Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has backed Davy Litten after a key error cost the Black and Whites a try in their defeat to Wakefield Trinity.
Litten has played full-back the past two weeks in the absence of Will Pryce, who is out for the season, however, he had another difficult night on Thursday.
The 22-year-old accounted for three of Hull FC’s nine errors, however, his failure to claim a high kick on the eve of half-time cost the Black and Whites a try, which ultimately proved the difference in the 14-10 loss.
Head coach John Cartwright rued his side’s erroneous ways but rather than looking to Litten, he pointed to the set prior that saw Hull FC give up possession through a Ligi Sao knock-on on tackle three, and with just 40 seconds of the half to be played.
Speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, he said: “We just made some errors. Even the error where they score the try on half-time, if we just lock it under our arm and get to the end of the set then they don’t score that try. It’s really hurting us, it’s costing us.
“It was (costly) but we shouldn’t have been in that position. We had the ball with less than a minute to go and we made an error, which gave them the opportunity to have three plays and they scored.”
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Hull FC boss backs Davy Litten after difficult night
Whilst Cartwright was keen to point out the fact that Wakefield should not have even had the ball to end the first half had Hull FC taken care of it, he was also asked about Litten’s failure to claim the catch which ultimately led to Oliver Pratt scoring.
Cartwright admitted: “Yes, Davy should have attacked the ball but we shouldn’t have been in that position. We put ourselves in that position with the error with less than a minute to go.
“It’s a high-pressure position. I’ve put him there and he hasn’t played a lot there so I take full responsibility but he is showing so many good signs in and around where he’s come up short.”
As for what’s to come at full-back, where the likes of Zak Hardaker, Logan Moy and Callum Kemp are all options, Cartwright said options will be discussed as he again issued a staunch defence of Litten.
He said: “We’ll discuss things but it doesn’t matter where you play Davy, he gives you 100% effort. He loves the club, he loves his teammates and he’s the first guy you pick every week.
“We’ll have a look at that through the week and make some decisions.”
In respect to his side’s start of just one win in four, he added: “We started better last year as far as results go but I’m not going to panic, I liked what I saw and we’ve got improvements in us.”
