Hull 39 Wigan Warriors 26: Shaul shines as Hull flourish against champions

It was a welcome victory for Lee Radford’s side who raced into a 24-0 lead inside the opening half-hour and won for the first time in four games to climb back up into Super League’s top-four.

Furthermore, it ended a bizarre run of eight successive home defeats against champions Wigan, their last victory here dating back to 2009.

Granted, the return of Jordan Thompson and Fetuli Talanoa neither of whom had played last Friday or Bank Holiday Monday - the latter has been absent since Easter - brought some much needed fresh legs to the hosts.

But they were well supported, in particular, by Jamie Shaul, the effervescent full-back who responded to being dropped from the England elite performance squad this week, with an all-action performance.

Young prop Masi Matongo came off the bench with a towering display, too, Jake Connor flourished at half-back before departing with a head injury and veterans Danny Washbrook and Mark Minichiello were excellent in the back-row.

It actually ended six tries apiece but Wigan - who missed five conversions and have now gone six league games without a win - did not score three of those until the final dozen minutes when they already trailed 38-14.

Hull, with Danny Houghton to the fore, were good value early on.

Australian winger Steve Michaels scored the first of his two tries inside just three minutes after great build-up play by Albert Kelly and hooker Houghton.

Minichiello, the 35-year-old who agreed a new deal this week, crossed soon after when Wigan failed to deal with Connor’s kick, Hull gaining a penalty in front of the posts as Wigan full-back Lewis Tierney led with his boot when trying to stop the Australian from scoring.

Houghton’s fine long pass sent Michaels in for his second as the hosts went 16-0 up inside the opening 21 minutes.

Connor added a penalty before Washbrook cut a lovely angle to rip through beleaguered Wigan once more and set up Houghton, the Man of Steel also omitted by Wayne Bennett this week.

Connor made it 24-0 and Liam Farrell, the England second-row making his 200th Wigan appearance, was yellow carded for dissent complaining about the veracity of the score.

Wigan did finally respond with Tom Davies scored the first of his brace in the 36th minute but their self-inflicted damage continued when Willie Isa messed around needlessly with Minichiello after a tackle to concede another penalty that Connor tagged on for a 26-4 interval lead.

Hull were reminded of Wigan’s strike quality when Liam Marshall showed remarkable acceleration to get on the outside of Shaul in the 44th minute.

At that point, early in the second period, Radford’s side came up with some frenzied plays at times when all they needed was composure.

Tierney scored after some fine offloading from Wigan but, when Nick Rawsthorne was recklessly taken out in the air, Hull moved upfield to give Shaul the opportunity to show what he could do.

The talented 24-year-old, who demonstrated some great positional play in defence, produced a lovely chip and chase to score a brilliant solo try just before the hour.

Then, when Kelly picked off George Williams’ loose kick to race 90m for his 15th try of the season soon after it was game over.

Joe Burgess, Marshall and Tom Davies all struck for Wigan in the latter stages as Hull eventually tired but Kelly’s drop goal in the middle of all that meant there was never any fear of a spectacular collapse from the hosts who venture to second-placed Salford Red Devils next Friday.

Hull FC: Shaul; Michaels, Talanoa, Tuimavave, Rawsthorne; Kelly, Connor; Green, Houghton, Thompson, Washbrook, Minichiello, Manu. Substitutes: Turgut, Downs, Fash, Matongo.

Wigan Warriors: Tierney; Davies, Forsyth, Burgess, Marshall; Willians, Leuluai; Nuuasala, McIlorum, Sutton, Wells, Farrell, Isa. Substitutes: J Tomkins, Powell, Tautai, Field.

Referee: Phil Bentham (Warrington)