Jake Arthur pulled off an absolute stunner, nailing a drop goal in the final five minutes to give Hull FC a wild 27-26 comeback victory over the Catalans Dragons. This wasn’t just any win, either. It was a dramatic take-down of former coach John Cartwright’s squad and only Hull FC’s second Super League win in their last ten games. Talk about snatching victory from the jaws of… well, not defeat, but definitely a tough spot.
The Early Punch and Dragon’s Fire
Hull FC looked like they were cruising at Stade Gilbert Brutus early on. Logan Moy punched it in just three minutes in, taking a pass from James Bell and cutting inside for an easy conversion by Aidan Sezer. Then Lewis Martin, who must absolutely hate the Dragons because he scored against them for the fourth straight game, got his try in the 13th minute after Ethan O’Neill knocked back Arthur’s kick and Arthur Romano dished it off. You thought it was going to be an easy night? Nah, not in this league! Catalans fired back hard, with Charlie Staines showing off some quick feet for their first try at 18 minutes. Sezer then kicked two penalties for Hull, one after Alrix Da Costa made a head-high challenge on O’Neill, and another when Tommy Makinson tackled Harvey Barron in the air. But the Dragons kept coming, with Toby Sexton beating two tackles to set up Kruise Leeming, cutting Hull’s lead to a mere two points.
The Comeback Grind and Arthur’s Heroics
The game flipped on its head completely after halftime. Davy Litten had a try for Hull ruled out because he didn’t ground the ball, and Catalans wasted no time making them pay. Leeming delivered a beautiful kick with the outside of his right boot for Edenn Rogers-Smith to touch down in the 46th minute, giving the Dragons the lead. Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet added a penalty, then Leo Darrelatour picked up a pass off his laces for a try in the right corner, stretching that lead even further. Things looked grim, but Hull FC wasn’t done. Prop Harvie Hill put the team on his back in the 63rd minute, with a solo try where he dummied and weaved his way through. Then, five minutes later, Aidan Sezer converted his own try to level the score. That set the stage, right?
This nail-biter went right down to the wire, just like interim head coach Andy Last told Sky Sports. He was “really proud for the playing group,” emphasizing how they answered questions about their “personality and our performance when it gets tough.” Last pointed out that going down in the second half and “then find the extra gear when we needed it, with that composed play by Jake Arthur at the end, was great.” And speaking of Arthur, Last called him “outstanding,” saying that coming up with a “big moment like that shows what a composed player he is.” This win isn’t just a number on the scoreboard, it’s a massive shot of confidence for a team that desperately needed it. That kind of grit is something to build on, for sure.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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