PETER Gentle says his Hull FC side are starting to enjoy themselves after a seventh win in eight games reinforced their early-season ambitions of being top-four contenders.
Hull picked up their biggest scalp of the season so far with a 26-16 victory at the Halliwell Jones
Stadium, thanks to two tries apiece for Tom Briscoe and Richard Whiting and a Tom Lineham score as FC came back from 10 points behind.
Eager to not let his players get ahead of themselves, despite closing the gap at the top and moving up to fifth, Gentle says only by backing up their Warrington win with derby success can Hull start to even think about considering themselves in the leading pack.
"It wasn't something we spoke about, getting that victory against a top-four side. If we win games the table takes care of itself, so we are not getting ahead of ourselves," Gentle told the Mail.
"We are enjoying it though and we've enjoyed the last couple of months.
"But just because we've beaten a top-four side we are not starting to say we are a top-four team, we know we have to back this up with a tough derby next week and that's the priority."
"It was a very pleasing performance and the boys thoroughly deserved it. It is good to see the players get their rewards with a win like this. At 16-16 it could have been anyone's game, but there was a real desire there from us."
Hull twice came back from a 10-point deficit despite being the better side throughout. A lack of composure near the Warrington try-line had threatened to cost Hull a first win against the Wolves in six attempts, before a sensational second-half effort, that saw Hull complete their last 17 sets, allowed the Black and Whites to take a stranglehold on the match.
"We were guilty first half of lacking a bit of composure. We got a bit excited," added Gentle.
"We were playing with plenty of energy and enthusiasm but we weren't playing very smart. In the second half our shape was a lot better, while defensively I thought we were terrific. The boys had been itching to play this game all week and it was hard to rein them in.
"At 10 points behind I was confident the game wasn't going to get away from us. I wasn't sure whether we were going to win or not, but I knew it wouldn't get away from us. There is a much better resolve and confidence in the group."
