Ligi Sao says he can’t wait to share the KCOM Stadium with Hull FC’s members again in 2021 ahead of the start of the Betfred Super League season.
The Samoan international insists that playing rugby in empty stadiums doesn’t feel the same, and he believes playing in front of fans at the KCOM Stadium gives the players an extra boost.
Heading into his second season with the Airlie Birds after arriving from New Zealand Warriors, the powerful prop will be hoping to pick up where he left off in 2020 after impressing many Black & White fans.
Speaking in an interview sent exclusively first to our 2021 members first, Sao said: “It doesn’t get any better than getting to run out in front of the fans.”
“I’ve missed hearing the fans chanting Old Faithful and it’s genuinely exciting knowing that we can have some fans back in grounds in the near future.
“There’s no better feeling than playing in front of the fans at the KCOM Stadium. That Derby I played at home at the start of last season was an unreal experience. I’ve never played a game with an atmosphere like that before.
“Every game we want to win, especially all of our home games in front of our home crowd.
“We’ve got to try and make it as tough as we possibly can for any team who comes to play us at our home ground.”
It will be the first chance to see Hull in action under new Head Coach Brett Hodgson on Thursday evening, when they travel to face York City Knights in a pre-season friendly at the LNER Community Stadium, with Sao hopeful he can get some minutes under his belt.
In what is expected to be a mixed squad of senior stars and youth prospects, Sao is hoping he can continue a positive pre-season campaign so far.
“I’m really excited for it. I feel like I’ve had a good pre-season under my belt and at the end of the day I’m just blessed to have the opportunity to continue playing for another year.
“Like I said, I think I’ve been going well in pre-season so I’m just focused on getting as many games under my belt as I can.
“Personally, I’m just going to be doing my best for the team and continue to keep earning my team mates’ respect.”
Many Hull fans are excited to see the Black & Whites in action again after several months without rugby league during the winter, but anticipation has been building over the last fortnight as they prepare to watch their side in action for the first time under Hodgson’s stewardship later this week.
Sao discussed the impact Hodgson has had on the playing group since his arrival before Christmas last year.
“Brett has been really good for the group – he’s got a lot of time for us. I’m enjoying what he’s bringing to the table,” Sao said.
“He’s put a lot of time into the detail, which is really important. He also spends a lot of time with the younger players and the academy boys who have joined us this year, and that’s something I enjoy seeing.
“He’s trying to build a team first mentality, so stuff like improving our behaviours at training and away from the footy field. Hopefully that shows in what we are doing on the field.”
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