Hull FC head coach Tony Smith has responded to suggestions and reports that forward Jack Brown is a name atop the wishlist of a number of clubs.
The 23-year-old prop has been one of the more impressive players in what has been a nightmare season so far for Hull FC and as he heads off contract at the end of the season it’s meant that his name has been banded about by other clubs in the market.
Reports of Brown being a player of interest first came from Hull Live who named the forward as one of the players that has started to attract market attention, something that Tony Smith was asked about in his pre-game presser when speaking to BBC Humberside.
Smith was very blase about the situation and disregarded it, explaining that the same situation happens every year with a multitude of players.
He noted: “We’ll talk to Jack along the way. That’s his manager’s job, to get his name in the news and you guys oblige, you like those sort of stories. So it’s a good marketing tool.
“We’ll keep talking to Jack and helping to improve Jack and I thought he played one of his stronger games last week for us. His manager probably wouldn’t have said too much if he had a bit of a stinker this week. Now there are clubs interested in him, of course.
“Any player that’s off contract for next year with a manager, their managers are talking to other clubs. That’s from every club. So if you want to go through the list of all the players who are off-contract in our place, their managers are talking to clubs elsewhere.
“All the players that are off contract at every other club are talking to us about their players who are off contract and then you guys go back and say to their club, ‘The reports are that Hull are interested in’ etc. That’s just how it works.
“We could go through each one of our off-contract players and say that there’s clubs interested in for next year. We’ll work through it and we’ll offer contracts accordingly. Some we’re going be able to keep, some we won’t, and some we’ll want to and some we won’t.”
Hull FC players need to find form before they can discuss contracts confirms Smith
Credit: Imago Images
As referenced by Smith, one of the reasons that Jack Brown has perhaps become a talking point in the market is because his performances have been to a high level, something that can’t be said for too many other Hull FC players with Smith even stating previously that “the world’s telling us how bad we are”.
The Black and Whites have lost five from six in Super League whilst also being dumped out of the Challenge Cup, the sole win being a last-minute winner against promoted London Broncos.
In those six Super League games Hull FC have conceded 196 points, an average of just over 32 points per game, whilst only scoring 64 which is just four more than London.
Smith continued by explaining: “We’re in April at the moment. I don’t know how many of my players who are off-contract want to get judged at the moment on their form. I think most of the guys who are off-contract want to get a bit of form before they come knocking at the door saying can I have a contract for next year? It’s logical.”
That form could potentially be turned around this weekend with Huddersfield Giants visiting the MKM Stadium, a chance for Hull FC to avenge their humiliating 50-6 defeat in the Cup.
Smith concluded by revealing that he hadn’t had discussions with Jack Brown but that those above him will likely be lining up conversations.
“No. He will talk to my CEO about it, James, and he’ll have had discussions with him. But not me personally. I’m there to try and get Jack to play good, without talking to him about whether he’s going to get the contract from me or the club for next year.”
