SAINTS boss Justin Holbrook paid tribute to half back Jonny Lomax and young prop Matty Lees after Saints rallied from a 10-0 deficit to win 62-16.

Adam Swift grabbed a hat-trick in his first game for Saints this season, whilst centre Kevin Naiqama crossed four times, but special praise was reserved for two-try Lomax.

Holbrook said; "Hull started really well and we know what a dangerous attacking side they are.

"We lost Tommo but slowly got on top and went on with it.

"I thought Jonny Lomax was fantastic today - he has been playing great all year, but today on his 200th game he owned the game.

"Everything he touched, he took all the right options and was one of the best games I have seen from a half, he was fantastic."

It looked like it was a case of after the Lord Mayor's Show when Saints, backing up from Good Friday, fell behind.

But they lifted after Thompson went off and never looked back.

"Both teams were coming in off the back of big Good Friday derbies and to throw into the mix we get this beautiful 25 degree weather that we are all loving but the 34 players who had to back up from Friday in it had a tough ask.

"I am really pleased with the way we went about it. Morgan Knowles was fantastic again and Matty Lees.

"Outside of the Kevin (Naiqama) scoring four and Swifty scoring three, plus Jonny having the game he did I thought Matty Lees playing 70 minutes in the front row in those conditions was a massive effort. He was outstanding with the workload he got through.

Saints are clear at the top and Holbrook is content with the way they are going.

"We are different to this time last year and are controlling the games really well, and that is probably the difference.

"And probably from my point of view we flew out of the blocks in round one and tried to maintain that all year.

"This year I said we would start a bit slower and get better as the season wore on, mainly due to new players.

"I did not want to rush things and the players were generally a bit itchy in January asking to step it up a bit but I wanted to start well and get better as the combinations got better - and that has been the pleasing thing," he said.

Slowly but surely we are seeing more of Fiji World Cup skipper Kevin Naiqama.

"From a few weeks ago he has stepped it up and he is getting comfortable.

"He is one of our new players and as a centre you have got to get really good combinations with your half, back row, full back and wing.

"It is a big job to do - and now with the warmer weather we are seeing the best of Kev as well. He was fantastic today," Holbrook said.