Griffin: I’m out of contract and it’s the World Cup so it’s a big season
JOSH Griffin knows he can’t afford to let his impressive standards slip this season as he bids to earn a new deal with Hull FC and a spot in the England squad.
The centre has been one of the most consistent performers in a black and white shirt over the last two seasons and his form has seen him move into international contention after being given the nod by Shaun Wane.
Unfortunately, Griffin never got the chance to earn his first cap in the autumn with the end of season Ashes series being cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.
The 30-year-old has been invited onto a squad Zoom call this week by the England head coach, though, and with the World Cup moving into view, Griffin is entering a new season with serious international aspirations.
He also finds himself battling for his future at the club with a contract that is currently due to expire at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, Griffin believes that if he can continue to produce his best for Hull, the rewards will come.
“Every year I challenge myself to be better than I was,” Griffin told the Mail. “Last year I felt like I was good I didn’t let the performances drop and it would have been nice to have a crack at the Ashes, but there’s the World Cup and I’m out of contract this year so it’s a big year personally.
“I don’t have any plans to leave Hull, I’m settled here. It goes hand in hand, for me to earn a contract I’ve got to be playing well and if I’m playing well enough I’ll get the England call as well.
“Wane messaged me yesterday, we’ve got a Zoom meeting on Friday, obviously
I’m our only representative at the moment so it’ll be different just me on my own.
“There’s a lot of competition, there’s players who were injured last year like Oliver Gildart and Mark Percival coming back into contention but I feel like on my day I can be up there with them.
“There’s not many centres like me or over 100 kilos and the way I play is probably a bit different and hopefully Waney goes down that physical track.”
Along with the rest of his FC teammates, Griffin returned to the club’s training ground on Monday morning for pre-season and for Brett Hodgson’s first session as the coach of the Black and Whites.
Hodgson is no stranger to Griffin, though, who crossed paths with the NRL Grand Final winner earlier in his career at the John Smith’s Stadium and he made a lasting impression.
“I’ve met Brett before, it was a long time ago but I played with him at Huddersfield,” he added.
“I was only 17 or 18 at the time and it was the year he got Man of Steel. He was always well-respected and he was an unreal player and he was someone you could look up to as a young person.
“I remember him after one training session telling me off a little bit for saving myself. He had a bit of go at me for it and it’s funny I’ve told younger boys off for it throughout my career as well now and it’s probably where I get it from.
“He’s gone on to ply his trade in coaching, he seems like he knows what he’s talking about and he knows how he wants the squad to play.
“He’s trying to build the trust within the squad, we’re going for a lot of team meetings and he wants us to trust each other more and put the team first.”