Hull of a ride for Radford
IN THE Presidents Suite at Headingley on Monday afternoon, Hull FC coach Lee Radford was a man in demand.
It was a joint press conference to preview today’s Challenge Cup final between his holders and Wigan, the record 19-time winners of the old trophy.
Wigan prop Tony Clubb spoke about resurrecting his career after having had a kidney removed, while Hull captain Gareth Ellis talked of his Wembley dream in his final season before he retires.
There was a certain romance to every player’s tale but Radford is a good story in his own right.
He is fast emerging as one of the brightest young coaches in the game after surviving a difficult start to his tenure when fans called for his head.
Radford said: “That first season in 2014 was very tough and I took a lot of stick. My missus copped it too and she stopped coming to games.
“I can remember during a particularly bad derby defeat, the Hull KR fans were chanting, ‘You’re getting sacked in the morning’.
“My two children were in the stand and you can imagine the grief they got at school. Twelve months on, we were beating Rovers.”
Backed by ambitious owner Adam Pearson, Radford has gradually moulded the Black and Whites into a force.
He has mixed home-grown talent with shrewd overseas signings, building a physically imposing side not dissimilar to the all-conquering Bradford team with whom he won the Treble in 2003.
The 38-year-old guided Hull FC to an historic first Wembley win in last season’s Challenge Cup final against Warrington.
Radford married his long-term partner Paula last month and said
jokingly: “I was engaged for 20 years and had to make sure she was right for me.
“Away from rugby, I have five pubs and a golf club, which is something to fall back on and keeps me busy.
“We held our wedding at my golf club, which worked well. I must be the only person I know to make a profit on their own wedding.” There is mutual respect between HULL FC: J Shaul; M Fonua, C Tuimavave, J Griffin, F Talanoa; A Kelly, D Houghton, L Watts, S Manu, M Minichiello, G Ellis (c). Subs:
J Connor, C Green, D Washbrook, J Bowden.
WIGAN: S Tomkins; T Davies, A Gelling, O Gildart, J Burgess; G Williams, T Leuluai; FP Nuuausala, M McIlorum, T Clubb, J Bateman, L Farrell, S O’Loughlin (c). Subs:
S Powell, R Sutton, T Tautai, W Isa.
REFEREE:
P Bentham.
Radford and Wigan counterpart Shaun Wane. Radford said: “When I became Hull coach in 2014, Shaun was the first to congratulate me and offer advice. I’ll always remember that.
“But I’m envious of the success Wigan and Shaun have had.
“I wanted to carbon-copy that, in essence, and put our own bit of flavour into it. Hopefully that’s what has happened.”