New permanent Hull FC head coach Brett Hodgson has expressed his excitement to have gained the opportunity of leading the Black & Whites into 2021 and beyond.
The former Warrington and Huddersfield star joins Hull from NRL side Wests Tigers, a club with which he won the 2005 NRL Grand Final as a player, and has held the assistant coach role since 2018, as well as leading their reserve grade side.
Hodgson will head to the UK in the coming weeks ahead of taking the reins of his new side ahead of the 2021 pre-season campaign.
The club caught up with the former Man of Steel and Lance Todd Trophy winner following his decision to join the Airlie Birds.
Speaking to hullfc.com in his first interview since joining the club, Hodgson said: “I’m very excited for the opportunity – I spent nine years over in England playing in Super League before moving into coaching, and one of those years was as a consultant at Hull FC, so I know some of the people at the club already.
“It is a friendly and welcoming place to be, so I’m excited to be heading back and hopefully helping such a prestigious club to some success.
“It’s a really big club too, and even everyone in the NRL knows who Hull FC are. So the opportunity to come back to Super League where I spent a large chunk of my career was too good to turn down – I really enjoy the style of football over there.
“The fans demand success, and that’s what I’m about. With the staff and players we have, and the support of our loyal fans, I’m really excited about what we can achieve in 2021.
He added: “I know it’s a really proud club, and hopefully we can add some Super League success to that in the coming years on the back of those Challenge Cup wins a few years back.
“Adam Pearson and James Clark have shared that vision with me throughout the application process, and the players we have are very capable of achieving it.
“We won’t tend to think about the silverware until we have put ourselves into the position to challenge for those trophies, but it is important for the club as a whole to be able to achieve success.
“As a collective, we have a real goal to raise those levels of consistency across the organisation. We are going to have a high quality support staff and I want to bring the best out of them too.”
Having enjoyed roles in both Rugby League and Rugby Union, the former Wests Tigers, Huddersfield and Warrington star spoke in depth about his coaching experience so far.
“As a player, you either have that willingness to go into coaching, or you want to stay well away from it. I always knew that coaching was the route for me once I retired from playing, so much so that I got my coaching certificates back in 2008.
“When I retired in 2013 with Warrington, I had a year where I did some consultancy work with both Widnes and at Hull FC too where I got the chance to do some work with Jamie Shaul.
“From there, I took on the full-time role of assistant coach at Widnes, as well as the head coach of their academy side.
“In 2017, I headed back to West Tigers where I’ve been the assistant coach ever since as well as the head coach of their reserve grade team too in the Canterbury Cup.”
And Hodgson hopes to implement some of the skills and techniques learnt from the various coaches he has worked with throughout his career.
“I’ve enjoyed my various roles in my coaching career so far, and have learnt a lot from some great coaches I’ve worked with, particularly over here in the NRL. I’m excited to be able to incorporate some of that into my work at the Black & Whites.
“I’ve learnt a lot from both Ivan (Cleary) and Michael (Maguire). Ivan has had some great success with the Panthers this season in leading them to the Grand Final, but the manner in which he coaches and the ability to break down a game were second to none.
“Maguire is a Super League winner with Wigan before winning the NRL with South Sydney too. What I’ve learnt on and off the field from both of them is paramount to myself as a coach, and I hope to implement some of that in my time in Hull.”
The 42-year old also described his experiences visiting clubs in other sports to learn and develop new coaching techniques, adding: “I feel that is a really important role for everyone on the coaching staff to get involved in, and will be encouraging that going forward too.
“Getting out and learning from different organisations is really helpful, whether that be football, rugby union, or whatever else.
“I have been fortunate enough to spend time at Manchester United, Manchester City, and Everton in the Premier League, and union side Clermont Auvergne in France. It’s great to see how other coaches deliver their messages, and knit those different cultures together, which I know we have at Hull FC too with a few overseas players.
“I also spent time with Eddie Jones in the England Rugby Union camp, and again saw the way he interacted with his players. I picked up plenty from him and you can see the success they’re having at the moment. I hope to implement plenty of those things that I have learnt.”
Having already spent time at the club in an advisory role back in 2014 after hanging up his playing boots the previous year, the former Super League Man of Steel is looking forward to meeting up with some familiar faces.
“It’s good to be coming into an environment where there are some familiar faces – there are plenty of individuals still there that I spent time with in my previous spell at the club.
“There was a real family feel at the club and I know that is still there. My experience there helped me come into this with some prior knowledge that the club has a strong culture.”
Hodgson also expressed his excitement to be working with some of the club’s top talents, adding: “Marc Sneyd has been a great half-back for the club and his kicking game is so crucial; and Jake Connor has been exceptional in 2020. And we have some real leaders in Danny Houghton and Scott Taylor. I’m really excited to work with a really talented squad.
“I’ll be looking to strengthen the squad in a couple of positions, but on the whole I think that the squad is exceptional. We have some real depth.”
One of the biggest contributing factors in Hodgson’s decision to move to the club was the opportunity to play in front of the Black & White supporters, once fans are allowed to return to stadiums.
“That’s one of the most exciting factors for me- Hull FC have probably the most passionate fan-base in the game, and we’re hoping to have some real success for them.
“For me, the KCOM Stadium is the best facility in Super League and is a real theatre of excitement when it is full. So hopefully we have some normality back as soon as possible and can allow those supporters back into the stadium.”
With a final message to the supporters ahead of departing for the UK next week, Hodgson said: “I’d like to thank everyone first and foremost for the support that I know will be given when I come to the city – it is a really exciting step for myself and the club.
“I can’t wait to help raise the levels that this club strives to achieve on and off the field. We want to work hard at giving those fans and the chairman what they want to achieve and I can’t wait to come over there and get started.”
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