New Hull KR signing Jordan Abdull believes he has finally proved to the world that he can become a Super League halfback and he hopes he can emphasise that message against his former employers across the city in 2020.
Abdull impressed for London Broncos in the halves last year, despite Danny Ward’s side ultimately being relegated on the final day of the season, even though Abdull led them to several crucial wins throughout the course of 2019, including wins against Hull KR.
Abdull made his Super League debut with Hull FC in 2014, playing three seasons with them before joining Hull KR on loan for their promotion season in 2017. After that he was back at the KCOM Stadium for 2018, before heading to London Broncos last year.
“It was a confidence building year with London for me,” Abdull told League Express.
“I struggled with consistency at Hull a lot. I think I had a really good year when I was at Rovers and then took a backward step when I was back at Hull.”
Looking back at his time at Hull, Abdull reflected: “With me and Radders (Lee Radford), he just didn’t know what position he wanted to play me and I didn’t know which position I was best suited to.
“He always tried to find a way to play me and I thank him for that, but we never quite knew how to get the best out of each other.
“I think it was that point in my career where I needed to find my feet and maybe go and experiment somewhere else. So I went as far away from Hull as I could to try find some consistency and the gamble paid off.
“There’s no bitterness towards them, but it would be nice for them to see me and say, ‘maybe he is a halfback after all’.”
Abdull excelled against Rovers several times last season, despite already knowing he had signed for the Robins for 2020 and potentially jeopardising their future in Super League.
But he said he hopes that the attitude he showed demonstrates why he will be an asset for Rovers this season.
“After the game you look around at other results, but leading up to the game I just focus on the job for the team you’re playing for,” he said.
“Next season wasn’t really my concern and I think I showed that when I played in the Hull KR game; I didn’t play like the guy who was signing for the team he was playing against.
“I played with the badge I was wearing. I hope, if anything, the KR fans and players know that’s what they are going to get from me at least for the next two seasons; play hard for the team he’s playing for now and not what he might be doing in a couple of years’ time.”
On Sunday the Robins suffered a blow when Mose Masoe was stretchered off the field against Wakefield Trinity and was taken to hospital with a neck injury, while Weller Hauraki suffered an ankle injury and will have a scan early this week.
