Simon Grix has previewed Saturday’s Hull Derby fixture against the Robins.
The Black & Whites will be aiming for revenge against Hull KR after defeat in both of this season’s fixtures against the Red & Whites.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Grix said: “It’s just another game for us; to a degree, we’re trying to prepare the best we can. That’s all we can do. Hopefully, we can give these blokes some confidence and make them believe that we can challenge the opposition like we have in recent weeks.
“A few names are going to change this week on a piece of paper, but top to bottom, from academy, reserves, to first-team, we’re all playing quite similar, and we want to be challenging the opposition. Regardless of what the names are, I’m confident that whoever goes out there will give it their all.
“The result—of course we care about it—but that’s the gaping eye for us—the effort, the energy, the willingness, and the courage to try and play rugby in spite of what will be some tough periods in the game.
On Hull’s improved toughness, Grix added: “There was a point earlier in the season where we couldn’t concede a penalty or back-to-back sets without conceding a try. We have made some pretty decent steps forward in that regard.
“We’ve got a lot against us. I sound like I’m making excuses, and I loathe to do that. This is the game, and it happens, but I felt like we’ve taken some steps forward, and with the injuries that we’ve got at the moment, it feels pretty tough. Hopefully, there’s no step back in the resilience and ability to keep turning up for each other.
Grix also explained his side’s half-back options heading into the fixture.
“We’ve got other options, and we’ll go with them. We’ve got potential positional shifts for some. Charlesy is nursing a bit of a knock. He’s trained alright today, but we will have to check on a knock at the very last minute to see what it looks like.
“Morgan Smith has also played in the halves this year, but it’s a little bit unknown if I’m perfectly honest. We’ll name a squad that covers us for the number of blokes we’ve got question marks over.
“Whatever team goes out there, it might not be the most experienced or the prettiest in terms of names on paper, but we still have an expectation to have a dig and put a shift in. We won’t roll over regardless, but we’re going to be up against it.”
Looking at Saturday’s opposition, Grix continued: “It’s a very good Hull KR team, and you wouldn’t expect them to have a day off or take it easy on you in these circumstances. Looking in from the outside, I think the black and white side have had a long time looking down on the red and white side, and now the balance, or the scale, has swung the other way.
“We have to eat a little bit of humble pie at the moment and work ourselves back to that picture of a good, strong rivalry where we’re both really challenging at the right end. At the moment, it’s tough for all of us, but we’ll keep getting on with it.
“Sometimes you have to take your medicine and realise this is where we are as a club and a team at the moment. We’re up against it, but again, the aim is to go out there swinging on the weekend and give it our best crack despite the hurdles we’ve got in front of us, both internally and externally. We just want to be proud of ourselves when we come off the field.”
“We’ve got to play in shape and we’ve got to have a bit of courage to pass and move the ball. If we get flustered by the opposotion, because Rovers are a fit team with line speed and they come up to get you, and we don’t get our passes away, then you’re not getting one on ones, and that’s the game, essentially.
“The plays might look fancy at times when there’s loads of bodies moving but they’re not designed for you to score in the corner, that’s the end role, the first bit is; ‘Can I get a one on one? Can he get a one on one?’ And then it keeps going down the line until the last pass.
“Having that courage and being brave to pull that shape that we practice, opposed to being a bit flustered and playing conservative and trying to be safe. We need to be more than safe. If we can move the ball and challenge the opposition this week, then we’ll give ourselves an opportunity. That’s the game.”
Simon Grix is proudly sponsored by Rowe Freight.
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