Tony still our man says Hill

WARRINGTON captain Chris Hill says the players are backing head coach Tony Smith despite their disastrous start to the season.

The Wolves face Hull FC today rock-bottom of the Super League table after six straight defeats.

Former Leeds and England boss Smith has been in charge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium since March 2009 and has come under scrutiny in the wake of his side’s horrendous run.

Hull, who have won five of their six games, are strongly fancied to inflict a seventh defeat.

Yet Hill, below, said: “We’re backing Tony, we’re right behind him, that’s not even questionable.

“When you’re down at the bottom, you don’t get those 50-50 calls or the bounce of the ball. It’s just the way it happens, but we have to make our own luck.

“We know we’ve got it in our armoury but we’re beating ourselves at the moment.

“We’ve got to be honest about it or we’ll get nowhere. People don’t like it sometimes but there are things that have had to be said.”

Having boasted the Super League’s strongest attack in 2016, Warrington have posted just 78 points from their six games this season – the joint-worst in the competition along with Widnes.

England prop Hill said: “There won’t be many times you see us as underdogs but our form dictates we are. Hull will be expected to do a job on us but we don’t want to make it seven losses in a row.

“Everyone’s working hard towards the same goal – as captain I want to carry on leading them. The vibe in the dressing room is still very good. People on the outside will say different but we know what we’re capable of.”

Wolves centre Ryan Atkins returns after a hamstring injury, while second-rower George King is set to make his first appearance of the season.

Hull will switch Danny Washbrook to hooker in the absence of Danny Houghton, who has a calf strain.