There have been plenty of moments for Lee Radford to sit back and smile about this year.
He could be forgiven for sitting down and watching their Wembley triumph – or at least the last 20 minutes of it – over and over again, for example.
Similarly their derby comeback against Hull KR way back at Easter – another highlight, and potentially a pivotal moment for both Hull’s season and Radford’s coaching career.
But last weekend, when he was relaxing with his coaching staff following a hard-earned victory at Wakefield, he saw another moment which he couldn’t help smile at.
Much like the Challenge Cup final a month earlier, Warrington were making his life a misery last Friday for the opening hour of their game against Wigan.
But as Wigan fought back a man light to win 35-28 and keep Hull’s hopes of the treble alive, the Sky cameras provided a moment Radford openly describes as the best piece of TV footage he’s ever seen.
“We were in a pub, watching it with the staff,” he recalls, beaming with joy.
“We’d gone out for a drink to watch the game and the best piece of television footage I’ve seen in my career was the moment they packed up the League Leader’s Shield and took it down the tunnel. They’ve brought it home now and ready for us hopefully.
“I can’t tell you how pleased I was with that; I thought they were going to wipe the floor with Wigan after 50 minutes but Wigan, as they always do, found a way to win.
“It was very reminiscent of the final, Friday night. For 50 minutes they were in control and we played into their hands but that last half hour, things just clicked into gear.
“Wigan did the same and it was a very quiet 50 minutes before a very noisy half hour with the WhatsApp groups going crackers late on Friday night.”
So here Hull are – with a second bite of the cherry thanks to Shaun Wane’s side – on the verge of securing leg two of what would be a historic treble.
Even putting their attempts to win all three trophies to one side, victory tonight gives Hull the chance to celebrate something they haven’t done for 33 years: being called the most consistent side in the competition.
For a Hull lad who grew up idolising the likes of David Topliss and Lee Crooks, heroes of that 1983 side, the enormity of the occasion is not lost on him.
“It gives you the billing to be called the most consistent team, and apart from the obvious home semi-final, it gives you bragging rights,” he admits.
“The reward for that now probably isn’t what it was in years gone by but it would mean an awful lot for us. The club historian mentioned we’ve never been in this position before where there’s one game left, at home, and it’s in our hands to finish top of the pile.
“People haven’t seen this in their lifetime and I hope they come and make home advantage a real advantage.”
And you suspect that if Hull do get the job done tonight, it will provide yet more memories for the TV cameras which Radford won’t be able to help do anything but smile at.
