RYAN Atkins believes tough opponents in the shape of Hull FC is just what the doctor ordered as medicine for the loss to Wigan.

After 10 straight wins, the Wire centre and his teammates were gutted by the manner of the 38-10 defeat during the Magic Weekend in Newcastle but expects this week's resulting hard graft in training will set the team right for the next task tomorrow night, Friday, at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

“We were all left deflated. It was an under-par performance," said Atkins, who became Wolves' leading try-scoring centre of all time with his last touchdown against Leeds earlier this month.

“On a big stage like that we wanted to show how far we’ve come from last year.

“We wanted to show enthusiasm and grit, but we just got bullied by Wigan.

"They dominated us from the start, all the way to the end.

"I thought it was going to be a great game and a great spectacle for the fans, something that we had a real chance in.

"But we never really gave ourselves a chance. It was like back to the start of the year with too many penalties given away and too many errors and with a team like Wigan they’re going to put you to the sword and they definitely did that.

"In the second half Steve Price said we completed at 53 percent so if you’re turning the ball over that cheaply against a great side they’re going to give you a good hiding.

"We’ve licked our wounds and will be ready and raring to go for another tough game against Hull.

"It’s a nice little challenge for us now. We’ve not had a defeat for a while and it will show the character of the team again.

"Being at home with all the fans turning up to give us their support is just what we need.

"We need another big game to get in the groove again."

Hull's squad is currently badly hit with injuries but The Wire will not be reading into that.

"Hull are a good team, even though they’ll be missing a few players," said the 32-year-old

"We know all about winning when you have some players missing.

"In 2016 we went to their ground with an understrength side and managed to win the League Leaders’ Shield.

"We know that young players are going to be stepping up for them and will want to prove to Lee Radford that they can play week-in week-out in the first team.

"But being at home and after the 'sh-lacking' we had against Wigan it will make us dangerous opposition for them."