Hull FC’s play off hopes are all but over after defeat to Leeds Rhinos with Warrington Wolves and Hull KR now six points clear with three games to go.
They had to beat Leeds really to keep their hopes alive but came up short with a Sam Lisone hat trick punishing.
Speaking on BBC Radio Humberside after the game, Smith addressed what went wrong:
“Yeah, it wasn’t the performance we were after, particularly the first half. I thought we were going to get together a bit at half time.
“Scotty Taylor’s error, trying to put a little hole in that balloon straight after half time. That happens, and I’m just talking to him about that.
“I thought we were way better in the second half, we looked more like what we’ve played like at times this year. The first half didn’t resemble it, it looked lack of intensity, lack of smarts at times.
“We’re not the biggest team in the world and we’re not going to go through the middle of too many teams in the comp, everybody knows that. When we moved the ball a little bit, particularly coming out of our own half, we had some success and got on a bit of a roll and it allowed us to go down the other end and see what it was like down the other end of the field.
“We just didn’t do enough of that in the first half, but even when we did I thought we just a little bit forcing things rather than seeing what to play and picking the right plays. But, listen, that’s us.
“I don’t want to take anything away from Leeds. They were more intense than us. They deserve their win. They deserved to be in a lead, a healthy lead at half-time.
“I don’t know whether some of it’s a bit of a distraction of whether we can make it or not make it, whether that handling, that pressure. We got a bit of an answer to that today.
“We just need to get that intensity and a bit of our DNA back into our performances. Hopefully we can find that next week.”
He also highlighted the injuries his side suffered:
“It is a tough time of the year when you’re losing people. I’m not going to make those as excuses, but Jordan Lane played over three quarters of that game at left centre.
“He sadly picked up an injury when he went for that offload and he’s got some bruising around his ribs that he needed replacing. So yeah, it sort of throws you out of whack, so you’re down to three subs and your rotation and then Taylor goes off for HIA, so your bench doesn’t look exactly what you planned.
“That’s the time of year it is. The good news is we’ll get Carlos back next week, that’s an older head that comes back into the team.
“I thought Danny Houghton was terrific again today and Swifty, with Swifty who is Mr Consistency for us as well.
“I thought Jack Brown probably had his best game. I said that last week and I think he’s gone again. So he’s upped it.”
Hull started the better as you might expect but Leeds defended well and Andre Savelio was perhaps guilty of overplaying at one point.
Leeds then struck first with a kick over the top with Luke Hooley on hand to score and make it 4-0.
Rhyse Martin would soon add a penalty to make it 6-0 to the Rhinos.
In a season of inconsistencies for Hull, one consistent has been the try scoring form of Adam Swift who scored again to make it 6-4 with Jake Clifford missing the effort at goal.
Leeds were the side who finished the half stronger with Sam Lisone maintaining his great form lately with his first two Leeds tries.
He barged over off an offload to make it 12-4 and it was 18-4 after he powered over from close range just before the break.
Straight after the break a Hull FC error led to a David Fusitu’a try to make it 22-4.
Hull FC needed a response and they got one when Barron went over in the corner despite an attempted tackle from Derrell Olpherts.
They were even closer when Cam Scott scored a try that needed a long debate from the officials to determine that it should be awarded.
Hull were turning up the heat and Leeds needed more good defence and the hand of Derrell Olpherts to stop Hull from scoring.
Clifford’s missed goals meant that they trailed 22-12 and needed to score in this period especially with Lisone crossing for a stunning hat trick storming through from 20 out and wrong footing the fullback to make it 28-12.
A devastating defeat for Hull FC that all but ends their season and their chances of making the play offs.
For Leeds their chances of making the play offs are still alive.
