Simon Grix’s honest Hull FC role assessment amid ‘restraint’ admission

Hull FC interim coach Simon Grix says he “loves the job”, but will be departing at the end of the season to make way for John Cartwright.

The former Warrington Wolves man was made interim coach after the departure of Tony Smith, who was sacked in April.

However, the team hasn’t seen a huge change in terms of results, and currently sit second-bottom – only ahead of London Broncos on points difference after losing to them at Magic Weekend.

They’re facing the very real possibility of finishing bottom, but luckily for them, IMG reforms mean they won’t be relegated to the RFL Championship due to their grading.

Simon Grix “loves his job” at Hull FC

Via Hull Live, Grix has said: “I think every year you coach, you get a bit better,” Grix said. “There are times this year where I probably could have gone in, got the axe out, and absolutely hammered everyone. I’ve learned some restraint this year at times.

“This year has been really tough. We’ve had adversity throughout.

“But I still love the job; it’s been very difficult this year, but it’s learning nonetheless, and hopefully we don’t visit these sort of times again, and if we did, whether it’s this club or another club in the future, you’ve got that experience to fall back on.”

He’s expected to move back into an assistant coach role next year, as Cartwright has signed a three-year deal with Hull FC, which would mean he stays through 2027.

For the rest of the current season, Cartwright’s focus will be on his assistant coach role at Brisbane Broncos.