Hull FC’s new signing from the NRL, Josh Reynolds, is looking forward to playing in front of the Hull supporters at the KCOM Stadium in 2021 and he admits that was one of the factors that motivated him to sign for the Airlie Birds.
But it was the presence of new Hull coach Brett Hodgson that was the decisive factor.
“Whether I finish my career there or not, I want to make sure I can sit in a pub in ten years’ time and think I had a really good crack there and made some memories and everyone loved me,” Reynolds told a media conference.
“I’ve heard that the Hull fans can really embrace someone who is passionate and loves the club. It was like that at the (Canterbury) Bulldogs and I definitely want it again.”
Reynolds will join Hull after three relatively unproductive seasons at the Wests Tigers, and he admitted he yearns to return to the success he enjoyed while at Canterbury.
“To be completely honest, I miss it. And that’s not to say I was a hero at the Bulldogs, but I grew up as a local junior and the fans did embrace me. It was a great feeling.
“I want to create that in Hull. I’d love the fans to love me. Halfway through the season I think the people of Hull will really know what I’m about. I want to bring them joy, because that’s the power we have, to put smiles on people’s faces.
“You’re kidding yourself if you’re saying you don’t care what the fans think. You can go out on the field and give your all and it might not be good enough, but I’m a fan of other sports and if I look at someone and they’ve given everything, what can you say?”
But Reynolds admits that Hodgson was a key factor in persuading him to sign for Hull. The two were together at the Wests Tigers, where Hodgson was an assistant coach.
“He sort of tossed it up to me,” explained Reynolds.
“At the start I probably had a 20 per cent chance of coming, but then slowly talking to him and other people, and me feeling how I was at that point, I realised I needed a change and there is probably no bigger change than going to a new team at the other side of world.”
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