It was always going to be a tough ask with key players out, and once Ligi Sao went down with a nasty-looking leg injury, it became even tougher.

That isn’t an excuse. It’s just reality. Reality dictates that Hull, in the midst of a long-term rebuild after a couple of poor years, need their best 17 on the field this season. It’s very much a case of survival of the fittest, and up against it in terms of personnel on the sideline, it was always going to be a tall order.

Wigan, on the other hand, have kept hold of a formidable-looking squad, but that hasn’t happened overnight. They were, barring a couple of players, at full tilt here, and it showed. They were impressive. They were the best team by far. That’s nothing we didn’t know before.

But still, for Hull, who we all know have a long road ahead to get back to where they desire to be, there was effort, there was energy despite the scoreline, and there was some spirit—exemplified in Herman Ese’ese, who played huge minutes; Jordan Rapana, who never backed down; Aidan Sezer and John Asiata, who shaped up well; and the young two wingers, Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin, who are the club’s present and future. There was some fight on show and enough to go at to know this team will improve and move forward this year—particularly when they get their troops back.

Again, a round two loss to Wigan won’t define Hull FC; it’s what they do against those teams around them. On that front, it’s certainly no time to panic, not by any stretch, but the response at Huddersfield Giants next week—a game that Cartwright has already labelled as ‘must’ win’—will be crucial.