KR’S Abdull: I will be a more confident player
HULL KR will see a more confident Jordan Abdull return for pre-season training, the half-back says after making his England debut.
In what has been a remarkable season individually, Abdull has helped the Robins to within 80 minutes of Old Trafford, he was shortlisted for the Man of Steel award and earlier this month he earned his first call-up for England.
The 25-year-old was thrust into the starting line-up to face France on Saturday and he impressed, slotting three goals and causing problems with his kicking game.
However, just being involved in Shaun Wane’s set-up was a huge boost for Abdull and he believes being a part of that environment can only benefit him and Rovers moving forward.
“They’re going to get a more confident player,” Abdull said of KR. “Now I’ve played with some quality players and been in a quality set-up, I’m hoping I can take some of that back with me, even stuff like the intensity we’ve had to train at, if I can take that back into the club, it’s only going to improve me and the club overall.
“We’ve had a nutritionist with us every day and there’s so many things that I can get better at, I can get better physically and that’s what pre-seasons are there for.
“Just knowing where I need to be at to get to that elite level, there’s a lot of stepping stones I need to get to before that World Cup next year so I’m looking forward to the challenge.”
Those who have seen Abdull play this season will know he is more than deserving of his call-up and the playmaker insists the recognition demonstrates he made the right decision he made to leave Hull FC in 2018.
Abdull made 54 appearances for the Black and Whites as a youngster, but in the search for more game time he made the decision to leave the club and join London Broncos.
His career has been on an upwards trajectory ever since and after playing a part in England’s
30-10 win he took the time to reflect on his journey so far.
“I never had any doubt anyway,” he said when asked whether his England debut vindicated the decisions he has made in his career.
“Even if I’d have gone to London and ended up playing there for four or five years, it would still have been the right decision because I just wanted to play. Whether or not anything good came of it, it was the right decision for me and my family just to go and give it a crack.
“This is no disrespect to Hull FC, they just had too good a team at the time and I couldn’t get in, I needed to test myself and it’s gone full circle now.”