IT was supposed to be a shot at a redemption, an opportunity to put right the wrongs of the previous week. Instead Hull FC's test against the reigning champions proved to be another step backwards for a side devoid of confidence.
Looking like an imitation of the tough unit that epitomised the early weeks of the campaign, Hull were outclassed and outgunned in every department in a 44-16 home defeat by a depleted Wigan.
Having bemoaned the lack of effort after their capitulation against Wakefield last week, coach Lee Radford had called for a performance built upon enthusiasm and grunt.
The enthusiasm may have been there, but the quality in offence and defence was sorely lacking, with too many soft tries conceded and an attack which never built any sustained pressure or asked enough questions of the visitors.
Leaving the field to boos for the second successive week, perhaps a sustained period away from the pressures of an expectant KC will aid the Black and Whites. It certainly can't hurt.
The next time Hull will grace the turf at the KC will be in two months' time against Warrington Wolves on July 4 . What shape their season will be in depends on them addressing an away record that sees them without a victory on the road so far this year.
It was the first time this season Hull had really been put to the sword. In their previous seven losses, St Helens' 12-point margin was the biggest defeat Hull had sustained.
But the fine margins went out of the window as a chasm in class proved the difference against the double winners. They may have been missing a host of key players, but the structure, pace and direction of Wigan was too much for a Hull team lacking in confidence.
Looking for a reaction from last week, Radford shuffled his hand again with Garreth Carvell, Richard Whiting and Richard Horne returning to the starting line-up to face a Wigan side missing seven senior players through injury.
Hull needed a good start to lift the mood of apprehension at the KC, but what they got was an early wave of sustained Wigan pressure, which brought with it two converted tries as the hosts found themselves up against it.
Having already defended several sets on their own goal-line in the opening five minutes, Hull's defence buckled earlier than they'd have hoped as missed tackles by Carvell and Kirk Yeaman allowed Dan Sarginson to scramble his way over the try-line.
While the Black and Whites responded positively with Yeaman and Jamie Shaul both pressing toward the try-line, it was the Warriors who decisively struck next through Anthony Gelling. Running at Hull's right side defence, the centre got over far too easily in the corner by brushing off two tackles.
Hull were struggling with the pace and direction of the Warriors, while not helping themselves through their ill-discipline. Carvell was penalised three times in quick succession for infringements in the tackle, the third prompting the visitors to take two points from in front of the posts as Matty Smith extended their lead.
Hull's response was vital. Fold and they could have faced a heavy first-half deficit and the wrath of the fans at half-time. As it transpired they smartly opted to fight and got their reward from a Horne kick, with Jacob Miller picking up Dominic Manfredi's dropped ball to send Gareth Ellis over.
The trouble was, for all Hull's effort to get back into the game, Wigan were just too good to allow them to do that. As half-time approached, their skill and pace shone through again to hand them a far more comfortable lead at the break.
Smith was the orchestrator, jinking one way, throwing a dummy the next and then, with a drop of his shoulder, bursting through the gap he'd created before a simple pass put Jack Hughes over.
When Joe Burgess scored soon after the re-start the writing was on the wall for Hull, who couldn't build any sustained pressure.
Worse was to follow as Sarginson broke a flimsy Hull defensive line to dive over for his second.
On the night his new five-year contract was announced, man-of-the-match Shaul got a try back for Hull, but it mattered little in the grand scheme of things.
Wigan just kept on coming back as Manfredi again got in on the try-scoring act, before Gelling added a second and Sarginson his third.
Hull still found time to finish the scoring as Fetuli Talanoa went over for his sixth score of the season, but it was no consolation on another night of disappointment for a side that head into derby week in a poor run of form.
