Opposition Report - Hull FC

Leeds Rhinos play their opening home match of the 2023 season this Friday as Rohan Smith's side face Hull FC live in front of the Sky Sports cameras, kick-off 8pm.

Headingley is set to expect a bumper crowd as all tickets for the Global East Stand terrace have already been snapped up and seated tickets are in high demand in all three stands. Buy online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk, over the phone on 0371 423 1315 and from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop (Opening Hours).

Preview our opponents Hull FC below:

2023 so far...

A new coach means a new beginning at Hull FC as Tony Smith swapped Craven Park for the MKM Stadium in 2023. The former Leeds boss hasn't wasted any time in getting the black and whites up to speed and Sunday's 32-30 win over Castleford was the perfect start to the new season.

A rampant first half saw Hull record five tries, thanks to wingers Darnell McIntosh and Adam Swift. New signings Tex Hoy and Jake Clifford were impressive on their Super League debuts too, and look to be players for fans to watch out for in 2023, plus former Leeds duo Brad Dwyer and Liam Sutcliffe had good first outings as they combined to put Sutcliffe over for his first try in Hull colours.

Danny Houghton's score on 45 minutes put the home side 30-6 ahead but former Hull boss Lee Radford saw his Tigers side rally to close the gap to two points with five minutes remaining. Despite the a tight ending, the Airlie Birds held on to get their fourth consecutive round one win in Super League.

Although previous Super League games at Headingley has seen the home side take the most wins, Hull have been a thorn in Leeds' side in recent years. A tough run of fixtures follows too as they travel to Perpignan to clash with the Dragons before returning home to face Salford and then the newly crowned World Champions, St Helens, in round five.

Next five fixtures

Round 2 vs Leeds Rhinos (Headingley, KO 8pm)

Round 3 vs Catalans Dragons (Stade Gilbert Brutus, KO 7pm)

Round 4 vs Salford Red Devils (MKM Stadium, KO 3pm)

Round 5 vs St Helens (Totally Wicked Stadium, KO 8pm)

Round 6 vs Leigh Leopards (MKM Stadium, KO 3pm)

Tale of the tape

Individual stats

Tries

Darnell McIntosh and Adam Swift (Two tries)

Goals

Jake Clifford (Four goals)

Metres

Liam Sutcliffe (134 metres)

Tackles

Danny Houghton (39 tackles)

Carries

Tex Hoy (19 carries)

Team stats

Round 1:

• Six tries
• 53% possession
• 1461 metres made
• 269 tackles
• 91% completion rate

*All stats supplied by OPTA

Previous matches

Games against Leeds have been nothing short of entertaining and this week's fixture is the 61st meeting between the clubs in the summer era. Leeds have the superior record with 42 wins compared to Hull's 17 wins, but most of them have come on home soil.

Out of the 28 Super League games played at Headingley, the Rhinos have won 20 of them including a 12 match winning streak between 2008 and 2018.

The classic

When fans flocked to Headingley to see Leeds and Hull clash in 1993, little did they think they'd see a combined 72 points scored.

Having drawn against Wakefield in the league the week before, Leeds were looking for their first win since the start of the month, while Hull were on a run of three straight defeats under Royce Simmons. Despite this, the black and whites pushed Leeds all the way, thanks to a hat trick from full back Richard Gay.

Leeds had Ellery Hanley and Vince Fawcett to thank for the majority of their tries as the duo scored two tries each, while Simon Irving added 14 points with one try and five goals.

The draw

The 2003 season saw Leeds and Hull record their only draw between the two sides in the Super League era. Leeds had won the all three home meetings against the black and whites during the previous season but it was Hull winger Colin Best that got the visitors quickly on the board at Headingley.

Steve Prescott's two goals before half time made the score 8-0 but the Rhinos produced a big second half performance to lead; Willie Poching and Chris McKenna scoring tries and Kevin Sinfield kicking a goal to record ten unanswered points. A late penalty goal by Prescott though meant the sides shared the points.

The last meeting

Last time out at Headingley, Hull FC dealt the Rhinos a major blow as Jake Connor helped the black and whites to a 31-4 win.

The visitors took an 18-0 lead at the break with two tries from Connor as well as one from Swift. Andre Savelio and Joe Lovodua added scores after the break, while Tom Briscoe and Liam Sutcliffe grabbed consolations for the Rhinos.

2023 Squad Numbers

1. Tex Hoy
2. Adam Swift
3. Carlos Tuimavave
4. Liam Sutcliffe
5. Darnell McIntosh
6. Jake Trueman
7. Jake Clifford
8. Ligi Sao
9. Danny Houghton
10. Chris Satae
11. Andre Savelio
12. Jordan Lane
13. Brad Fash
14. Joe Lovodua
15. Joe Cator
16. Kane Evans
17. Cameron Scott

19. Ben McNamara
20. Jack Brown
21. Connor Wynne
22. Mitieli Vulikijapani
23. Josh Griffin
24. Matty Laidlaw
25. Davy Litten
26. Harvey Barron
27. Will Gardiner
28. Denive Balmforth
29. Jamie Shaul
30. Scott Taylor
31. Nick Staveley
32. Charlie Severs
33. Brad Dwyer
34. Kye Armstrong
35. Lewis Martin
36. Manoa Wacokecoke

Connections

During the Super League era, there are plenty of players and coaches that have been part of both Leeds and Hull FC teams down the years. Here are just a few that you might remember...

• Tony Smith - An integral part of creating Leeds' golden decade, Smith took Leeds to two Grand Final wins during his head coaching tenure. Following seasons with Warrington and Hull KR, leading Hull FC is his newest challenge.
• Gareth Ellis - A legend in Leeds and Hull, Ellis has been a won silverware with both clubs. Having won Grand Final and World Club titles at the Rhinos, he captained Hull to back to back Challenge Cup wins in 2016 and 2017.
• Tom Briscoe - Briscoe was a serial try scorer at both clubs over a 15 year spell. Coming through the academy ranks at the black and whites, he later joined Leeds to win three Challenge Cups and two Grand Finals. He also set the Cup Final record for most tries scored by a single player.
• Marcus Bai - Arriving from Melbourne in 2004, Bai was an instant hit at Headingley on his way to winning a Grand Final and World Club Challenge. He had a brief spell at Hull in 2007 too.
• Gareth Raynor - Raynor came through the Rhinos' youth pathway in the early 2000s but found a home in Hull, where he had two spells at the club.
• Lee Jackson - A 1999 Challenge Cup winner with the Rhinos, hooker Jackson joined Terry Newton as two of the competition's mos threatening hookers. He joined Hull FC in 2001 and made 46 appearances over two seasons.
• Liam Sutcliffe - Another product of Leeds' academy, Sutcliffe featured in Grand Finals and Challenge Cup finals over nine years in blue and amber. He signed for Hull at the end of 2022 and returns to Headingley as a visitor on Friday.

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How to follow the game

Tickets on sale

Leeds Rhinos will return to Headingley Stadium next Friday for their Betfred Super League Round Two clash with Hull FC, live on Sky Sports, kick off 8pm.

The Rhinos are expecting a bumper crowd for the Round Two clash with Global East Stand terrace tickets all snapped up already and seating tickets in high demand on all three sides of the ground.

Tickets for Friday’s game are available online at tickets.therhinos.co.uk, over the phone on 0371 423 1315 and from Leeds Rhinos Club Shop (Opening Hours).

Remember if you buy before midnight on Thursday you can save £3 on the matchday admission price. For more information, click here.

TV/Radio broadcast