One of the stories of the season broke this morning as Hull FC confirmed the appointment of former Hull KR boss Tony Smith.
Smith takes over at the club ahead of 2023 after the club recently parted company with former Man of Steel Brett Hodgson by mutual consent.
Smith brings great pedigree having led teams to Grand Finals on six different occasions, finishing top of the league three times, guiding teams to the Challenge Cup Final five times and even lifting the World Club Challenge in 2005.
He leaves every club in a better place than where he found it most recently taking Hull KR from the bottom of Super League into the Super League semi-finals which was oddly less than a year ago despite the news this morning that he’d be taking the reigns at Hull KR’s most bitter rivals Hull FC next season.
Massive news, it still falls in the shadow of grief sadly sparked by the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday night which saw a minute’s silence observed prior to last night’s play-off clash between Catalans and Leeds as well as the singing of the national anthem. The same is expected today at the John Smith’s Stadium as Huddersfield host Salford in the other play-off battle.
Nonetheless, Hull FC deserve credit for their approach in breaking the news which very well may have been delayed by the sad passing of Her Majesty on Thursday with initial reports expecting the announcement to come before the weekend.
The club showed their respect in a brief statement before the announcement of the news and stated that following it the club would return to silence on social media as we mourn the passing of Great Britain’s longest serving monarch.
The statement read: “Shortly the club will make a pre-planned announcement followed by brief updates on our academy semi-final fixture against St Helens later this afternoon.
“In reflection of the period of national mourning following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, this coverage will be respectful and low key.
“As a mark of respect, our official channels will fall silent again for the remainder of the weekend thereafter.”
A short statement from Hull FC ahead of a pre-planned club announcement this morning… pic.twitter.com/XqCGrwlaFY
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) September 10, 2022
