Populating field defaults... can only update value, not input?

[hellomoto 45]

	public function init() {

		// add a hook after each page is saved
		$this->pages->addHookAfter('saved', $this, 'populateDefaults');

	}

	/**
	 * Populates model defaults after save for corresponding blank fields.
	 *
	 */
	public function populateDefaults($event) {

		$page = $event->arguments('page'); 
		if($page->template != 'vessel') return;

		//$this->message("hi {$page->model->hulls}");

		if($page->model && !$page->hulls && $page->model->hulls) {
			$page->set("hulls", $page->model->hulls);
			$this->message("hi $page->hulls {$page->model->hulls}");
		}

	}

This sort of works; the message echoed is "hi 1082 1082". When I set the hulls to null in the above code, it then goes back to "hi 1082". However, it doesn't update the select input in the edit screen, and the "Missing required value" error for that field remains... Also the message shouldn't even be showing if $page->hulls is set... How can I get it to update the field value and the input?

[hellomoto 45]

Had to tack ->save() on to the statement setting the field...