It’s all about Hull FC’s response now – and in Paul Cooke’s view, the season can still be salvaged.
Hull FC half-back Aidan Sezer.(Image: SW PIX)
Paul Cooke has issued a ‘play or leave’ challenge to Hull FC’s players and believes the club’s season can still be ‘salvaged’ so long as they don’t ‘sulk and kick stones.’ The Black and Whites currently sit ninth in Super League on six points ahead of Friday’s game against Castleford Tigers, having won three of their opening eight matches.
Playing their final game under John Cartwright, effectively placed on gardening leave following Thursday’s game against St Helens, they are now hoping to kick on under interim coach Andy Last, with the former half-back believing Hull can still make something of their 19 remaining regular season rounds so long as they put ‘heart and soul’ into their performances.
FC – albeit in defeat – did exactly that against St Helens, with the challenge now to move on with Last after a turbulent two weeks and go again with the same spirit, grit, and effort against the Tigers, who produced one of the season’s shocks to defeat Wigan Warriors at the Brick Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“I think the season now depends on whether the players sulk and kick stones and if they want to do that, then don’t play,” Cooke, speaking on BBC Radio Humberside, said. “It’s as simple as that, just walk away.
“The game’s too tough but if you do want to play, then the season can be salvaged and if you want to put some heart and soul into it, then of course it can be salvaged. There’s still plenty of games left.”