LEWIS TO GO ON LOSING STREAK
SALFORD 54 HULL FC 18 IAN WATSON labelled Tui Lolohea a “superstar” after his dazzling display back at Headingley put Hull FC to the sword.
The Tongan, who left Leeds last June before helping Salford to the Grand Final, produced his best performance at his old ground in scoring two tries and making three others.
Watson said: “Tui is a superstar. He probably had a lot of pressure on him to control a Leeds side when they weren’t doing too well.
“We’ve tried to take that responsibility away from him and let him play.”
Albert Kelly gave Hull an early lead before Lolohea scored two of four Salford tries in 20 minutes.
Tries from Manu Ma’u and Jamie Shaul closed the gap to 28-18 before Hull conceded five tries in the closing quarter.
It meant a woeful start for interim coach Andy Last who said: “For the first game after 18 weeks it was a real kick in the guts.”
WAKEFIELD 22 WIGAN 23 HARRY SMITH revealed how a Sam Powell rollicking inspired the drop goal which proved the difference for Wigan.
The 20-year-old half-back slotted the decisive kick with three minutes remaining to edge the Warriors over the finish line.
But hooker Powell had wanted him to take the option the previous set.
Smith: “I’ve got to give credit to Sam Powell, he was shouting at me to do it the set before.
“Luckily it went in off the post and we got the win.
“We made it hard for ourselves so there is a lot to work on.”
Smith’s side looked in control leading 22-6 after tries from Zak Hardaker, Bevan French, Liam Marshall and Jake Bibby
But a spectacular Tom Johnstone try hauled Wakefield back and Wigan were hanging on courtesy of Smith’s kick either side of two Liam Kay tries.
KNOCKOUT king Derrick Lewis has vowed to do something he is not accustomed to – lose!
Lewis racked up his 11th KO victory – a UFC heavyweight record – in Las Vegas yesterday as he defeated Russia’s Aleksei Oleinik 21 seconds into the start of round two.
However, ‘The Black Beast’, who entered the octagon at the 265lb limit, has vowed to drop some weight to push his claims for a shot at the title, with Stipe Miocic defending the belt against Daniel Cormier next weekend. Texan Lewis, who recorded his third win in a row, said: “I believe I have improved a lot, but I’m still not where I need to be.
“I’m still not really comfortable where I need to be fighting at.
“That’s why I said I need to lose at least 15, 20 more pounds, then come back in and I’m going to be a problem.
“Hopefully by the end of the year I’ll be 245, 250lbs. If I get there, I’ll be happy. And I plan to fight again maybe in December and I have to be 245, 250lbs.
“If I get there and dominate whoever my next opponent is, then I believe I’ll be next for the title.”
Earlier in the night, Londoner Darren Stewart enjoyed a highlight reel victory, beating fellow middleweight Maki Pitolo by guillotine choke in the first round.
He said: “I hope I proved a lot to the people. Do not sleep on me. I have been working.”
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