Josh Griffin says Hull FC have “moved away from the Jake Connor show” in 2023

It’s a new start at Hull FC in 2023, the club have a brand new spine and a new boss in the shape of ex-Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves and Hull KR coach Tony Smith.

But one constant at Hull over recent years has been Josh Griffin and the centre potentially turned back row has opened up on the difficulties of recent years when speaking to BBC Radio Humberside.

“It’s been a really frustrating couple of years we’ve started season so well, the previous two seasons, only to drop off half way through the season and it’s been tough,” he said.

“I want to win, but as a club and as an organisation we need to push ourselves, push the barriers and say that we want to win every game. That will help us to win the Grand Final.”

In terms of what else the club needs to succeed, Griffin said: “We need some luck with injuries, it’s the same with most teams, you want the best team on the field every week, that helps.

“It’s also about getting confidence back up and that’s where Tony has been really good, he’s got the confidence right up and building those relationship and that’s probably something we have struggled with in the past.

“When games get tough, it’s about dealing with the adversity.”

In terms of what else Tony Smith has brought, Griffin said that the philosophy in the side is now different with it no longer being the “Jake Connor show” with the fullback headed back to Huddersfield Giants with Tex Hoy replacing him.

“He wants us to play with confidence and push the pass but not dwell on errors.

“Obviously as a team we are trying to play with more connectivity, we’ve moved away from the Jake Connor show with him leading.”

This comes after Connor made 33 assists in 2023 as the top assisters for the second consecutive season.

Now though they aren’t going to focus on one player but rather a collective.

You can listen to the rest of the interview here.