“Form isn’t good enough” – Tony Smith set to drop signings after Hull FC humiliation

Hull FC were on the end of another half-century scoreline as they lost 56-22 to Huddersfield Giants and Tony Smith has now suggested that some star signings could be dropped.

Any hope of a response to the derby defeat last week was wiped away quickly when former Hull FC man Adam Swift scored within a minute and despite a response the Black and Whites still went in 40-10 down at the break.

It was yet another half of rugby in which FC didn’t manage to keep 13 players on the pith with Jack Brown sin-binned in the 39th minute and he wouldn’t be the only one, Ligi Sao heading to the bin twice in the second half.

The Giants would capitalise and ran in a further three tries rendering Nu Brown and Franklin Pele’s scores as consolations, although it did mark Hull FC reaching the 20-point barrier for just the second time this season.

When asked if he could take that as a slight positive, Smith told BBC Humberside: “That’s a way of looking at it but it’s not enough for me to go ‘yoo-hoo’ and jump through some hoops and go ‘everything’s alright’.

“There were some good tries and it’s good to see some attack. I didn’t actually think the attack aspect was our problem today but defence certainly is.”

Hull FC to drop signings in favour of youth

Another positive for Hull FC and Tony Smith was that he was able to blood in two youngsters with Jack Charles carrying over his impressive performance from the derby and Logan Moy being handed a debut.

Despite their strong personal performances, Smith was angered at his side’s inability to protect Charles defensively, something he made clear had been outlined as a plan.

He explained: “There were just way too many one and two-men tackles there today and not enough numbers around helping young Jack Charles.

“He had a tough day and we knew he was going to cop some attention in defence and I expect people to get there and help him and get around him. I was pleased with what Jack did in attack and he gave us some real good energy there.”

On debutant Moy, he added: “I thought Logan Moy gave us some energy when he came on as well and young Matty Laidlaw didn’t look out of place there either.”

Moy actually came onto the field in a move that saw full-back Tex Hoy subbed off and Smith has now confirmed that it wasn’t an injury-enforced change, but instead what seemed like a warning shot to any underperforming senior players.

“They were brought off so that Logan could bring us some energy there in that position and that was just a case of young guys getting some opportunity,” Smith confirmed.

“They both could have gone back on but unfortunately, they’re both struggling for consistent form. That’s what happens sometimes when if your form isn’t good enough, somebody else gets an opportunity.”

Without a game next week Smith has stated that there will be two plans in training, recuperation for those in need of it, but hard work for those in need of reps and improvement, a damning statement on some of his squad.

“It gives us a chance to do some more hard work and today shows we need plenty. We need to do plenty. I think it will be great for some of our players. Some of our players need to get some hard work under their belt, there’s a few that need to get a rest in this week.”