Now or never for a lot of us at Hull
IT’S TIME TO SHINE
ANDRE Savelio has warned it is ‘now or never’ for the current Hull FC squad as they look to claim an elusive first Super League title.
The Black and Whites were in the play-off hunt for much of last season but nine losses in their last 10 games ensured they slumped to an eighth place finish.
It was a hugely frustrating period which prompted changes to the playing roster with the likes of Luke Gale, Kane Evans and Joe Lovodua being brought to the club over the off-season in the hope Brett Hodgson’s side can turn their fortunes around next season.
Hull are once again approaching the campaign with a squad that is brimming with capability.
Savelio is more than aware of the talent FC are able to boast, but he also knows that time may not be on their side for much longer.
The back-rower points out that a large chunk of the club’s senior men are in their peak years as players and as they prepare for the new season, he says they might not have many better chances to achieve something.
“I’ve never been an individual target setter,” Savelio told the Mail. “It’s a team sport, so compete and don’t waste time.
“A lot of us are in are our prime years and it’s sort of now or never that we do something now.
“The vast majority of our squad, the one to 20-odd players, are aged between 25 and 29, so it’s now or never, really. It’s time to live it.
“I’m buzzing, I’m ready for it, we have boys coming back.
“I think we really missed Griff last year, I’m buzzing that he’s back.
“I think for us it’s probably about trying to keep everyone fit and the rest will take care of itself, just making sure that that fall off doesn’t happen again because it was a tough 10 weeks.”
He added: “We’ll be more aware this time of where we are at halfway. Touch wood, I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m confident we’ll come out firing, we always do, the last three years I’ve been here we always start hot.
“I think after what happened last year people will be more conscious of it when we get to the halfway point. We’ll have to sit down and have more discussions about it halfway through the year just to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”