It was a good, solid display
TONY Smith was delighted with the manner of Hull FC’S performance at Wakefield Trinity.
The Black and Whites put in a solid and professional display on Thursday night to avoid a potential bump in the road and come out 26-6 winners.
Wakefield were spirited throughout and had a real go, but Hull, as they have been for three games in a row now, were committed and fully focused on their job.
They were defensively sound and did enough with the ball to eventually put their opponents out of sight.
“It was just a good, solid performance,” Smith told the Mail.
“I’m pleased. I was pleased with the way the players went about the whole match.
“They’re having a real dig are Wakefield. They did last week and they have been a lot, if you watch their games, they’re no easy beats. They’re going to be tough and they’re getting more determined to get that elusive win that they’re looking for.
“My boys were fully committed - you could see that from the start. The score-line at half-time, I didn’t care. I cared about the commitment my team showed to each other, to the cause, to the game and to the badge. I loved it. “There were some times where they were on the rack down there and they were covering for each other and turning up and making sure our opponents didn’t cross our try line. There was real pride there. I didn’t see that earlier in the season, not in the same way.
“I like some of the early attacking players well. I thought it did some damage, even though it didn’t score points for us, I thought the points would come later because of some of the pressure that we put our opponents under with those good plays. We did a pretty solid job there.
“It turned out alright. We scored some more points, some good stuff and scored some good tries. I liked watching the outside backs run into space and looking smooth and interchanging passes and supporting one another. I love those rugby league tries and we saw a couple of those.”
Tries from Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Liam Sutcliffe and Scott Taylor sealed the win but it was the cohesive defensive showing that impressed Smith the most.
Significantly improved on where they were several weeks ago, Hull have got a spirit and it’s coming to the fore when they need it the most.
Smith recognised that, praising his side’s conduct as they got their third successive win on the bounce and fifth of the season from their opening dozen games.
“I still saw a committed team in defence, despite the scoreline, and I saw the disappointment where we had our one mess up when they scored,” Smith added. “It’s a good reminder for us. I was pleased for the players.
“They’re working really hard for one another and it becomes contagious. They don’t want to let each other down. If you don’t let the person down, or they’re not letting you down, they’ve got to turn up for the other person.
“That’s where they’re at at the moment. I’m really pleased. Hopefully, we can keep that sort of attitude and that commitment to each other going forward.”