‘Can’t finish on year 19′ – Leeds Rhinos’ Ryan Hall on doubters motivating him amid future admission

Leeds Rhinos winger Ryan Hall has revealed what motivates him as he doubled down on his intent to play beyond the 2025 season.

Hall had previously told Serious About Rugby League that he does have an option in his contract to stay on for a second year and into the 2026 season, arguing: “What sort of mental person finishes on 19? You’ve got to finish on 20, surely.”

He was of course referencing the fact that he is entering his 19th season of professional rugby league and the winger has now doubled down on his intent to play until at least year 20, although he’s admitted that it is not a given.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leeds, Hall said: “It’s one of those things like when you turn the TV on, you can’t leave the volume on an odd number so you can’t finish on year 19 – you’ve got to make it a nice round 20 or even go beyond that.

“I’d feel like I’ve let myself down if I stop at 19. I’ve got some work to do in that to get that – I don’t want to inherit it, I want to work hard and be worth that. It’s well within my capability, I’ve got just to go and do it.”

The 37-year-old also explained that retirement is yet to cross his mind, explaining: “People when they do hang the boots up say that they wake up one morning and they just know. I’ve not felt that yet, I might have woken up and felt down in the dumps but certainly not to retire. This is what I’ve done all my life and I want to keep doing it.”

What motivates Leeds Rhinos signing Ryan Hall?

Given that he is approaching season 19 and still remains at the elite level, it’s a wonder what motivates the Leeds Rhinos winger. Interestingly, Hall revealed that it was the doubters who help push him forward.

“People telling you that you can’t do it anymore is a big one,” he revealed.

“‘Stuff your opinion’, I’m gonna do me and show you that I can keep doing it.”

Hall initially left Leeds Rhinos at the end of the 2018 season and had an injury-hit stint in the NRL before returning to Super League with Hull KR.

Since then, he has racked up a further 62 career tries and claimed the all-time Super League try-scoring record, however, he explained that questions over his return helped fuel him these past four years.

Hall stated: “I think a few people raised their eyebrows when I first signed for Hull KR when I was coming back from Australia because obviously I didn’t have a great injury record at that time.

“Over my career, I’d had a good injury record but at that time, I’d had two major knee surgeries but I knew that I could do it. I knew that they weren’t that bad.

“Hopefully I’ve got a couple of years left in them.”

Having been part of such a dominant Leeds Rhinos team, Hall returns whilst the club are struggling and looking to reestablish themselves as an elite team.

On how he will do that, he explained: “I want to make this team better and be an asset to help progress this team. I’m trying not to think about what has gone on before because it has already happened and there has been quite a lot of change about this place.

“It’s almost like a new team so let’s create some more history.”