Hull KR handily beat Hull FC for the second time this season yesterday and the easy nature of the win has caused fans of the Black and Whites to call on huge changes from top to bottom.
The final score was 34-10 and if that had been offered to FC fans at halftime then they’d have almost certainly taken it given that they were absolutely rolled over in the first forty with the score 28-0 when the teams went into the sheds.
Niall Evalds opened the scoring to kickstart his Man of the Match performance whilst more scores followed from Mikey Lewis, Peta Hiku, James Batchelor and Joe Burgess who scored two in his first Hull derby.
That first-half performance led to calls from Sam Tomkins and Jon Wilkin that the pressure on Tony Smith was ramped up a further notch with Tomkins even suggesting Smith had been let down by his players in the first forty.
There was a reaction with FC pulling back two scores but Rovers reasserted control and ran out as 34-10 victors to condemn Hull FC to a fifth Super League loss this season, prompting Tony Smith to label the performance as simply “not good enough”.
It wasn’t just Tony Smith who claimed that the performance wasn’t good enough with Hull FC fans taking to social media to take shots at all involved with the club from the players, to Smith and even to the owners.
Hull FC fans call on wholesale changes
Credit: Imago Images
A common criticism from Hull FC was that the players had tarnished the badge with the lack of effort, particularly in the first half, with several fans making similar comments.
Utter disgrace to the badge
— Seffers (@simonseffers) March 29, 2024
One asked: “You’re an embarrassment..is this what you call playing for our badge..disgrace!!”
You’re an embarrassment..is this what you call playing for our badge..disgrace!!
— ⚫️⚪️Barmy Army (@stevelines47Hfc) March 29, 2024
Another noted: “6 tries in 1 half of rugby, that is absolute disgrace to the badge, the club and the fans.”
6 tries in 1 half of rugby, that is absolute disgrace to the badge, the club and the fans
— Gaz Bennett (@gaz_hull) March 29, 2024
It wasn’t just Hull FC fans that were raging at the lack of effort with a Warrington Wolves fan posting on X: “I’m getting angry watching @hullfcofficial here and I couldn’t care less about them; they’re an absolute disgrace. I don’t like it when professional sportsmen take the piss out of their paying supporters and that’s exactly what this shower are doing every single week.”
I’m getting angry watching @hullfcofficial here and I couldn’t care less about them; they’re an absolute disgrace. I don’t like it when professional sportsmen take the piss out of their paying supporters and that’s exactly what this shower are doing every single week.
— Johnny Gordon (@JohnnyGordon6) March 29, 2024
The players being disinterested was also suggested by another fan, something that prompted another fan to suggest that there wasn’t any point in sacking Tony Smith with the problems at Hull FC instead stemming from their owner Adam Pearson.
That fan noted: “No point sacking smith, you could bring in the best coach in the world and nothing would happen. Players are pathetic and it’s all down to poor management from AP.”
No point sacking smith, you could bring in the best coach in the world and nothing would happen. Players are pathetic and it’s all down to poor management from AP
— SamNorton (@samnort95) March 29, 2024
Absolutely embarrassing. No fight, no passion, weak all over the pitch. Players look disinterested and they can’t be arsed.
— Logan Bennett (@lbenno07) March 29, 2024
Smith did cop criticism from some fans though with one fan calling for “Smith out”, whilst another asked for the same treatment that Lee Radford got when his time was called live on TV.
Smith out
— Cameron (@CameronB122) March 29, 2024
“Get rid of him live on telly like you did our most successful ever coach,” one fan fumed.
Get rid of him live on telly like you did our most successful ever coach.
— Joe (@HullJoe88) March 29, 2024
Despite the loss and the anger, there was one positive that plenty of Hull FC fans did highlight and that was the performance of young Jack Charles.
The 18-year-old was brought on in a terrible situation and provided a genuine spark and most importantly wore the badge with pride, something that fans certainly noticed.
Jack charles hold your head up young man 👏 👏 👏 the rest of them take a hard look at your selfs
— Connor (@Flittdog_) March 29, 2024
“Jack Charles, hold your head up young man,” were the sentiments of one fan whilst others called for the squad to be built around the teenager.
Something needs to change immediately…
We also need to build the squad around Jack Charles
— Jack Snowden (@JackSnowden18) March 29, 2024
The next game for Hull FC comes against a Huddersfield side that put 50 points on them just a week ago, before a run of St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves, which looks to be incredibly daunting and perhaps a trial by fire for a youngster like Charles.
Either way, it’s clear he has a huge future and certainly didn’t deserve to be on the losing side yesterday.
