Hull FC 36 Hull KR 18: Long helps Gleeson settle in quickly in derby victory

The same could be said about the centre’s best mate, Sean Long, the veteran scrum-half who ignored all the hype about Hull KR’s returning Michael Dobson to show his opposite number just how to control an absorbing match yesterday.

At 34, and back from a two-game ban, Long, who defied a half-time pain-killing injection in an injured hand, showed his usual composure, organisational skills and stellar-kicking game which proved crucial as the Airlie Birds held their nerve and overcame some magnificent resistance to gain a much-needed win.

Gleeson, though, who had not played since Wigan’s World Club Challenge defeat in February and only started training with his new team-mates this week, stepped straight into the intense atmosphere of this Hull derby and emerged having almost scored a hat-trick.

The ex-Great Britain centre applied a quality finish on the half-hour and then saw two more second-half efforts wiped off by video referee Ian Smith as Hull laid siege on the Rovers line, brilliant defence somehow denying him and Richard Whiting as a succession of steepling Long kicks peppered the luckless Sam Latus.

“We had our foot on their throats for so long but some of the last-ditch defence they came up with was unbelievable,” conceded victorious coach Richard Agar, who admitted being nervous when, despite all that pressure, Ben Cockayne’s converted try saw Rovers trailing just 22-18 with five minutes to go.

“I said to keep doing what we were doing and they’ll crack.

“Eventually they did but it was very late on.

“Glees’ was blowing at times but he looked dangerous every time he got a bit of space and caused them problems.

“That’s what world class players do and he showed with the way he took that try.”

Danny Tickle, who finished with six goals, gave them some breathing space with a 75th-minute penalty and then came the flourish.

Long shaped to add a drop goal before setting off on a familiar weaving run which ended with a marauding Willie Manu carrying three Rovers defenders on his back and somehow finding Kirk Yeaman for the centre’s second try.

Gleeson’s deft inside pass then sent Sam Obst racing away in the final seconds for Tom Briscoe to grab his second try and leave Hull fans ecstatic.

Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell attended the post-match press conference to try and bring some clarity to the on-going Willie Mason situation although it seems as confused as ever.

The expensive Australian forward was among the 19,795 crowd yesterday, sat on the Rovers bench despite being de-registered ahead of the game to facilitate Dobson’s return and also in the wake of speculation about interest form Toulon RU.

Hudgell admitted all the off-field problems with their marquee signing must have “distracted” the side ahead of yesterday’s intriguing battle and he accepted some responsibility for possibly making a mistake with Mason’s signing.

Rovers announced the grandiose capture last September amid a wave of publicity but he did not arrive in England until last month owing to visa and passport delays.

The club were led to believe the 31-year-old was entitled to a Tongan passport – meaning he would not have to go on their already full overseas quota – and signed him on that proviso but a change in government has seen that document still to appear.

He took Dobson’s place on the quota but, with the scrum-half now fit again after ankle surgery, Mason was de-registered on Thursday having also reportedly been spotted talking to the Toulon president in France last week.

“If it’s true and he was in France a week ago in between training sessions then clearly it’s an issue isn’t it?” said Hudgell, who said the club had yet to speak to the player or his agent.

“It’s an interesting thing the Willie Mason circus – the situation may change tonight, next week or next month but the bottom line from our perspective is the club is bigger.

“In my own mind I think what happened this week had to have some element of distraction but the players rose above it and showed fantastic character and commitment.

“In some respects it’s been an awful week but things change very quickly and in the bigger scheme I think the club will move forward.

“I’m not going to mitigate. Over the last few years the club has taken a few gambles to get to where we are and have been successful in some respects.

“With Willie we understood he needed a passport and we had it on good authority he’d get one but it hasn’t happened.

“Ultimately, as chairman, I need to hold my hands up and say at the moment it’s not worked out.”

Hull led 16-12 at the break after Briscoe burst through midfield to set up Yeaman, Long dummied over for a highly-contentious “benefit-of-the-doubt” decision and Gleeson got his debut try.

Blake Green’s subtle pass put Matt Cook arcing over for Rovers while Kris Welham continued his excellent try-scoring form as he latched onto Dobson’s long pass.

But Long’s quality wide pass for Whiting in the 64th minute extended Hull’s advantage and Rovers, despite their amazing rearguard effort, could not stem the tide.

Hull FC: Phelps, Whiting, Gleeson, Yeaman, T. Briscoe, Horne, Long, O’Meley, Houghton, Moa, Manu, Tickle, Fitzgibbon. Substitutes: Obst, Westerman, Dowes, Lauaki.

Hull KR: Cockayne, Latus, Welham, Webster, Fox, Green, Dobson, Vella, Hodgson, Clinton, Cook, Galea, Murrell. Substitutes: Lovegrove, Taylor, Netherton, Fisher.

Referee: P Bentham (Warrington).