Hull FC went to Leigh Sports Village on Friday night with a side stripped of 15 players, yet still found reason for a lift as veteran Tom Briscoe marked his 200th game for the club. The Black and Whites named Logan Moy at fullback for the Super League clash against Leigh Leopards, while the hosts went with David Armstrong at the back.

It was the sort of evening where availability shaped everything. Hull were heading over the Pennines without 15 players because of injury and suspensions, and that opened the door for Ben Johnson and Lennon Clark to be in line for their first appearances in black and white. Harvey Barron was also primed for his second game back from injury, another small plus for a squad forced to improvise again.

Barron has made no secret of what he wants next from his own game. He said he wants to get back playing consistently and to a good standard, adding that the back end of last year was probably some of the best rugby he has played and that he is hoping to reach that level again while helping the team.

For Hull coach, the chance to hand academy products their debuts carried a value beyond the scoreboard. He said there would be lots of energy and lots of enthusiasm if Johnson and Clark got the call, and described it as a special occasion for them. He also said the pair are big Black and White fans, that their families are as well, and that they have earned the opportunity after coming through the system and into the game via Hull Wyke.

That mattered because Hull needed more than bodies. The coach said giving the youngsters a debut can galvanise the group because it pulls extra from senior players on a milestone night, and he added that if the opportunity came, the team would look to put in a strong performance for them. Briscoe's 200th game gave the evening another marker, even as the injury list made the task look severe.

Leigh arrived in a better place. The Leopards had their big guns back and were finding some form, which left Hull facing a difficult test against a side with more rhythm and more options. The contrast between the teams was stark before kick-off: one rebuilding on the run, the other strengthening at the right time.

Earlier in the week, Tony Sutton explained why Hull would not be going to Las Vegas and set out the club's thinking on future events, another reminder that the decisions around the club are being made with caution as much as ambition. For now, though, the focus was on Friday night and on whether a depleted Hull side could find enough from youth, returning players and senior heads to stay in the contest at Leigh Sports Village.