Lee Radford hopes Hull players do not end up like England’s football failures when they meet neighbours
Black and Whites have beaten local rivals Hull KR in both meetings so far this season and boss is using Three Lions as inspiration for next derby
LEE RADFORD hopes Hull's players do not end up like England's football failures.
The Black and Whites may be riding high in Super League and won the two meetings with Hull KR this season.
But they needed a comeback from 20 points down on Good Friday and three late tries to win on Magic Weekend.
Now boss Radford is using England’s Euro 2016 humbling in his tactical plan for tonight’s derby.
He said: "I'm just hoping we can go and play the game and not a derby, if that makes sense.
"The derby is like a Cup final, you rarely see a real classic Cup final and the derby is similar.
"The occasion can get to you before you go out on the field and before you know it your legs are fatigued.
"You've played the game 50 times in your head and that nervous energy can have a negative effect, similar to what happens with the England football team every time they go to a tournament.
"We haven't played well against Hull KR this year. We haven't performed to the best of our ability despite winning the two league games so far.
"I'd much prefer us to get out of the blocks quicker this time around and we cannot afford to give them another leg up like we have done the last two times we've played them."
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Hull will once again come to a standstill tonight as the cross-city rivals battle it out again.
Families, including some of the players', will be split between red and white and black and white.
And Hull star Fetuli Talanoa is in no doubt where this occasion ranks in the rugby league world - the top.
The Tonga ace has played in the Sydney Roosters v South Sydney clash before but to him that pales into insignificance.
Talanoa said: "That is a big occasion in the NRL, but it’s nothing compared to the derby over here.
“When this game comes into town, I think it’s the best derby in the league to watch.
“I’m not from Hull, but when you put on that jersey it feels like it’s to represent this side of the town. It’s a tough game.”
While Hull FC are riding high, Hull KR look set to fight for Super League survival in the Qualifiers, although they still have a chance of finishing in the top eight.
But coach James Webster is convinced they can finish off the job they started twice before this term.
He said: "We understand from the last two games we've played against them that there are certain areas we need to improve on for us, to give ourselves that edge to get over the line.
"We've not done that the last two times we've played them and we've talked about that a lot this week."