Mistakes proving costly for Hull FC, says Danny Houghton

Vice-captain Danny Houghton looked dumbfounded once more after Friday’s agonising late 26-25 defeat to Wigan Warriors.

It was the second time in as many weeks they had got themselves into a winning position at the KC Stadium only to fall short having done similarly against Castleford Tigers.

That night they had opened up a 24-22 lead only to ship nine points in the closing stages and against Wigan it was even more heartbreaking.

Hull had battled back from 20-6 down just before the hour mark to actually lead 24-20 before Josh Charnley’s try levelled things up.

They then traded drop-goals before Hull made a glaring error, Liam Watts attempting an offload in front of his own posts with just a couple of minutes remaining.

It went straight to a Wigan man and Matty Smith slotted the match-winning drop-goal with only seconds remaining.

England Knights hooker Houghton admitted: “We gave ourselves a real chance against Castleford and again here but there was too many individual errors.

“They are costing us at the minute. We’re doing loads in the game to get the win but individual errors are costing us.

“It’s back to the drawing board really.”

Scoring three tries in eight minutes against a side of Wigan’s class showed no little skill but character, too, as they almost rescued the situation.

“That’s the team,” added Houghton.

“Our character and effort for each other is second to none.

“But we just can’t keep affording to make those mistakes. It costs you when playing a team like Wigan. They nail you.”

The 27-year-old insists no one holds prop Watts to blame for the defeat which leaves big-spending Hull with two wins – against Salford and Catalans – from their opening four fixtures.

“It wasn’t just that one; it’s right through the game where we’ve gifted Wigan field position with penalties and errors,” he said.

“Wattsy had a cracker of a game there and it was just a little slip-up at the end but the type of kid Wattsy is he’ll bounce back. He’ll be fine. He’ll be sweet.”

Hull, who finished a disappointing eighth last term, head to Super League leaders Widnes Vikings on Thursday night for a televised game against opponents who picked up their fourth win from five with Friday’s 30-16 success over Hull KR.

Houghton, who has amassed more than 200 games for his hometown club since debuting for Hull in 2007, admitted: “They are flying high and are red hot at the moment.

“They’re brilliant at home as well. We’re going to have to go there and flip these narrow defeats right on their head.

“We don’t want to be in that position again where we’re looking up (the table).

“We want to be at the top. We need to spin it on its head quicker rather than later.”

There is an argument that last season, Hull could easily have been vanquished by more than 40 in the same situation they found themselves in against Wigan on Friday, but Houghton says that improvement in solidity is nothing to cling on to.

“Not really,” he said. “We don’t want to keep getting beaten by two points.

“We’ve always had character, we have each other’s backs and we hang in games – we stay in there and stay in there.

“But the biggest thing to come out of Friday and last week is that we need to start turning those into victories and doing it soon.”

One of the obvious plus points for Hull this term has been the stellar form of full-back Jamie Shaul who has scored four tries so far.

The 23-year-old, who struggled for a regular place last season, did not cross on Friday but was a constant thorn in Wigan’s side with his pace and guile coming into the line.

Houghton said: “He’s flying. He’s a great kid.

“He works hard on his game and is starting to create for his centres and wingers, too, so he’s added that string to his bow.

“It’s exciting for him there and he’s looking really sharp.”

Hull hope to have Kiwi second-row Frank Pritchard – one of their star signings in the winter – back for the trip to Widnes after he was a late withdrawal from their game against Wigan with a shoulder issue.