Coach Brian Noble feels that the Bulls are starting to run into form at a crucial stage of the season.

He called Friday night's 25-24 victory at Hull in front of the Sky TV cameras "a pivotal game for ourselves for character".

Noble added: "We still didn't play the way we have been wanting to play for a while, but there were elements of our play that made me think 'The boys are coming back here' and starting to get a little bit tougher towards the end of the season.

"It must have looked good on television and for the neutrals - if there is such a thing at The Boulevard!"

Noble also said that the victory made up for some last-ditch defeats in contests in the past.

"It is nice to get one over a side in the last minute because we have been 'dudded' a few times in the last minute ourselves."

And the Great Britain assistant coach was only too aware of the importance of the victory in the overall scheme of things.

"It could mean a position or two at the end of the season, and it kept us top" said Noble.

Also he didn't seem too worried that Hull had nearly snatched victory after being 24-10 behind with 11 minutes to go.

"For 65 minutes we were well in control and then they got a huge finish," admitted the Bulls' head coach.

"Hull were great in the last 15 minutes.

"A couple of things went their way, but they were off-loading and they had the momentum.

"We weren't that great in controlling the ball in the second half.

"We kept giving penalties away and conceding field position, but overall we deserved to win it.

"It wasn't overly concerning when we let them back in it.

"We just need to look at the pictures and learn from them.

"We didn't take the foot off the gas. We just didn't march them down the field and be content to defend a set at their end of the field.

"We gave away three silly penalties and allowed them to off-load, which we hadn't in the first half, but in the main we defended fantastically well."

Noble admitted he was half expecting a late Hull revival.

He said: "They always score a lot of points in the fourth quarter, and we had talked about that, but we still had enough composure to play one defensive set and the winning drop goal showed a lot of character."

One potential worry for Noble ahead of Friday night's home game against Castleford could well be substitute prop Richard Moore.

Noble said: "Richard has broken a toe with his first carry of the game, which is why we had to replace him so quickly."