Hull FC head coach Brett Hodgson has looked ahead to Saturday’s final game of the 2022 Betfred Super League season as the Black & Whites prepare to take on the Robins for the third time this season.
Hull are aiming to finish the season on a high with their fourth consecutive home victory over the Robins, but must do so without 14 of their first-team players due to an extensive list of injuries and suspensions.
Speaking to hullfc.com, Hodgson said: “It’s hugely important. We understand the enormity of it and that it’s a game we want to win at any time of the season.
“We need to put in a good performance, but not just because it’s the Derby, but for a big home crowd and that it’s our last game of the season.
“To get some momentum into the off-season I think is really important and our focus is on making sure we play well and respect our roles in our positions. We have to execute high, ask some questions and be brave.
“Rovers have a few personnel out as well but we only focus on ourselves. That was no different last week and it’s the same thing this week.”
And despite both teams being out of the play-off picture, Hodgson insisted the fixture of this magnitude is by no means “a dead-rubber”.
“It’s not a dead rubber. We know in the context of the season that we can’t make the finals but no way is this a dead rubber for us.
“I think you can imagine that Hull KR are the same. I expect it to be a big Derby with plenty of noise and plenty of rugby played. Hopefully we come out on the right side of the result.
“It is crucial that we perform well and get some more positivity. Not only as a club, but as a group of players and a team it can give us some enjoyment going into the off-season.”
“We’re disappointed with where we sit in the table,” Hodgson added. “We wanted to be in the top six this year and that was a big goal of ours.
“There has been a little bit of frustration at certain times of the year but there’s also optimism. I see plenty of things happening at our club and not all of them on the field.
“There’s plenty of good things happening behind the scenes with the youth set up, the women’s game, the centre of excellence progressing, and the recruitment – there’s plenty of positives. It takes time and we’re at the first steps of all that but it’s exciting and again it fills me with that optimism that we are heading in the right direction.”
Saturday’s fixture will be Hodgson’s fourth Derby since joining the club, with Hull’s head coach explaining his love for the fixture.
“I’ve loved them – I really have. Hearing the crowd that’s potentially going to be there is the biggest one I’ve been witness to as well so I’m super excited about that
“I think both sets of fans have understood where both teams are sitting and the adversity that they’ve both faced, but that means nothing on Saturday. We’re really excited about performing well and playing some good footy.
“They are different (to NRL games and Origin). It’s more of a battle between the two Hull teams. I just love the rivalry and I love how it separates families from each other for the week. It pretty much makes or breaks everyone’s week for the following week. It’s second to none and a huge occasion. It would have been great to play in one but to coach in these ones I am very privileged for that.
“You don’t get the rivalries as much in the NRL and I think that is something that is very unique to the English game. I thought that coming over here with the singing and the crowds and some of the anger the supporters throw your way when you’re on the field.
“The pure hatred for each other over the eighty minutes doesn’t exist in Australia and it’s something that I love over happy. There is a little bit of it in Origin but it’s just for a short period. Here it’s season long. It’s awesome.”
STORY SPONSOR
