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Andy Lynch: 'Anything less than 80-minute display from Hull unacceptable'

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A YEAR on from departing the Etihad Stadium with that sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, it's clear to see the manner of last year's Magic Weekend derby defeat still rankles with Andy Lynch.

While fingers were pointed in the direction of referee Steve Ganson, after he missed a blatant forward pass for Michael Dobson's late try, there's no such blame from Lynch.

Leading by 14 points with 12 minutes to go, it was Hull's own failings that contributed as much as anything to a galling defeat. And Lynch knows it.

While the captain's armband that he sported last year no longer adorns him, the former Bradford prop is still a leader.

When he speaks others listen. And when he says a similar derby defeat this year is unacceptable, his words leave his team-mates acutely aware of what is needed.

"Last year proved you have to play for 80 minutes," explains Lynch.

"We went all the way last week against Warrington, but last year we probably played for 79 and a half minutes and just came up short at the end. And it wasn't good enough.

"This year it's not acceptable to do the same again and we'll look to put in a full 80 minutes like last week. We've seen what the rewards are."

Hull's victory at Warrington in the last round brought with it not just two points but also a belief, both inside and outside the Hull camp, that the Black and Whites may just be the real deal this year.

It's a belief that engulfed the club at the start of the season, but one which can now be held with some substance to it.

Having pushed league-leaders Wigan close, before ultimately coming away empty handed, victory at Warrington brought with it the belief Hull can match the league's best, if they keep their focus.

Having been in games with Leeds and Warrington earlier in the season before being blown away late on, it's that asset of their game in particular which has pleased Lynch.

"We all had to believe we could do it against a top team," he adds.

"Going back to the play-offs last year, and probably the start of this season, the last 20 minutes of games has killed us.

"Probably the start of the game as well, at times, but we changed things around at Warrington, all dug in deep and that last 15 minutes was really tough. It was an end-to-end game and a grind all the way through.

"It could have gone either way so it does make a change for us to stick in there and get the result.

"It now gives us some belief for the next few weeks."

Belief has not been an issue for Hull in recent weeks on the back of an impressive run of results that have put a more polished glint on Hull's season so far.

The Black and Whites will start as favourites against the Robins as they bid for a first win of the season against their rivals, and indeed a first-ever win at the Magic Weekend against KR after four previous defeats.

For Lynch, that favourites tag means nothing and he admits Hull's previous form doesn't matter on derby day.

"Everyone can say what they want about Rovers but coming into a big derby at a big stadium, all odds go out of the window. It's about who turns up best on the day," adds Lynch.

"Rovers will be confident and they'll be looking at making it two from two against us. We know we have to be at our best, both defensively and offensively, to compete.

"Rovers came through the middle last time and had some success, so they'll probably try that again. But they can shift the ball wide too so from one to 17 we have to be on our game.

"It was a solid team performance from us at Warrington last week, but we know we can get better and we have to get better.

"Week by week I think we are getting better and we've just got to keep improving.

"We can't rest on our laurels because there are some real tough games coming up, first of all this massive game against Hull KR."

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Andy Lynch: 'Anything less than 80-minute display from Hull unacceptable'


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