Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos: Faraimo set for reunion with World Cup boss Mac

The New Zealand-born former Parramatta Eels wide man was a member of the United States side at last year’s tournament, when they were coached by Leeds Rhinos boss Brian McDermott.

McDermott, who stepped down from his international role last week, guided America to the World Cup finals, but an inexperienced team, made up mainly of players from the USA domestic competition, lost all three group games.

“He is a good dude,” Faraimo said of McDermott.

“He knows his stuff. I didn’t know he had stepped down, but he did a really good job with the players he had to coach.

“Some of them pretty much had no idea what they were doing!”

Tonight will be the first time Faraimo has played against a team coached by McDermott as he sat out Hull’s 20-16 defeat at Emerald Headingley last month.

“It’s a big game and I’m looking forward to it,” said Faraimo who was among the try scorers for Hull in a 39-20 win at Widnes Vikings a week ago.

“We have got a few injured players coming back and we are looking stronger by each week. People have told me what a big game it is against Leeds and I saw for myself last time we played then.

“We played good at the back end of the second half that night, but we’ve got to stop playing catch-up footy and play like that from the start.”

Faraimo was signed in the closed season to replace Mahe Fonua and has scored three tries in six appearances. He said: “I am enjoying it; when I am playing I am going well and that’s my main aim, just to stay on the field. I’ve got concussed a couple of times and had a red card and I haven’t quite found my feet properly yet.”