Wigan Warriors showed exactly why they are the Betfred Super League champions at the MKM Stadium with a comfortable victory over Hull FC, but the reality for the Black & Whites reaches far beyond the 36-12 scoreline, as they were ruthlessly exposed by the best team in the business.

The team that John Cartwright put on the pitch against a side who were looking for revenge was absolutely ripe for the picking off by the champions, because they had too many square pegs in round holes.

At the start of this season, Hull’s starting back row consisted of Jordan Lane and Jed Cartwright, however both are currently nursing long term injuries, with no sign of an imminent return, certainly in the case of broken arm victim Lane.

The normal back up for them would be Brad Fash, primarily a prop, but who has played in the back row on several occasions, however he is also long term injured with a calf muscle injury, beyond him you have to delve into Hull’s reserves for natural back row options in Will Kirby and Zach Jebson, both of which have had first team experience, but were not helped by the experiences they went through in 2024.

With Carty unwilling, quite correctly, to expose them too much again to Super League action, especially with the upcoming showpiece Magic Weekend, Hull’s options in the back row are now severely limited.

In recent times, Centre’s Zak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain have filled in as emergency back rowers and on Sunday, with Chamberlain on the bench, it was the turn of prop Jack Ashworth to try his hand in the back row.

Another problem that is impacted by this, is that Jordan Rapana now has a groin injury, another Centre who is unable to play for 2-4 weeks, while both starting Centre’s are being used in the back row, therefore another limiting change was required on Sunday and will be required again at least for the Airlie Birds fixture with Huddersfield Giants.

With the coach unwilling to risk players like Jebson and Kirby, one would imagine that specialist Centre Ryan Westerman is also very unlikely to feature unless things reach a critical level, but there is perhaps a light at the end of the Magic Weekend tunnel.

Fortunately, Sam Eseh Jr can return to first team action in Newcastle, having had to sit out the game against his parent club, but unfortunately Liam Watts and experienced back rower Oliver Holmes are both still some way off a return.

However, with a weekend off after Newcastle, it does give more recovery time for some of these players, from which the club can only benefit, before they visit Leeds Rhinos in the middle of May.

The current thought is that Jordan Rapana is likely to be fit for the visit to AMT Headingley, although not absolutely guaranteed and thankfully the Black & Whites have no new injury concerns after the game against Matt Peet’s side.

Written by Ian Judson (site contributor & Hull FC fan)