Hodgson hails Satae after Cup sensation

The 28-year-old former New Zealand Warriors forward, who scored just two tries in his debut season in England in 2020, touched down in each half on Saturday as Hull inflicted a first defeat of the campaign on Wigan, just nine days after losing to them in Super League.

Satae's man-of-the-match performance provided the backbone to an impressive performance by a Hull pack shorn of four specialist props due to injury and suspension.

"I thought Chris Satae in particular was phenomenal. He was brilliant. He's such a big body and he got our sets rolling," said Australian coach Hodgson.

The surprise result enabled Hull to end a difficult week on a high and means Hodgson is just 80 minutes away from guiding them to a Wembley appearance in his first season as head coach.

Hodgson revealed in midweek how his players rallied around second rower Andre Savelio following his allegation of racial abuse which resulted in an eight-match ban for Wigan prop Tony Clubb.

"I'm exceptionally pleased," said Hodgson, the former Huddersfield and Warrington fullback who won the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match in the Wolves' Wembley win over Leeds in 2012.

"We had quite a tumultuous week, obviously some adversity and we were tested but I am very happy with the response from the players, the way they stuck by each other.

"We spoke about creating a memory today that will allow us to get where we want to be.

"I'm so proud, particularly of the defensive performance. Wigan just don't go away but I thought my boys enjoyed the grind and we were good enough to get the victory."

Wigan coach Adrian Lam said he was shocked by his team's poor performance.

"I'm devastated," he said. "We couldn't have brought any better form into the game.

"We just didn't give ourselves a chance, we played uncharacteristically. It was a real odd one."

Australian Associated Press