It was a really mixed bag for the two teams last weekend in the Challenge Cup. Hull were comprehensively beaten by Wigan on Sunday but on Friday night in a thrilling match Salford came from behind to beat Catalans in golden point extra time.

The two sides met back in August in Salford’s first match behind closed doors. The Red Devils were absolutely electric running away with a 54-18 victory. This is bound to be on the minds of the Hull players and their coach Andy Last will have them fired up for this match.

Since leaving the Boulevard and moving to the new stadium Hull have invested heavily in their playing squads over the past couple of decades. International Test players from Australia and New Zealand have played alongside a whole host of domestic talent. Despite lifting the Challenge Cup at Wembley in 2016 and 2017 success in the Super League has alluded Hull. If you were to write a school report for Hull it would probably say ‘could do better’. Having said that though they did appear in the Grand Final at Old Trafford in 2006 when they were beaten by St Helens.

The last time Hull were top flight League Champions was back in 1983. The team was packed with quality with players like David Topliss, James Leuluai, Gary Kemble and Dane O’Hara. A ferocious pack with Trevor Skerrett, Steve ‘knocker’Norton, Lee Crooks and Keith Bridges.

Between 1978 and 1985 both Hull and cross city rivals Hull KR ruled the roost.

David Topliss and Trevor Skerrett hold the Championship Trophy aloft in 1983.

Since 2010 Hull have appeared regularly in the playoffs without really threatening to lift the Super League Trophy. In 2020 Hull have won five of their eleven matches and if they can find some form during the coming weeks a tilt at the Grand Final could be on the cards. For Andy Last consistency is the key.

Super League Away record.

Hull 20

Draws 0

Salford 2

1998 Hull 32 Salford 0

1999 Hull 18 Salford 12

2000 Hull 26 Salford 22

2001 Hull 40 Salford 8

2002 Hull 28 Salford 8

2002 Hull 60 Salford 16

2004 Hull 82 Salford 6

2005 Hull 20 Salford 6

2006 Hull 11 Salford 10

2007 Hull 48 Salford 26

2009 Hull 14 Salford 12

2010 Hull 34 Salford 12

2011 Hull 52 Salford 16

2012 Hull 34 Salford 26

2013 Hull 18 Salford 13

2014 Hull 30 Salford 8

2015 Hull 24 Salford 20

2016 Hull 42 Salford 20

2017 Hull 18 Salford 54

2017 Hull 32 Salford 18 (Super Eights)

2018 Hull 45 Salford 14

2019 Hull 35 Salford 32

2019 Hull 22 Salford 44

They played for both.

Paul Fletcher, Richie Barnett, Brian Blacker, Jodie Broughton, Craig Coleman, Josh Griffin, Brad Hepi, Mark Johnson, Daniel Holdsworth, Alan Hunte, Stuart Howarth, Warren Jowitt, Tommy Lee, Ryan Mcgoldrick, Craig Murdock, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Tommy Saxton, Scott Taylor, Jordan Turner, Martin Gleeson, Josh Jones and Marc Sneyd.

Scott Taylor has played at Salford and is now a key figure in Hull’s pack.

A match to remember Saturday 17th August 2019.

Hull 22 Salford 44.

This match kicked off at tea time on a lovely summers day on the East Coast. Salford were in good form but this match on paper looked a really tough test. The Red Devils had won just one of the previous visits to the KCOM stadium and amongst those defeats their were quite a few heavy ones.

The first half saw plenty of action at both ends of the ground. Ken Sio opened the scoring with a try for Salford. Hull hit back with tries from Scott Taylor, Mickey Paea and Bureta Faraimo to lead 16-6 after twenty minutes.

Salford then showed a real desire and character to haul themselves back level with tries from Sio and Lee Mossop. A breath taking first half came to a close 16-16.

Salford started the second half with a burst of tries. Sio grabbed his second before Mossop bagged his brace try to give the Red Devils a cushion.

Jordan Lane pulled a try back for a Hull on the hour mark but this 2019 Salford team had a spirit and togetherness to win at all costs. Jackson Hastings pulled the strings and his desire in both attack and defence was infectious.

Every player stood up and did their job. Two excellent tries from Krisnan Inu and one for the hard working Hastings put Hull in their place as Salford brushed their Yorkshire opponents aside.

Krisnan Inu scored a brace of tries in a influential display in last year’s fixture.

The Red Devils made it five wins on the trot with this victory and the wins kept coming with Ian Watson’s side finishing third after the regular season matches.

Hull FC: Shaul; Naulago, Tuimavave, Griffin, Faraimo; Connor, Sneyd; Taylor, Houghton, Paea, Lane, Westerman, Ellis.

Interchanges: Bowden, Buchanan, Fash, Satae.

Salford: Evalds; Sio, Welham, Bibby, Inu; Lolohea, Hastings; Mossop, Tomkins, Walker, Jones, Lannon, Burke.

Interchanges: Flanagan, Lussick, J Johnson, Nakubuwai.

Referee: Scott Mikalauskas.

Attendance: 11,217.

Thursdays match .

After last weeks Challenge Cup heroics the games are now coming thick and fast for Salford. Hull this Thursday is followed by a midweek League match with Warrington before the Cup Semi final with the Wolves on Saturday 3rd October. With two victories from nine games so far an assault on the playoffs looks a tall order for Ian Watson’s men. One thing that Watson will be looking to build is momentum and some sort of fluency. It’s been a stop start season so far and to get a consistent run of matches will only stand Salford in good stead.

Last weekend Kallum Watkins made a very impressive debut and he will be looking to impress again. Andy Ackers returns to the squad after being cup tied last week. After Dan Sarginson’s man of the match display against Catalans it will be interesting to see if Watson keeps him at full back or shuffles his back line.

Despite Hull’s up and down form since the resumption of the season they still have a team packed with talent. Marc Sneyd and Jake Connor have the talent to make any team tick. The back line is full of power and pace. Hull also posses a very exciting crop of young stars with Connor Wynne, Jordan Lane, Brad Fash and Jordan Johnstone.

An intriguing encounter awaits and the action gets under way behind closed doors at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium this Thursday at 6pm.

Stay safe and enjoy the match everyone.

Paul Whiteside.