Hull FC: Tony Smith makes huge admission

After conceding 50 points or more for the second week in a row, Hull FC boss Tony Smith has reflected on the defeat to Huddersfield Giants in the Challenge Cup.

After the game, Smith reflected on the defeat when he spoke to BBC Radio Humberside and said it wasn’t “a good feeling.”

He said: “It’s not a good feeling, it’s not a nice feeling and until we get sick of the taste of that and we do something about it ourselves, it’s in nobody else’s hands but ourselves. So, unfortunately, we’ve got to taste that horrible feeling and taste in our mouths that we’re left with after games like that.

“It’s not pleasant when you’re going through these parts and stages of redevelopment and rejigging your old culture. Sometimes you’ve got to suffer some hard parts of that until it actually sinks in, unfortunately.”

Asked if the loss was down to culture, Smith responded: “You get used to performing well and winning well and you get in routines of doing that but it takes practice and it takes time to get to that stage and understanding.

“It’s been a while since some of our players have won regularly and on a consistent basis. It’s been a while for some and we’ve got some young guys who probably never experienced it at a senior level. They may well have experienced it at a junior level, but it’s a different thing. We’ve got some people learning some hard lessons at the moment, that’s for sure.”

Hull FC “Not at the same level as opponents”

Smith went on to admit that his side were not competing at the same level as their opponents “At the moment, we’re not competing on the same level as some of our oppositions. They’ve gone through some heartache here at this place to get through to where they’re performing well again and more consistently. We’re going to have to hopefully find our way through it very soon. Otherwise it becomes arduous and we don’t want to get to that point.

“We wanted a response and we were hoping that it was going to be this week but sometimes it takes a little bit longer for a week or two.”