KR chief admits Cup run masked bad season

Hull KR CEO Mike Smith thinks that his club’s season has been a disappointment, despite the Robins reaching the Challenge Cup final.

They failed to secure a top-eight finish in Super League, however, and were thrashed 50-0 in the Cup final by Leeds.

“It is, in my opinion, a disaster that we haven’t hit the top-eight,” Smith told the Hull Daily Mail.

“Not because we’re fighting for our survival, that’s a disaster in itself, it’s because we need to be not looking to just squeeze into the top-eight.

“If that’s our ambitions, then that’s certainly not what the directors want, the coaching staff or the fans want.

“We just can’t afford to be seventh, eighth, ninth or tenth, it’s just not acceptable. It’s not going to keep this club sustainable. We’ve proved by getting to Wembley that we can win games.

“The Cup has probably masked the season we’ve had, really.”