'We need to be tougher to beat Warrington' - Hull FC coach

HULL FC are preparing to be facing a Warrington Wolves team that has cast aside any Challenge Cup Final hangover.

The Wire’s performance in the 25-14 home defeat to Salford Red Devils last weekend was generally accepted as being ‘flat’, coming a week after the below-par showing in the Wembley loss to Wigan Warriors.

Last time out was a different story for Hull FC who ended an 11-match losing streak when they overcame fellow strugglers Leeds Rhinos at home and now look forward to testing their turnaround in fortunes when Sam Burgess’ men roll into town tomorrow, kick-off 3pm.

“I hope they are having a hangover again this week,” quipped Francis Cummins, who is an assistant to interim Hull FC head coach Simon Grix, the former Wire forward.

“Sometimes that can happen. Sometimes it can be hard playing at home after that, thinking you’re going to get a reaction and it doesn’t quite happen.

“If only you could get us another week where Warrington are slightly off and we can play even better than last week, then I’d take that.

“But we’ve got to prepare for the best of Warrington because they won’t be happy with last week.

“Sam and his staff won’t be happy with how they played and they’ll want a reaction.”

The FC camp has been a happier one this week on the back of tasting a success.

Cummins acknowledged that the Black and Whites will have to play better than they did in victory against Leeds though in order to achieve a first win in three attempts this season against The Wire.

“A win especially after a long run like that is a boost,” said the 47-year-old former Leeds and Bradford Bulls winger or full-back, who is head of emerging talent at the MKM Stadium.

“It was good not only for the players and staff, but for the fans, and it just gives you a lift.

“I think Grixy has talked really well this week about not resting on your laurels now, that it’s not just going to come easy.

“We got over a team who were probably struggling a little bit more than us at the moment but we need to take that into this one and focus on getting better.

“We may have rode our luck against Leeds but we worked really hard for each other.

“There’s loads of improvements we need to make and we need to make sure that we’re better this week than we were last week. And if we are then we’ve got a chance again.”

Cummins highlighted a key area for improvement from the Hull side.

“Early on (against Leeds) I think we were a little bit all over in defence but we did settle down into it,” he said.

“I think even first set they rolled us down the field.

“When we start to put on our shapes and invest a little bit more in attack and deliver what we practice we look really good.

“We’re not quite good enough to play off the cuff too often yet. We need to keep playing with numbers.

“I think we play a little bit on emotion and we need to settle down a bit. But that’s what happens when losing 11 games in a row – you try to invent things.

“But don’t get me wrong, I think the lads pulled out a great effort at the weekend but we’re going to have to play a lot harder and tougher this weekend.”