Hull coach Lee Radford admitted Leon Pryce had a point to prove after being recalled for his side's Super League game at Castleford and creating the all-important try in a 24-22 win that takes them two points clear at the top.
The scores were locked at 18-18 when the 34-year-old former Bradford, St Helens and Great Britain five-eighth, recalled after a month's absence, produced a telling half-break to get full-back Jamie Shaul over for what proved to be the match-winning score.
Pryce, who is out of contract at the end of the season, was one of the players handed recalls after Radford opted to rest four of his regulars ahead of next Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against Catalans Dragons, and he did not hold back with his celebrations.
"The fact that he turned round and waved at me when he set the try up might have been a bit of a giveaway," Radford said.
"Obviously initially the disappointment of Leon, Jordan Thompson and Dean Hadley not being selected was evident but how they've responded to that and applied themselves at training has prepared us really well for the opposition we've been coming up against that week.
"Putting the squad before individual selection is really pleasing."
Pryce is not guaranteed to keep his spot for the cup tie as Radford prepares to bring back Fetuli Talanoa, Mark Minichiello, Gareth Ellis and Sika Manu.
"They're all soft-tissue injuries but ones we weren't prepared to risk," said Radford, who was far from happy with his team's performance despite ending a four-match losing run at the Jungle.
"I'm disappointed really," he said. "I'm not pleased with the performance, but what I am pleased with is the fact we've been able to break Castleford's momentum on a couple of occasions during the game, which is something we've not been able to do here for a few seasons.
A fifth successive home defeat virtually ends Castleford's top-four hopes.
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