THERE is nothing quite like a derby defeat on home soil to bring some clarity of thought – and a kick up the backside.
Just ask Hull-born Black and Whites stand-in skipper Danny Houghton.
Whilst others doubted their ability to leave Wakefield Wildcats with two points in the bag, he knew it was a certainty.
There had been little time for talk between the loss to Rovers and kick-off against the Wildcats, but Houghton had already sensed a change in mood within the camp.
"That game was never going to get away from us. Everyone was determined to get the two points and it felt like on the day that nothing was going to stop us getting that win," Houghton told the Mail.
"It was massive for us coming off the back of a derby defeat. There is nothing better than to get a response and to go to Wakefield – and come back from 10-0 down, was superb.
"Our character and self-belief came through and it was good to see everyone buzzing after the game.
"There is a lot of unity in the team. It was good to see and hopefully we can carry it on."
Houghton hopes Hull's 34-22 win can prove a turning point in their season, which as yet, in his own words, has been a big disappointment so far.
Similar gutsy performances have come before, notably at St Helens and then in defeat to Warrington, before a dismal defeat to Widnes.
Praise from their coach for the battling spirit in fighting back at London in the final 10 minutes was only followed by that 23-10 defeat to the Robins.
Houghton admits backing up week to week is proving a problem but, feeling they took a big step forward on Monday, he believes another win can follow today.
"We have fallen short against the so-called top teams, and Catalan are going to be pushing for the top three or top four," Houghton said.
"You have to take their scalps if you want to be up there. We have all been disappointed with the start we have had.
"People have said we have played some tough teams but we want to be one of those teams at the top. To be there you have to beat the best and we are not happy with where we are at.
"We haven't strung two games together so far, so it would be nice to get a couple of games on the spin because we need to push our noses back up the table.
"There is no better way than doing that against Catalan, who are flying at the minute, and I think we are ready this week and hopefully it will be a good result for us."
Beating a Dragons outfit already four places and five points ahead of FC is, of course, easier said than done.
Houghton points to fronting up and getting stuck in as the key to success in recent years, with Hull having won nine of 15 clashes with the Dragons in Super League.
"They are a big physical team, they are all massive blokes and in previous games we have got stuck into them a bit," he said,
"If you can do that it takes a lot out of the likes of Thomas Bosc and Leon Pryce, and we'll be looking to do that this week by fronting up in the middle.
"They then have some good strike on the edges as well, so from one to 17 we are all going to have to be on our game to get the points."
For Houghton, Super League's top tackler with 419 so far, the season is being played out with one eye on the World Cup, as he still retains hope of forcing his way into Steve McNamara's thinking.
Today, he will come up against a man with similar aims in Ian Henderson, who forced his way into the reckoning last season.
"It is everybody's goal this season to get to the top and play for England and I think that is showing in Super League," Houghton added.
"Ian is another player around that England squad so it's another game where I need to get one over him because he is in the shop window as well.
"Hopefully, if I can nullify him a bit it will take a bit out of their attack and help us towards securing a win.
"For me it is about getting my club form right and then anything on top of that will be a massive bonus."
