Hull FC Make Coaching Change as Tony Smith Departs, Cummins and Grix Take Interim Charge
In a significant development in the world of rugby league, Hull FC have parted ways with head coach Tony Smith, with immediate effect. This marks the first coaching change of the 2023 Super League season.
The announcement, made at 11:30 am this morning through an official club statement, saw Smith become the first Super League manager to face the axe this year, after just seven games into the campaign. Hull FC’s sole victory so far came against the league’s bottom side, London Broncos.
To fill the void, the club has placed Francis Cummins and Simon Grix in charge of the first team on an interim basis. Both men are no strangers to the rugby league scene, bringing a wealth of experience to the table.
Grix, a former Ireland international, previously served as an assistant coach under the departed Smith. He made 164 appearances for Warrington Wolves between 2006 and 2015, scoring 47 tries and winning three Challenge Cups. Grix also had spells at Halifax Panthers, and even gained experience as a head coach, taking the reins at Halifax on a permanent basis in 2019.
Cummins, another former Ireland international, has a storied coaching career spanning various Super League clubs. After retiring as a player, he spent four years as an assistant coach at Leeds Rhinos before taking the head coach role at Bradford Bulls. More recently, he held assistant coaching positions at Widnes Vikings and Wakefield Trinity, before joining Hull FC last year as the Head of Emerging Talent.
The duo will now be tasked with steadying the ship at Hull FC, who currently sit 10th in the Sky Sports/BBC rugby league table with just one victory to their name. Fans and pundits alike will be keen to see how Cummins and Grix navigate the side’s upcoming fixtures, including a challenging away game against league leaders St Helens next week.
This coaching change at Hull FC is sure to capture the attention of rugby league enthusiasts and betting site punters alike, as the race for Super League glory intensifies. With Cummins and Grix now at the helm, the club will be hoping to turn their fortunes around and climb the table in the coming weeks.
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