Andre Savelio has previewed this week’s clash against Wakefield Trinity, and has explained the improved fitness of both himself and the Black & White squad has played a role in Hull’s improved defence so far in 2021.
FC remain unbeaten following their opening three games of the new Betfred Super League season, boasting the second best defence in the league.
Hull will look to return to winning ways this Friday though against Wakefield following Sunday’s draw against Warrington.
Looking back on last weekend’s game, Savelio said: “It was an intense game – a lot of the boys in our side mate a lot of tackles so there are some sore bodies this week.
“If you look back a year ago, we probably wouldn’t have stayed in that game and we wouldn’t have stuck with them for eighty minutes so that is a marker of how far we’ve come.
“Our effort for each other in defence was immense, and that all comes from that team-first mentality.”
On the individual efforts within the squad, including on Danny Houghton’s mammoth and record-breaking tackling effort, he continued: “85 tackles is unheard of. A lot of people don’t appreciate that sort of stuff until after the game, because you don’t realise how many you’ve made until you come off the pitch.
“Myself and Joe Cator was over fifty, Ben McNamara and Josh Bowden were both over forty. So those effort levels were immense.”
On his own fitness so far in 2021, he added: “I did a lot of knee rehab and both knees feel good, and I’ve played eighty minutes in all four games. I feel much better for that too – I feel fitter.
“A lot of people like to read into the stats, but the one I look at is how far I’ve ran in the game, but I’m running further that I was last season.
“I’ve been taking supplements like fish oils to help the knee joints. It gets niggly from time to time but that’s just wear and tear.”
Looking ahead to this week’s game, Savelio said the squad have the right mindset to put in a strong performance this week despite the short turnaround.
“It’s more mindset that anything. Obviously we won’t be training as much this week but it’s a case of just going out and putting in the same defensive efforts as we have in recent weeks.
“Five days is enough time to recover so there is no excuses.”
On Wakefield, he continued: “They have some strong ball carriers. With Kelepi Tanginoa, Bill Tupou and David Fifita, they have some players who are really hard to handle.
“They have plenty of players that can hurt you if you don’t get up as a defensive line.”
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