Hull FC have had an eventful day, with the club parting ways with head coach Tony Smith and giving control to Francis Cummins and Simon Grix on an interim basis with immediate effect.
Smith became the first Super League manager to face the axe this season, departing after just seven games have been played.
Hull FC’s only victory came against the league’s bottom side, London Broncos.
The news was announced at half past 11 this morning, with a club statement.
Stanley Gene has also departed his role as assistant coach.
Meanwhile, Simon Grix and Francis Cummins will take charge of the first team on an interim basis.
Who is Hull FC interim coach Simon Grix?
Credit: Imago Images
Simon Grix was assistant coach under Tony Smith, so already knows the club and squad well.
The former Ireland international made 164 appearances for Warrington Wolves between 2006 and 2015, scoring 47 tries and winning three Challenge Cups.
He also spent two spells at Halifax Panthers.
He has experience as a head coach too: after being interim manager, he was handed the Halifax job on a permanent basis in 2019.
In 2021, his side finished third in the Championship, but were knocked out of the playoffs in the semi-finals, against Featherstone Rovers.
He followed this up with another third-placed finish in 2022, and an 1895 Cup victory at Wembley in 2023.
The 38-year-old also seemingly has coaching in his blood: his cousin, Michael Collins, is a former Bradford City FC manager, and currently leads Sheffield United’s under-21s.
He only joined Hull FC for the start of the 2024 season, in a move which was confirmed in October last year.
An away game against St Helens next week, if he’s still in the role, will be his first time taking charge in a Super League game.
Who is Francis Cummins?
Credit: Imago Images
Francis Cummins is another former Ireland international, and was also already in a role at Hull FC.
He was Head of Emerging Talent, working with younger players at the club.
A one-club man with Leeds Rhinos in his playing days, he became the youngest man to play in a Challenge Cup final at Wembley, at 17 years and 200 days, and scored a spectacular lenth-of-the-field try in their loss to Wigan.
He is the seventh-highest try scorer in Leeds Rhinos history, with 188, and won the 1999 Challenge Cup final.
Following retirement, he became assistant coach at Leeds Rhinos for four years, until becoming assistant at rival club Bradford Bulls.
He was promoted to head coach in 2012, but only lasted two years.
Cummins moved to Widnes Vikings to take another assistant coach role in 2017, later becoming head coach. He continued his Super League experience when becoming assistant at Wakefield in 2021.
He became Head of Emerging Talent at Hull FC in November last year.
