Hull FC boss gives Jordan Rapana injury latest following Headingley concern

John Cartwright has allayed fears of a serious injury for Jordan Rapana with the Hull FC boss providing an update after watching his side lost 18-16 at Leeds Rhinos.

Rapana was stretchered off the Headingley field after just 10 minutes after suffering a head knock while trying to make a tackle on Jake Connor. Shooting out of the line, the New Zealand international attempted to wrap up Connor but got his technique wrong and hit the deck in a heap.

He received treatment for over 10 minutes on the field before eventually being carried off and down the tunnel. He was seen sat in the stand during the second half of the contest, though, and Cartwright has confirmed the centre is OK after suffering a heavy blow which knocked him out.

“He’s up and about,” Cartwright told Sky Sports after the game. “He was knocked out pretty bad so they couldn’t ask him about his neck so they had to go through all the neck protocols.

“He came to on the field and he was up and about in the sheds. He’s going to be a sore boy in the morning but thank God he’s OK.”

Hull FC boss on agonising Leeds Rhinos defeat

The Black and Whites suffered what can only be described as a heartbreaking defeat at Headingley as Ryan Hall touched down in the 79th minute to give Leeds the lead for the first time in the contest. Hull had led 16-4 at one point in the second half but they couldn’t prevent the home side from producing a remarkable comeback.

“I suppose neither side deserved to lose, we had the ascendancy on the scoreboard for much of the game, it was very physical and there when they rolled us and stages when we rolled them,” Cartwright added.

Asked about his side’s character, Cartwright added: “You’ve got to love it but it’s got to be consistent, I won’t harp on about last week but it was a game we should have won.

“We feel we had a good balance with our discipline and aggression but it has to be maintained week in, week out or you get your pants pulled down. Some really good efforts there tonight and I don’t think it was a game we deserved to lose but you don’t always get what you deserve.”