Thursday night Hull FC secured a famous win over league leaders Wigan Warriors at home.
However it went right down to the wire.
Sky Sports commentator Stuart Pyke said “one more catch from Davy Litten to win the game” which was a fair assessment.
However, despite a brilliant and brave display by the young man who has impressed many lately, he fumbled the ball and it was scooped up by Joe Shorrocks.
Wigan had a minute to score and had open space to attack but, making his Hull FC debut, halfback Jake Trueman clung on to Shorrocks for too long giving away a penalty for a professional foul and being sin binned.
However, in many ways this action won the game for Hull as they held on 14-10 with Wigan making an error in their attacking set now that the Hull defence had had a chance to reset.
After the game Tony Smith addressed this moment speaking to BBC Radio Humberside.
“I didn’t want him off the park but I don’t want him off the player any quickly either.
“I want him to be like many of the other tackles on first play within the game. Go time them all and some of them won’t be much different but I wouldn’t call it a harsh call.
“There were plenty of other things in the game that had a bigger influence than that.
“I don’t know if the referee had a choice or whether having 12 men for the last 50 seconds, 10 metres from your own tryline is a good play either. He won’t get a pat on the back for it.”
Many have said the tackle was a clutch play but also an example of the dark arts within the game.
The match review panel have taken no further action against Trueman with there being little they can do in the matter where it has been deemed he only committed a professional foul.
The same can be said of Leeds Rhinos’ Blake Austin.
