WOLVES boss Tony Smith says his players can hold their heads high despite their 12-10 Challenge Cup Final loss to Hull FC.

Tries from Matty Russell and Ben Currie had given The Wire a 10-0 lead at Wembley, but Mahe Fonua and Jamie Shaul scores ensured the Black and Whites won at the national stadium for the first time.

Smith admitted the loss was extremely tough to take and that his players were hurting but he was proud of their performance.

“It was a superb game to be involved in, in terms of defence we were terrific. We've got to handle it, congratulations to Hull for the way they kept going,” he said.

“It hurts, it was so close and could have gone either way.

“It is a cliche that we’re in a game of inches but that's how it was today. I was so proud of my boy's efforts, we were exceptional in the way we defended.

“We're handling it together and with dignity. Our test will be if we get to another one to try and reverse it.

“We're a proud club, we won't sulk about this for too long as we should be proud of our efforts in this game.”

With the score at 6-0 in the second half, Kurt Gidley missed a relatively-straight forward penalty kick which proved crucial in such a tight game.

However, Smith refused to attach any blame to his veteran half-back, who went off with a bloodied eye area after an hour.

He also said the game was exactly what the competition needed.

“Kurt has a lacerated eye socket area. He's struggling a bit physically and emotionally like a lot of the boys,” he said.

“It would have been nice to get to 8-0 but its all ifs and buts. It was a fantastic game of rugby league.

“There were some terrific passages of play, we've got to accept it and we should celebrate it as a sport.

“We've been after a spectacle at this stadium for a while and both teams delivered it.”

Smith also confirmed Ben Westwood sustained a pectoral injury and would be assessed before next week’s trip to Catalans Dragons.