Hull need to balance attacking flair with caution

Along with depleted Huddersfield Giants’ stunning victory at Wigan, Hull’s breathless 20-20 draw against Warrington Wolves was one of the major stories of the opening weekend.

The manner in which they looked to regularly give width and fluency to their game was a real plus for frustrated supporters who have so often lamented the lack of enticing football in recent campaigns.

Incoming coach Peter Gentle has certainly promoted a more inventive style of play as last season’s league leaders found to their cost.

However, in reality, a little more pragmatism towards the end of Sunday’s contest would have seen Hull emerge with victory.

Instead, when leading 20-16, they tried too many extravagant moves and were made to pay as Warrington capitalised on their handling errors to equalise in the 78th minute.

It could have been a salutary lesson to the Black and Whites but their dynamic England Knights hooker Houghton insists they will not revert to conservatism because of one disappointment.

“We do feel like we dropped a point and feel like we had them on the ropes at times,” he said.

“You could say we pressed too much near the end but we want to try and create some flair in the team. We want to try and push those passes when they are on.

“At times maybe they weren’t but we don’t want to stop trying to create chances and stop pushing that pass.

“Sometimes it will be there and, when they stick, it will work. We just need to fix it up.”

Undoubtedly, despite being in the embryonic stages of Gentle’s revolution, there are already promising glimpses of a more rounded Hull FC in 2012.

A greater willingness in defence was evident while Andy Lynch offered steel in the middle and Tony Martin was rock-solid at centre.

Houghton did his best to vary their kicking game but that should improve dramatically once Brett Seymour returns from minor knee surgery.

It was perhaps inevitable the scrum-half signing from New Zealand Warriors would miss the opener given the club’s horrendous recent history in keeping its half-backs fit.

He could, though, yet be available for the testing trip to Perpignan on Saturday evening.

However, as well as developing their kicking repertoire – a long-time problem at the KC Stadium – if Hull are going to advance and challenge this season, they must eradicate the elementary mistakes which handed Warrington two tries.

No side can dare to be genuine contenders if they continually spill kick-offs or fumble coming away from their own line.

Houghton, 23, admitted: “Peter talked about that at full-time on Sunday. Our completion throughout the friendly games and into the Warrington match wasn’t good enough.

“We have to complete, especially against the better sides. We need to pick that up and hopefully we’ll do that in training and get it right for next week.

“We’ve improved each week but will need to do so again for Catalan. I think they are the underdogs for this year and could be the team to beat. But we go with confidence and thinking we can go there and get the points.”

Central to Hull’s cause will be Houghton, who displayed a mixture of his usual tenacity and clever guile in steering them around the field at the weekend.

He delivered an all-encompassing display, something the Hull faithful have grown to expect from the hard-working East Hull product since his 2007 debut.

His endurance over 80 minutes will be called on again given another capture – New Zealand Warriors hooker Aaron Heremaia – is sidelined for a month.

“I’ve got to put a stint in for the team and I’ll do that until he’s back,” said Houghton, Super League’s top defender last season with 1,060 tackles.

“But, when he is back, I think it’ll bring the best out of both of us and the sooner the better for me because towards the end of the game your play does just start to rot away. You’re just not effective.”

Houghton, who was handed his debut by Peter Sharp and has played the last three years under Richard Agar, is relishing the new approach in East Yorkshire.

“Peter’s freshened the place up and he’s brought a lot of new stuff like you see in attack,” he said.

“We’re starting to get things together and clicking really well. Hopefully, we can start racking a few points up.”

Hull KR insist they remain committed to developing their Craven Park ground despite speculation linking them with a move to the KC Stadium.

Rovers chairman Neil Hudgell had failed to dampen rumours over a possible ground-share with Hull City and Super League arch-rivals Hull FC when he vented his frustration over continuing delays to the planned new £8.2m North Stand at Craven Park.

He suggested the directors may not continue bankrolling the club beyond this season unless serious progress is made, but Hudgell emerged yesterday from talks with Hull City Council leader Steve Brady and East Hull MP Karl Turner in optimistic mood.

The North Stand project – first proposed in 2008 – has been beset by delays in securing funding from the European regional development agency.