Super League: Radford warns Hull FC to be wary of wounded Wolves

Hull's Lee Radford, Gareth Ellis and Marc Sneyd celebrate their Challenge Cup final over Warrington last August.

Last season’s beaten Grand Finalists, who were also defeated in the Challenge Cup final by Hull last August, have lost all six games so far ahead of Saturday’s meeting between the sides.

Warrington coach Tony Smith, the former Great Britain chief who led Leeds to two Super League titles, has come under intense pressure following their disastrous start.

Hull, meanwhile, are joint-top after winning at champions Wigan Warriors last week and intend to keep up their early momentum.

But Radford said: “If you look at it, Warrington are a fantastic squad. They are going to come good at some point. There’s been talk of the sack (for Smith) this week. There was talk of the sack with (Leeds Rhinos’) Brian McDermott three weeks ago and he was sat top of the table at the weekend which is good going...

“That’s how quick it can turn around. The one thing we have to make sure of is it turns around next week for them and not this.

“Warrington are making errors at the minute, uncharacteristic errors like point-blank dropped balls that international players of their calibre didn’t make last year. But they do seem to find it time and time again now.

“That’s confidence I suppose; we have to make sure we don’t give them any excuses to get any confidence as it will only take one or two incidents in a game where things go for them and all of a sudden they get their mojo back and confidence starts building.”

Radford said Carlos Tuimavave and Fetuli Talanoa are both unlikely to be fit to return while Danny Houghton is also set to miss out due to injury but Liam Watts and Jansin Turgut are back from suspension.

On Warrington, he added: “They play quick. You have to be able to defend quick as well and, in all the big games, take your chances when they come.

“And it is a big game; a top side at their place probably just as desperate for the points as we are.”

Huddersfield Giants have called up Gene Ormsby and Sam Wood to their 19-man squad for tomorrow’s trip to Castleford Tigers, Aaron Murphy and the banned Danny Brough out.

Castleford name an unchanged 19-man squad while Leeds see Brett Delaney return from a groin injury in place of Jordan Baldwinson for Wigan’s visit.