Tony Clubb ban too lenient, says Hull FC boss Brett Hodgson

Hull FC coach Brett Hodgson has criticised Tony Clubb's eight-week ban as being "too lenient".
Wigan prop Tony ClubbWigan prop Tony Clubb
Wigan prop Tony Clubb

The Wigan prop was handed the lowest sentence possible for a Grade F charge for making a racist remark to Andre Savelio The RFL has yet to publish its full report but the FC forward claimed on Twitter he was called a "stupid Polynesian ****" during last Thursday's match.

Hodgson said: “My own personal opinion here, and I want to stress that, is that I thought it was too lenient in the current circumstances with everything that’s going on, but that’s my personal opinion.”

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Savelio is set to face Wigan again on Saturday in their Challenge Cup tie and Hodgson said: "I want to say how proud I am of how Andre handled himself, he was put in a very hard situation and there’s never a right time for racism in sport or life in general.

“The fact that Andre stood up for himself, his culture, his ethnicity, I was really proud of his actions from start to finish."

Hull, meanwhile, may be forced into the transfer market after prop forward Scott Taylor joined the club's injury list.

The Black and Whites' co-captain hobbled out of last Thursday's Super League defeat at Wigan and is facing a lay-off of up to two months with a foot problem.

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"He's got a fracture, a low-grade Lisfranc which could have been season-ending had it been higher than what it was," coach Hodgson said at his weekly press conference.

"Thankfully it's not the worst-case scenario, so he'll be back in about two months' time, hopefully."

With Josh Bowden still sidelined with an elbow injury and Brad Fash picking up a one-match ban, Hodgson's front-row resources are severely depleted for Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final against Wigan at Headingley.

It is an area Hodgson identified as a potential weakness before the season began and he says the club now may need to act quickly to bring in reinforcements.

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"We've continually looked into the market," he said. "We need to bring in someone who is going to improve our squad and not just fill a gap now.

"Things have changed slightly obviously so we are continuing to have those conversations. We're looking at the footage of certain players that we may be able to bring in but, unless they fit our culture, we will continue on the path we're on.

"Hopefully someone will pop up short term."

On the positive front, Hull will welcome back Australian stand-off Josh Reynolds and second rower Manu Ma'u for Saturday's cup-tie.

Reynolds scored three tries in his first two games for Hull but has missed the last four with a hamstring injury while Ma'u has missed the last three games with a calf problem.