Tony Smith tears into controversial Super League rule as it “encourages” cheating

Back at his old stomping ground, Hull FC coach led his side to a brilliant derby win over Hull KR today to avenge their huge defeat against the Robins at home and keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Black and Whites trailed 6-0 at the break but a brace of tries from Adam Swift either side of a Ligi Sao try gave them the win.

It was a captivating game but not the best quality wise especially in the first half and Danny Houghton revealed after the game that Smith had expressed his displeasure at the first 40.

When asked about this on Sky Sports, Smith reiterated it and also underlined his opposition for the six again rule: “I just told them what I thought of that first half. I wouldn’t broadcast it.

“I just don’t think it was great by either team to be honest.

“And look I am really not a fan of the six agains. It encourages people to flop on and stay in tackles and you start to get used to play the balls to the point that you don’t use the six agains.

“I think it spoils the game personally.”

However, he did praise his side’s second half display: “I just thought we played more direct and we had to today because we weren’t going to be able to play off the back of any fast play the balls unless we created things ourselves and we had to fight for that.

“I think our first set in the second half probably set the tone. They came back and responded pretty well and they realised that that was what they had to do and that was that.”

When asked about the club’s play-off hopes, he said:

“We will just keep plugging away. We all make predictions, some get them right and wrong. We will just have to see.”