“I’m willing to take that risk” – Tony Smith explains he’ll still recruit young NRL stars despite Jake Clifford situation

Last week saw the confirmation of the news that Hull FC’s half-back star Jake Clifford was heading back to the NRL, something that had been largely expected and rumoured months ago, but North Queensland Cowboys’ official confirmation was quickly followed by the Super League sides.

Tony Smith was asked about that during his press conference prior to facing Wakefield Trinity today and he told BBC Humberside that it wasn’t a talking point among the team given that they’d known for a long period anyway.

“He’s been good,” Smith explained, continuing: “Listen I find it a little bit of deja vu because we’ve addressed it in this sort of forum before and I’ve answered those questions some time back about it. So I think it was more a response to the North Queensland Cowboys announcement that they’ve signed him.

“Listen, we’re all good with it. We totally understand Cliff’s decision and support it. I’ve enjoyed working with him and will continue to do so until he’s finished with us. I think we’ve been good for each other, both us as a club and him as a player for us.”

Clifford has been one of FC’s standout players this season, and at times one of the best in Super League, highlighting the class of some of those players who struggle even for gametime in the NRL.

Given how brilliant Clifford has been, Smith was asked if there was any element of regret of him leaving, particularly given the return down under came so soon, confirming he’d do the same sort of deal again without hesitation.

Smith explained: “The intention was always to get him back to the NRL, how long that took we weren’t ever going to be sure. When you go for young people to come over here rather than end of career people, then you know that there’s a likelihood if they’re good enough that they’ll go back to the other role. That’s part of why they’re here.

“Would we and or and or would I enter into one of those sort of deals again with a young person? Absolutely. Absolutely Absolutely, absolutely. Sometimes you might get somebody like Carlos who came at 23 and stayed for 8 years or so. Occasionally you’ll get one of those or you’re going to get some young guys who come over, make a good fist of it, get back there really quick to the NRL.

“Some of them, a lot of guys who come young still have the ambition to play NRL and you can’t blame him for that. Sometimes they change their mind once they get here and that’s great. I’m certainly willing to take that risk as a coach for sure.”

Clifford will hope to guide FC to victory today when they face Wakefield Trinity, knowing that a win could lift them back ahead of Huddersfield, but most importantly bring them without two points of playoff spots with fifth and sixth place Warrington and Hull KR both having lost on Friday.