Hull FC suffer huge blow

We have some huge games coming this weekend with Leeds Rhinos hosting Hull KR, Wigan Warriors battling with Warrington Wolves and St Helens and Catalans Dragons colliding but we cannot overlook the importance of the game between Hull FC and Castleford Tigers on Saturday.

This game is crucial for Castleford who sit two points above Wakefield Trinity at the bottom of the league who take on Huddersfield Giants on Friday night.

The Tigers did have a six point advantage on Trinity in the relegation battle but that advantage has dissipated after Wakefield’s back to back wins over Salford Red Devils and Wigan.

But the game is also huge for Hull FC who closed the gap on the top six down to just four points with a win over Hull KR.

This came after a difficult first half at Craven Park which Tony Smith wasn’t too pleased about

“I just told them what I thought of that first half. I wouldn’t broadcast it,” he said on Sky Sports.

“I just don’t think it was great by either team to be honest.”

However, he did praise his side’s second half display: “I just thought we played more direct and we had to today because we weren’t going to be able to play off the back of any fast play the balls unless we created things ourselves and we had to fight for that.

“I think our first set in the second half probably set the tone. They came back and responded pretty well and they realised that that was what they had to do and that was that.”

When asked about the club’s play-off hopes, he said:

“We will just keep plugging away. We all make predictions, some get them right and wrong. We will just have to see.”

To continue those play-off hopes Smith needs his side to defeat Castleford on Saturday.

But they will have to do so without star fullback Tex Hoy who faces three weeks out with a hamstring injury.

He went off at the start of the second half against Hull KR and will miss this clash.