Hull FC head coach Tony Smith has named Tex Hoy in his 21-man squad to face Catalans Dragons after he previously revealed the Australian had been dropped.
The former-Newcastle Knights man’s absence from the Hull FC squad made headlines when the squad was announced with FC going on to beat London Broncos narrowly.
Speaking to the press after the match, Tony Smith said: “Just team selection, and just, combinations and… yeah, it was just and opportunity for somebody else to show what they can do in the half-back position. It’s probably not Tex’s preferred position, in the half-back position, and Jack [Charles] has been doing alright at fullback.
“That was a week where we thought we’d have a look at the other half-back combinations.
“Morgan [Smith] stayed at the left side, that he was very good at last week, and then Nu [Brown] came out to the right side, Danny Houghton came back in.”
Hoy was selected to play as stand-off against Warrington Wolves, but his side were defeated 36-10.
Despite the result, he received praise for his performance, with many suggesting that ‘team selection’ is unlikely to be the real reason for his drop out of the squad.
Smith also mentioned that he saw the current situation as a chance to give some younger names a chance: “[It was] an opportunity for Jack Charles to come in and have a crack, who can cover at fullback and half-back. We saw it as an opportunity for one of our young and up and coming stars to have a crack.
“There’s competition for places, that’s a good thing. You’ve got to be on your game, on everything, in order to be selected.”
Hoy hasn’t shone as some expected but he has certainly shown flashes since his arrival from Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2023 season, and we could see those flashes in Perpignan this week as Hoy has been named in the travelling squad.
Hull FC make decision on Tex Hoy
Hull FC’s next match is away at the Stade Gilbert Brutus, playing the Catalans Dragons live on Sky Sports and SuperLeague+, on Saturday,9 March at 5:30pm, and the squad has now been named.
Herman Ese’ese returns after his ban but Franklin Pele still has one game to serve for his moment of madness in the derby on opening night.
Ese’ese’s return is at the expense of the suspended Jack Brown though with Hull FC still missing 12 members of their first-team squad.
They are, as stated on the club website: “Liam Tindall (thumb), Jake Trueman (Achilles) Brad Fash (ankle), Joe Cator (hamstring), Cam Scott (calf), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Harvey Barron (hamstring) Zach Jebson (ankle), Kye Armstrong (shoulder) and Cobie Wainhouse (knee) all continue their recovery from injury, while Liam Sutcliffe and Franklin Pele remain suspended.”
With Hoy returning, the team in full can be seen below.
1 – Tex Hoy
3 – Carlos Tuimavave
5 – Darnell McIntosh
7 – Fa’amanu Brown
8 – Herman Ese’ese
9 – Danny Houghton
11 – Jayden Okunbor
12 – Ligi Sao
15 – Jordan Lane
16 – Jack Ashworth
19 – Morgan Smith
21 – Will Gardiner
23 – Davy Litten
24 – Nick Staveley
26 – Lewis Martin
28 – Denive Balmforth
29 – Charlie Severs
31 – Jack Walker
40 – Jack Charles
41 – Matty Russell
42 – Joe Bullock
Meanwhile, Steve McNamara has named an unchanged squad.
1. Arthur MOURGUE
2. Tom DAVIES
3. Arthur ROMANO
4. Matthieu LAGUERRE
5. Fouad YAHA
6. Jayden NIKORAMA
7. Théo FAGES
8. Mike McMEEKEN
10. Julian BOUSQUET
11. Tariq SIMS
12. Paul SEGUIER
13. Benjamin GARCIA
14. Alrix Da COSTA
15. Bayley SIRONEN
16. Romain NAVARRETE
20. Chris SATAE
21. Matt IKUVALU
23. Jordan DEZARIA
24. Tom JOHNSTONE
27. Jordan ABDULL
28. Franck MARIA
