Hull FC still to finalise half-back option after 'fast' and 'bizarre' Ben Reynolds exit

Simon Grix has confirmed that it will be 'very difficult' for Hull FC to bring in a new half-back in time to play Hull KR in the 246th derby this Saturday afternoon.

The Black and Whites were dealt with the shock departure of Ben Reynolds on Monday, with the club now assessing their options for a replacement. There has been some outside noise that such replacement could come externally, with Grix suggesting that such a formality would be 'tough.'

That means Hull will have to look internally, with Jack Charles looking to prove his fitness after picking up a knock playing for the academy on Saturday. Grix also confirmed that there are other options for Hull to go at, but in terms of a new addition, it is unlikely.

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Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Grix said: "This season, it's very difficult (to bring someone in). We've had players outgoing, and for whatever reason, it's tough to get them to come back the other way.

"Unfortunately, we're in a position where other teams don't want to help us or can't. I'd hope it's more that they can't help us. Everyone is going through their own stuff and issues with injuries and so on and so forth, so it's difficult for other teams to let them out.

"That's the position we find ourselves in. It is what it is. You've got to take your medicine when this happens and try to find that silver lining, which is that our young blokes are getting more game time. It can be too many at once at times, but we just have to get on with it."

Hull, meanwhile, had an understanding that Reynolds would be on loan at the club until the end of the season. However, Grix has indicated that it was the player who instigated a move to Featherstone Rovers, with the 30-year-old going to then-parent club Hull KR to release him from his contract and facilitate the move to West Yorkshire.

"It's a bizarre scenario, to be honest," Grix said on Reynolds. "It all happened very fast. I was absolutely oblivious. I probably found out ten minutes before it ended up reaching the paper. I've got a bit of a story, but it's not for me to share. There was an understanding in place, but he has chosen to go his own way.

"It's disappointing, the timing of it, but I'm not going to speak ill of Ben. I'm sure he's got his reasons to move on and secure his future elsewhere. That's his prerogative at the end of it all, but it is disappointing in what it means for us.

"We were only speaking last week about what Benny brought, how he's freed Truey up a bit, and how Truey is finding his feet. Although it wasn't perfect and we still weren't where we liked to be, it was looking a bit more joined up, but again, it is what it is. We can't drag Benny back in here and force him to play. We'll move on."

And as for Charles, Grix added that the club will assess the fitness of the teenager later this week, with the 18-year-old not completely ruled out of the derby clash.

"We've got other options, and we'll go with them," Grix added. "We've got potential positional shifts for some. Charlesy is nursing a bit of a knock. He's trained alright today, but we will have to check on a knock at the very last minute to see what it looks like.

"Morgan Smith has also played in the halves this year, but it's a little bit unknown if I'm perfectly honest. We'll name a squad that covers us for the number of blokes we've got question marks over.

"Whatever team goes out there, it might not be the most experienced or the prettiest in terms of names on paper, but we still have an expectation to have a dig and put a shift in. We won't roll over regardless, but we're going to be up against it."

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