Leeds Rhinos vs Hull FC

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36 | RHINOS VS HULL FC
HULL FC
SEASON SO FAR
Two wins at the start, including a 22-18
triumph here in round two, meant the
season started with optimism for the black
and white’s under new head coach Tony
Smith. Since then, they have suffered six
straight defeats, the last a painful one at
home in the Hull derby, Rovers running out
40-0 winners, only the second time a side
has been nilled in the fixture in the Super
League era. To further add to their woes,
there were injuries to Australian half back
Jake Clifford (ankle), Fijian international
Mitieli Vulikijapani (ankle) – who was named
on the bench for his first appearance of
the season – and veteran full back Jamie
Shaul (calf), also on his first start of the
campaign. Former Newcastle Knight, Tex
Hoy, brought in at the back this season,
is also currently out after suffering a
hamstring injury against Warrington the
week before, whilst Jake Trueman is yet to
be available as he recovers from an ACL
tear suffered whilst still with Castleford. In
addition, Kane Evans (dangerous contact)
and Vulikijapani (dangerous throw) were
charged with Grade B and C offences
respectively and received one-match penalty
notices from the RFL's Match Review Panel.
Smith described the Good Friday mauling
as a “major disappointment,” saying:
“We were downhearted and downbeat,
particularly that second half. In the first
we were much more competitive. We
conceded a couple of tries from kicks, and
they can do that to you. In the second half
there was lots between the two teams
in terms of sharpness and execution.”