Brett Hodgson has looked ahead to tomorrow’s crucial Dacia Magic Weekend clash against Leeds Rhinos, explaining he expects a response from his side following Monday’s defeat.
FC are looking to turn around their fortunes of late when they take on their West Yorkshire rivals at St James’ Park tomorrow evening.
Backed by more supporters than any other club at the event, the clash against the Rhinos is set to bring day one to a close as the twosides battle for a spot in the play-offs.
Looking ahead to the match, Hodgson said: “It’’s obviously very important we get a result, we know what’s at stake at the end of 80 minutes, we know as a group we haven’t been at our best for a couple of games now – and particularly after the Hull KR game, I don’t think that we managed to lift up to the level that we needed and
“We’re gonna get out there and make sure that we’re playing to near our potential to give ourselves any chance of winning the game.
“We know that we’re going to have a lot of travelling supporters, which is brilliant, and it’s going to be a huge atmosphere – as a player and as a coach you wanna to be in these games and it’s the best chance to put out your best performance as well.”
On the injury front, Hodgson revealed that both Jamie Shaul and Carlos Tuimavave were set to return to action, but explained the current injury situation with a number of Hull’s forwards.
“Jamie and Carlos are progressing, whether or not they’re going to be fit or not is yet to be determined, so I would suggest that we’ll name both those guys in the squad and give them up until game day to prove their fitness.
“Unfortunately though, Jack Brown has got some bad news about his shoulder; he has partially torn his labrum in his shoulder, so that’s him done for the year as well – we’re not having much luck injury-wise. But he will go in for an operation probably next week.
“Scott Taylor has got a back issue that he picked up in the Hull KR game, we’ll give him every chance, but it’s doubtful at the minute.”
After a disappointing result against Salford earlier this week, Hodgson said he needs his best side possible to stand up to the challenge of the Rhinos, and has the reaction he wanted amongst the playing group on the training field since Monday’s result.
“We need our best team out there to ask as many questions as we can of the good defensive team, and we need to get back to the good standards we know we can play, and that’s the challenge. I think in particular against Salford at the weekend was well below par and the players have had a good discussion today around how we can fix that and I’m looking forward to a response from the playing group no doubt.
“I’ve seen the reactions and the responses, the messages that were given today in the ownership of the playing group, I think that’s important that the players own their own issues in terms of how they performed and what can be better. As coaches you know we’ll have a look at Leeds – we know their strengths, we’ve played them twice already this year, they’ve been a really close contest so it’ll be a tough challenge but one I’m sure the occasion we’ll get up for and I’m really looking forward to the game.”
On how he thinks his side can get the better of the Rhinos, he continued: “I think if our effort’s good around kicks, tries, keeping pressure, escorting, working from the inside, line speed – you know all those things that can help you perform better at better levels, they’re the things that will quickly turn that confidence and we’ll get on the front foot a little bit more and we’ll be able to play a little bit more attack in rugby and we’ve got some skill in the players obviously that can create opportunities so, ultimately though we’ve gotta be better in that area, you know, things to be switched.
“We have to prove it to ourselves that we can do what we’ve spoken about for a number of weeks now, and again it’s only been two weeks now since the Hull KR game so, that’s not that far away that we performed to that level that we know we can, but, over these last two games we haven’t been at that standard and the players are really disappointed with that and we’re looking forward to changing that quickly.”
Hodgson looked at the threats the Rhinos pose for the Airlie Birds, having already taken on the side twice this season, being on either end of the scoreline in the two games.
“They’re a great team and they’re well coached. They’ve got a lot of players at the moment that are potentially out of position; Kruise Leeming obviously in the halves. Rob Lui is back which helps them, but, again it’s about looking after ourselves this weekend and getting back to that defensive resolve that we’ve had in patches in the past couple of weeks but just not for the 80 minutes. Against Leeds you need to be at your best for 80 minutes.”
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