Super League record try-scorer Hall hopes that trophies will make KR players well-known.
Ryan Hall feels that the players at Hull Kingston Rovers are of a similar calibre to those he played for during Leeds Rhinos’ heyday.
Rovers winger Hall played for Leeds Rhinos for more than ten years. He is the all-time Super League try scorer with 253, including 13 this season. After spending a stint at the Sydney Roosters, the 36-year-old decided to join Rovers in 2021, shortly after the team had finished last in the Super League. Since then, he has contributed to the club’s transformation. He is now anticipating Friday night’s away match between Rovers and Wigan Warriors, which is a top-of-the-table matchup.
Hall stated: “When I first arrived at Leeds, they had already won the Grand Final. At first, I was hesitant to compare the Leeds Rhinos to the Hull KR.” I immediately realised that I was a member of a strong team. I’ve learnt over the years—I’m in my eighteenth year—to recognise when I’m on a strong team. Those are emotions I’ve felt before. I won’t start making predictions about where this team might go in terms of similarities because it can backfire on you if you give a journalist a prediction and it comes true or the opposite occurs. However, I am aware that I am currently a member of a strong team.”
But Hall eloborated when he was informed that Rovers do not yet have the same level of recognition as Leeds, despite the fact that Leeds had many well-known names, including Rob Burrow, Danny McGuire, Jamie Peacock, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, and Kevin Sinfield.
“Only because the time hasn’t happened yet,” the winger shot back. Leeds had already won the Grand Final when I arrived. The names you just mentioned will be familiar to fans of Hull KR if, ten years from now, the team experiences anything like the Rhinos did starting in 2004. Those names will become recognisable due to their numerous victories. The only reason you can pull them off of Leeds is because they had already won numerous Grand Finals at that point.
“KR currently has players of the same calibre. The rules have to be adjusted to; they have changed significantly since 2004. However, trophies are the only reason you can’t list their names and claim they are truly recognisable, so hopefully we are moving in the right direction to try to change that.”
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