Robert’s respected, says Smith
HULL FC head coach Tony Smith is encouraged by the early transparency and accountability from Robert Hicks and the RFL following Super League’s controversial start to the season.
Several high-profile card decisions and suspensions have dominated the early talking points, with Smith, among others, labelling the punishments as too ‘severe’ during his recent press conferences.
In response, the RFL have amended their framework on head-on-head contact after Fa’amanu Brown’s red card last week and are also set to review the severity of disciplinary charges after a pre-planned coaches meeting on Wednesday.
That follows numerous concerns shared throughout rugby league, from players, coaches, and the media, with players’ unions and even a strike entering the conversation, with the captains also having their own meeting this week.
However, with such transparency, it’s now hoped a better balance will be found in both the volume of cards handed out and, in the case of the Match Review Panel, ensure more reasonable punishments are given in terms of charges, fines, and bans. Smith, meanwhile, is giving Hicks, the RFL’S Director of Legal Operations, his full backing.
“I think anyone who has had anything to do with Robert Hicks will say he’s a reasonable guy,” Smith said ahead of Hull FC’S round-three game against London.
“He is willing to do what’s right and say what’s right – not just to say it but mean it. I think we all respect him and understand he’s trying his best under the circumstances.
“We’ve got our coaches meeting and there’s a meeting with at least captains which is great. It’s been a long time since those things have taken place, and I’m glad they’re doing it and touching base.
“As I said last week, the players need to be taken on this period of journey and change, just like the coaches, supporters and all the officials. They’ve probably had a slightly different interpretation from what some others have had
too. “It just depends on what messages have been given to each of the different areas that make a difference in how we all expect the changes to happen. When you don’t include everybody and you don’t put them all in the same room, sometimes that’s what happens: we get mixed messages.” Elsewhere, Smith also welcomed the appointment of Phil Bentham as the RFL’S Head of Referees, who replaces Steve Ganson, with the Hull FC boss believing young officials will have more ‘direction’ under the new appointment. He added: “Phil used to say, if he thought he got something wrong, put his hand up and say sorry. Respect. I think he will do a wonderful job cleaning up and training those young referees. “There are some terrific young referees who probably haven’t had a lot of direction for a long time. “This transition in the referees’ department has taken a long time to come around. It probably hasn’t been functioning at the highest of levels for a number of years now, but I think Phil will endeavour to get it back to what it should be.”