CONNOR BAILEY is getting stuck into his first pre-season at Hull FC glad for an appreciation of what hard work really looks like.
That’s because the backrower has spent the past two years earning his crust on building sites alongside playing part-time at York Knights.
Aged 25, Bailey has already had quite a journey, from five Covid-era Super League appearances at Wakefield Trinity, through an adverse spell with Newcastle Thunder, to glories with York.
He won the 1895 Cup and League Leaders’ Shield at the Knights, both after already committing to the move to Hull and a return to full-time rugby for the first time since Newcastle’s short-lived attempt at professionalism persuaded him to leave Wakefield four years ago.
Bailey said of returning to Super League: “When I went to Newcastle it was still the goal, but when I went to York and I started working and playing part-time, that’s when I started to think (it wouldn’t happen).
“I did a bit of work in schools in my last year at Newcastle but when I went to York, that’s when I realised I needed to get used to it and get a job.
“I was working on a building site for my uncle’s company. We fit things like gates and railings, so I was doing that for two years.
“It’s tough. You probably realise how tough it is when you’re not doing it. Going to work, going straight to training and then getting back up for work. I take my hat off to the lads who are doing that every week.
“But I did learn a lot, it was a new skill. I enjoyed it, but I would be lying if I said I wasn’t glad to see the back of building sites, for the next couple of years at least.”
Professionalism isn’t just about a full-time squad, however, as Newcastle found to their detriment.
After spending the 2021 season there on loan, Bailey joined a newly full-time operation the following year.
He recalled: “It was a weird time. We weren’t winning any games, we weren’t getting fans, and it all fell through.
“But I lived up there for three years and loved it. The first year we were all thrown into student accommodation – I think the club regretted it pretty quickly! There were about 12 of us all living together.
“We were quite a young group and it was all new to us. That’s probably one of the reasons it didn’t work out for us.”
Based back in Wakefield, it’s a different story now in the Hull set-up as Bailey bids to show he deserves a regular Super League place.
He added: “It’s my first year back full-time at a club like this, so for me it’s about playing as many games as possible, and to stay in the team when I do get my chance. That’s all I can do.”