Hull FC: Jon Wilkin has honest say on Tony Smith situation

After a second derby defeat of the 2024 Super League season as they lost 34-10 to Hull KR, questions were asked of Hull FC.

The Black and Whites have only won one game so far this season and have lost twice to their biggest rivals.

It is another rough start to the season akin to last year when, after two wins to start the year, they went on a losing run.

So, naturally questions have been asked of Head Coach Tony Smith but on Sky Sports Jon Wilkin scoffed at any suggestion that the club should part ways with Smith having a very brutally honest say on the current squad.

He said: “I don’t think this squad can get anywhere near the play-offs. If you gave them two years I don’t think they would get in the play-offs. Now a project is three years, four years, five years. I think they could change the coach and still wouldn’t make the play-offs.

“I don’t think he’s the problem. It’s the squad that’s not good enough.”

Hull FC boss praises youngster

Hull FC may have had a tough start to the Super League season but there have been some young players who have impressed.

Among them is young Jack Charles who Tony Smith likened to Hull KR star Mikey Lewis who he helped develop.

He said on BBC Radio Humberside: “There’s a lot of similarities in a lot of things such as where we were at different stages and some of the holes that we were fighting through to become a more resilient team, and a tougher team, and a smarter team.

“We forget about all those things, and everybody thinks it’s just happened overnight. You go through a whole lot of pain to get there, and sometimes it’s protecting some of those young guys, sometimes it’s dropping them and not picking them because you don’t want to overexpose them too soon, and you want them to develop, and you don’t want them to get bashed around and be on the wrong side of some bad score lines that you’re going through.

“We’ve got some more young guys we’d like to introduce as well but I’d like us to be travelling a bit better before we do that, although Jack’s handled most of it pretty well.”