Hull FC 36 Castleford Tigers 10: Gentle approach for Grand Final chances

Gentle was pleased after seeing his side end their regular season with this comfortable victory against Castleford Tigers at the KC Stadium.

After Jordan Thompson’s try had cancelled out Willie Manu’s opening score for Hull, the hosts pulled clear with 24 unanswered points, including tries for Richard Horne, Danny Houghton and Mark O’Meley in a dominant 10-minute spell for Hull.

Hull now head into next weekend’s play-off against Huddersfield Giants in good form having scored 106 points in their last two games and Gentle believes his side can be genuine Grand Final contenders.

“I think there will be one or two dark horses in the play-offs and I don’t see any reason why we can’t be one of those sides,” said Gentle. “A whole new competition starts now, it is anybody’s. There are four games left and I can’t see any reasons why we can’t play in all four of them to the Grand Final. I’ve seen enough from our blokes to suggest we can be one of those dark horses.

“It was hard in this game to find some rhythm with all the penalties and stoppages and I was frustrated watching the game. There was enough there from us for me though. To only concede two tries was pleasing and I was happy with the defensive hit out that we had, we were after a team performance and we got one.”

While Hull are heading to the play-offs, Castleford are heading for their holidays having seen a poor season end with another defeat.

The Tigers showed glimpses of what they are capable of, with Rangi Chase – a Hull target for 2013 – pulling the strings and getting late reward through Oliver Holmes’s score.

But coach Ian Millward admits his side have to improve in all areas next year, both on and off the field. “We have a lot of work to do in all aspects of the club. Myself and my staff are up for that and as a club we need to learn why we’ve got in this situation. In all aspects of the club we need improvement,” he said.

Hull: Horne, Foster, Crooks, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Seymour, Heremaia, Watts, Houghton, Lynch, Manu, Westerman, Pitts. Substitutes: O’Meley, Aspinwall, Tickle, Green.

Castleford: Owen, Youngquest, Snitch, Thompson, Blackmore, Chase, Orr, Huby, Clark, Massey, Millington, Holmes, Hudson. Substitutes: Emmitt, Walker, Mitchell, Milner.

Referee: R Hicks (Oldham).