“Crazy” – Ryan Brierley’s reaction to reports Richie Myler will become Hull FC Director of Rugby

After sacking Tony Smith Hull FC are in the process of appointing a Director Rugby and amidst reports that current York Knights full-back Richie Myler will take on the role, one Super League full-back has labelled the rumour “crazy”.

Plenty has happened at Hull FC within the last week with news of Tony Smith’s sacking being confirmed by the club on Thursday, followed up by the release of both Nu Brown and Tex Hoy on Friday.

That Friday evening the club’s chairman Adam Pearson spoke on BBC Radio Humberside in a tell-all interview where he explained to the fans a variety of topics ranging from Smith’s sacking, Brown and Hoy’s release, possible recruitment and of course, how and when will Tony Smith be replaced.

Pearson confirmed that it will not be himself who makes the appointment but instead a Director of Rugby who he expects to be hired by Tuesday, revealing that the man lined up for the role has to “extract himself from his present contract”.

It has since been reported by Rugby League Live that the man in question is current York Knights and former Leeds Rhinos full-back Richie Myler, something that has proved quite a shock among fans, pundits and even players.

Live on yesterday’s BBC broadcast of the Challenge Cup, current Salford Red Devils full-back Ryan Brierley was asked about the reports with the Scotland international left surprised.

Brierley reacted: “It’s crazy, isn’t it? I’d be interested to see what qualifications Richie has in leading a massive club like that.

“Again, I don’t know about it, obviously you mentioned it before, but again, I don’t think it’s a quick fix. I think it’s going to take someone with a lot of credentials and a lot of complications and whether Richie’s that man will remain to be seen, I suppose.”

Does Richie Myler have the experience for a director’s job at Hull FC?

Brierley asked the question that everyone else is asking, what qualifications does Richie Myler have to be hired as the Director of Rugby at a club that holds Grade A status under the IMG rankings?

The 34-year-old has yet to actually hang up the boots having signed for York Knights for whom he has played three games before being sidelined with injury.

Obviously, Myler has huge playing experience with over 300 Super League appearances to his name whilst being capped by both England and Ireland, but in terms of the runnings of a club the size of Hull FC, the jury has to be out right now.

To that point, Robbie Hunter-Paul argued: “It will be a baptism of fire for him, you get thrown in the deep end, you either sink or you swim.

“There will be a new coach coming in, which he’ll be tasked with the responsibility of putting in place and sometimes that can be the litmus fire that you need just to turn it into an inferno.”

Hunter-Paul then made the incredible claim that Hull FC have “the nucleus of a brilliant squad” despite having lost seven of their eight games this season and shipping a massive number of points so far.

Add to that the club are now without two of their overseas quota stars and boast an injury list hitting double digits, but the former Challenge Cup winner can clearly see talent there and claims that the appointment of Richie Myler and the head coach whom he will appoint could be a catalyst for Hull FC.

He said: “They seem to have the nucleus of a brilliant squad out there, they just need something to turn it around, give them a kick up the backside and get it moving in the right direction, and this could be it.”