The Manchester United striker was at his predatory best to send the champions back to the top of the table.
Rooney's quadruple took his tally for United this season to 20. And he is desperate to beat the 23-goal mark he set three seasons ago.
He said: "I'm confident of beating my best season at United.
"I will be disappointed if I don't because I've still got hopefully another 20 games to play. I won't be happy if I don't get more than 23.
"The difference this season is that I've consciously been getting in the box more and trying to put myself in goalscoring situations."
United chief Alex Ferguson insisted he cannot leave out his star man.
Fergie said: "He has always been a main player for us, from the moment he came to the club. He never gets left out.
"Without doubt those four goals were the highlight for me.
"He has been wanting to develop himself as a scorer and there were some terrific finishes today."
Hull boss Phil Brown admitted Rooney was unplayable.
He said: "I would have to say he is one of the best strikers in the world just now.
"He is someone who is capable of making half chances into a great chance.
"When you see him in that form it certainly bodes well for England at the World Cup."
Equal Ronaldo's!
difficult lar, but its possible. he need to score 2 or 3 hat tricks to achieve that feat.
Ronaldo,a w inger, was super consistent and took his chances well. Rooney, a striker, is inconsistent and misses a lot of opportunities. He is a great player but not yet world-best. He needs consistency and a far more clinical finishing before he can be considered as such.