Smith remaining positive despite defeat

Hull KR Head Coach Tony Smith insists it is not all “doom and gloom” despite ending their regular season with a comprehensive 36-12 away defeat at Leeds Rhinos.

The result sees KR finish sixth , meaning face a tough trip to Warrington Wolves next Friday in the first week of the play-offs.

But despite a disappointing evening, Smith remains upbeat after the club achieved their greatest ever finish since 2009 and is excited by what the play-offs will bring.

He said: “We are not doom and gloom after tonight! We lost a game of footy by being beaten by a team who found some energy.

“They got their ‘tails kicked’ not so long back and they have found a way to get out and energise their opposition and that is what we now have to do.

“I am not saying we are over the moon with our performance by any means but we are also not doom and gloom and that this season is out of the window.

“We have had a terrific season so far and we are not ending yet. We have a week at least to get our gloves up and start swinging again.”

However, tonight’s match may have come at a heavy price as KR, yet again, lost more than one player to potentially serious injuries.

Elaborating on the injury situation, Smith added: “Will Maher has got a problem with his hamstring. We are hoping he has not torn it but we will find out.

“Matt Parcell has torn his pectoral. I presume that is a season ending injury but I do not know much more than that but having looked at him in the sling, I imagine so but I do not know until I talk to the doctor and the physio.

“Albert Vete pulled up in the captain’s run. He had a bit of a calf tightness that prevented him from running properly.”