Hull FC boss Tony Smith expecting “adversity” in today’s game

Tony Smith, providing the cold doesn’t cancel the fixture as it has with Bradford Bulls vs Huddersfield Giants and Keighley Cougars vs Castleford Tigers, will take charge of his first game as Hull FC boss today against Sheffield Eagles away.

Smith has outlined what he wants to get out of the fixture saying he is expecting “adversity” but believes this will build the “resilience” his side need moving forward.

“Its exciting, we are looking forward too it, we know that we will make some mistakes and there will be some adversity, we want to test our selves against that and build that resilience,” Smith said on the club’s website.

“There isn’t a game where there isn’t adversity in Rugby League, it is knowing how you are going to handle these things and how each other will handle this. That will be the interesting part for me.

“We want to get combinations, for some boys they need a little bit of fitness, game fitness, its different to running up and down the park, it is very difficult to simulate a game situation, but most of all its about building a team who work and respect one another and handle adversity when it comes”

“Teams make mistakes, players make mistakes, seeing how individuals and the team handles these mistakes gives a good indication on how the team will go.”

“We need to work hard on that and have the confidence to handle that and come back strong and not faulter or worry about the last one, and we are working on that in order to become a good team.”

You can see more of what he had to say here.