Why Jake Connor was taken from the field early by Hull FC boss Brett Hodgson in dismal Castleford Tigers loss

Hull FC took on Castleford Tigers at the MKM Stadium on Friday night as Lee Radford went up against his old side on his former patch for the first time.

It was a highly-controversial first-half with Castleford rushing into an 8-0 lead before Hull FC hit back with three tries to lead 18-8 after Derrell Olpherts and Connor Wynne were sent to the sinbin for a scuffle.

However, one of those Hull efforts – Darnell McIntosh – looked like a no try as referee Chris Kendall sent it upstairs to Liam Moore. Moore found there was sufficient evidence to overturn the no try decision despite it being incredibly tough to see any grass between the ball and the dead-ball line.

Olpherts replied for the Tigers before the break as Hull led 18-14 at half-time.

It was all Castleford in the second-half, though, despite having Jake Mamo in the sinbin for dissent, the Tigers scored three tries to lead 30-18.

Two more followed as Olpherts made it four and the Tigers made it 42-18. And, Alex Sutcliffe was able to run 60 metres from another interception to round off the scoring at 46-18.

George Lawler was sinbinned on the hooter.

For Hull head coach Brett Hodgson, it was a pretty damning result.

“Second-half it was embarrassing. I don’t often say that, but we’re a team under any adversity we are struggling.

“We have a lack of willingness to put our bodies on the line and we didn’t come out of the sheds.

“Winning solves everything. We are really disappointed that being tough was pushing and shoving rather than defending our try line and that is not ok.

“The game was there to be won at half-time.”

Jake Connor played after recovering early from a bad MCL injury, but was taken off before the end. Hodgson has, however, revealed it was tactical but wouldn’t be drawn on whether he will play against Toulouse next weekend.

“Jake Connor is fine, the move (to take him off) was tactical, but I won’t let emotion decide anything (on next week).

“The 17 players didn’t do our jersey proud.”