Pearson issues ultimatum to under-performing Hull FC players

The Black and Whites crashed out of the Challenge Cup and are in danger of missing out on the top eight and, thereby guaranteeing their place in Super League for 2016, after losing their last three matches.

Hull have a chance to atone for their midweek 26-16 defeat by the Wildcats when the sides meet in a return fixture at the KC Stadium on Sunday and Pearson says he is looking for a response.

“What went on on Wednesday night is not acceptable,” he said. “We’ve got to be wining those games to compete.

“We’re not happy at all about that performance and we need to bounce back this weekend.

“The players that we’ve got on the roster should be pushing for top four and they need to improve for the weekend, that is for sure.”

Pearson reiterated his support for coach Lee Radford, insisting the players must carry the blame for the team’s late-season slump which has seen them fall to ninth.

“If the players don’t perform, ultimately they won’t play at the club,” he added. “Some of them have got good contracts, some have got long contracts.

“But most haven’t and, if we don’t see an improvement, then obviously the squad has to change. The coach is working incredibly hard to put that right.

“I didn’t hear anybody calling for his head when we won eight out of 10. We’ve had a tricky run of games and you accept you’re not going to win all those. But we needed to win at Wakefield and we didn’t and questions are being asked but not of Lee, they’re being asked of myself and by myself and of the players.”