Hull FC parted ways with head coach Brett Hodgson on Monday afternoon following a disappointing second half of the season that saw the Black and Whites finish in ninth position in the Super League table. It was also announced that assistant coach Kieron Purtill and Head of Performance Paul Hatton will leave the club.
Winning just three of their final 14 games, Hull capitulated for the second season in a row and the fifth year out of the last six, with the club making the tough decision to remove Hodgson from his position. However, that is far from the solution to all of Hull's problems.
There is a distinct lack of leadership within this Hull team. A lot of excuses are always made, but not a lot of people are actually taking any responsibility or finding solutions to why the capitulations keep happening season after season. There is a deep rooted issue here that has being going on for the last five years. When the players are asked why the collapses happen as often as they do, the answer tends to be "I'm not sure" or "It's hard to put a finger on it."
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There is little to no accountability and it shows on the pitch when the going gets tough. There is personnel sulking with hands on hips and heads looking at the floor as the side rolls over and succumbs to heavy defeats over and over again.
Of course, no-one is saying Brett Hodgson was perfect, not even Brett Hodsgon himself, but if the accounts that he lost the dressing room are to be believed, then the writing was on the wall. However, rather than falling out with the coach, those players need to look closer to home. It's alright showing some fight and getting peoples hopes up again after a gritty display at Salford or Huddersfield but what's that compared to a massacre at the hands of St Helens or Hull KR?
It's always about the manner of defeat and when that pride and passion goes out of the window every other week, it's an insult to the fans. Bad days at the office are only natural, but it's not much to ask to put your differences aside and justify yourself to the people who turn out to watch you every week. This Hull side didn't do that and that's why there is some apathy from fans to Monday's decision.
But with Hodgson now gone and two significant coaching changes to be made, not to mention a new Head of Performance also brought in, that blame game is wearing thin. The finger can only be pointed at themselves now and there is nowhere to hide.
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