Hull FC 38-12 Huddersfield: Fetuli Talanoa treble sees off Giants
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 01/02/18 11:27pm
Fetuli Talanoa scored an 18-minute hat-trick to ensure Hull FC travelled to Australia with a Betfred Super League opening round 38-12 win over Huddersfield at the KCOM Stadium.
The Black and Whites depart on Friday in preparation for the first Super League match to take place outside of Europe when they face Wigan in Wollongong in the second round of fixtures.
Hull take on St George Illawarra in the World Club Series in Sydney the following week and will be buoyed by a scintillating second-half performance where they scored 28 unanswered points to dismantle the visitors.
The boot of Marc Sneyd put the hosts 4-0 up but quickfire tries from Ryan Hinchcliffe and Ukuma Ta'ai put the Giants in control before Albert Kelly crossed to reduce the deficit to 12-10 just before half-time.
Talanoa grabbed two quick scores to regain the lead for Hull before Jake Connor haunted his former team with a try. The Tongan winger got his third with Jamie Shaul rounding off the scoring as Sneyd finished with seven goals to earn Lee Radford's side a convincing win.
Huddersfield struggled to contain the Hull's aggressive start and gave away four penalties inside the opening 10 minutes, with Sneyd converting two to put the hosts 4-0 ahead.
However, a rare foray in the Black and Whites' half led to the first try of the match when Hinchcliffe powered his way over from close range to put the Giants 6-4 up after 15 minutes.
The visitors soon extended their advantage three minutes later when Hull gave away a penalty before Adam O'Brien's grubber kick was pounced on by Ta'ai to move 12-4 in front.
Rick Stone's side continued to apply the pressure as the hosts were penned into their own half with Jake Mamo, on his return from a lengthy spell on the sidelines, going close, but the full-back was at fault for letting Hull back into the match.
The Australian was unhappy from a big hit by Connor and shoved the former Giants centre to the ground while in possession to give away a penalty on his own 20-metre line and after another Huddersfield infringement, Kelly crashed over to reduce the gap to two points at half-time.
A huge 40-20 from Sneyd set the foundation for Hull to regain the lead three minutes into the second half through Talanoa, who squeezed in at the corner to dot down.
Sneyd was at the heart of the home side's attack and he linked up with Talanoa once more with a perfectly-weighted kick for the winger to touch down his second of the match, with the half-back kicking his fifth goal to give put Hull 22-12 ahead.
