Hull FC: Confidence vital against Leeds - Kirk Yeaman

KIRK Yeaman says his Hull FC team-mates are confident coach Peter Gentle will come up with a game plan to end their poor run of results against Leeds.

Hull face the Rhinos at the KC Stadium tomorrow night, hoping for a first win against the reigning champions in five years.

Having come up short against Leeds time and again in recent years, Hull's players are as desperate as the fans to savour a rare win against their West Yorkshire rivals.

And following the arrival of Gentle as head coach and Hull's positive start to the campaign, Yeaman is confident the Black and Whites have both the confidence and the tools to finally end their poor run against Leeds.

30% Off All Services

Unique

View details

Print voucher

This Wednesday 22nd May take 30% off all services including Colours Cuts and Blow-dries at Unique salons Beverley only
making a Cut and Finish £26.21

Terms: 30% off All services with Unique salons Beverley only
Wednesday 22nd May only
Call 01482-881199 for your appointment
Must mention voucher at time of booking

Contact: 01482 423479

Valid until: Thursday, May 23 2013

"I am sure Peter will come up with a game plan that will help us get that elusive win over Leeds," Yeaman told the Mail.

"Peter instils confidence in us in every game we play and sees that as a must, because it is very important to have confidence in your own abilities and the structures Peter has prepared for you during the week.

"We are at home and the crowd will get behind us which will be the extra man so hopefully we can reward that with a win. At the end of the day, it is 17 men against 17 men on a rugby pitch who play for 80 minutes so anything could happen.

"We are still up there in the mix at the top so if we get some experienced bodies back I think we have a good chance of finishing quite high this year."

Yeaman is hoping to make his return to action after a month on the sidelines with a broken cheekbone.

The England international is expected to play after being named in the 19-man squad for the KC clash and will make his return alongside the likes of Jordan Turner, Mark O'Meley, Eamon O'Carroll and Martin Aspinwall.

But Yeaman revealed he's found his broken cheekbone more problematic than he first anticipated.

Yeaman added: "Because I've had a whack in the face my ear drum has swollen up. It is really painful and I have been struggling to get any sleep. I've been to the doctor's and it is nothing serious, though, so that is some good news.

"It's not good but it is part and parcel of rugby league. You get plenty of injuries during the course of the year. It just so happens that all ours have come at once.

"But I would rather get them out of the way now than at the back end of the season when you need everyone fit for the play-offs, and hopefully we'll all be back."

Hull squad: Aspinwall, Briscoe, Crooks, Ellis, Houghton, Kent, Lynch, Manu, Moa, O'Carroll, O'Meley, Pitts, Russell, Seymour, Sharp, Tickle, Turner, Whiting, Yeaman.