PETER Gentle says the change in approach and attitude from his players means Leeds Rhinos will find Hull FC a much tougher prospect this week.
Gentle lamented the way his side fell away at Headingley in round one after staying with the champions for the opening 60 minutes before falling to a 36-6 defeat.
Back in February, Hull put the loss of their captain Gareth Ellis in the warm-up to one side and held Leeds 6-6 at half-time, only to lose focus as the game got away from them in convincing fashion.
It was a similar scenario later that month when a half-time lead at home to Warrington became a 24-10 defeat.
Gentle says his side have come on leaps and bounds since the early rounds and points to the internal policing of his players as the key factor in their new desire.
Highlighting last weekend, where Hull scored three tries to win the derby, as one which would have got away, Gentle believes Leeds will find Hull a different proposition.
"Earlier in the year we held them for 60 minutes, but we've matured and come on leaps and bounds since then," he told the Mail.
"It is unique since I've been here, the way the players have taken it upon themselves, the discipline, they pull each other up if it's not going right, they are policing each other.
"They are always putting their name down now on the extras board, they want to do more and their team-mates are letting them know if they are not."
Gentle admits he's taken a back seat in terms of policing the attitude and application of his players, leaving it to his squad, both young and old, to make sure everyone is working as hard as possible.
The return to the squad of Ellis has been a decisive factor, with Gentle also pointing to the togetherness of his group.
"Nothing beats hard work, they are working hard for each other and they don't want to let each other down," said Gentle.
"It has to mean something for the players, to not let your mate down, and that is where we have come on in leaps and bounds. They will sacrifice things for each other."
Hull head into the Leeds game with two changes to their 19-man squad, with Richard Horne and Jason Crookes replaced by Joe Westerman and Ben Galea.
Horne was sent for further scans yesterday on a tendon injury in his foot.
Hull are not yet putting a time frame on the injury, although a month on the sidelines seems likely.
Hull FC 19-man squad: Bowden, Briscoe, Crooks, Ellis, Galea, Green, Holdsworth, Heremaia, Houghton, Johnson, Lineham, Lynch, McDonnell, O'Meley, Pitts, Watts, Westerman, Whiting, Yeaman.
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