Tom Davies has revealed that the ability to create history with Hull KR by ending their wait for major silverware was too good to turn down. The Craven Park-bound winger is motivated by the opportunity to be part of a side that will be remembered forever and intends to make that a reality moving forward.
Davies is joining the club from Catalans and was part of the team that won the League Leaders’ Shield, the first time the club had ever won the trophy. As for Rovers, they have been without major silverware since 1985, and when that wait ends, the team that achieves it will go down in folklore.
That was one of the key motivators for Davies, who is enthused by the prospect of playing in teams that will go down in folklore, similar to the Dragons one that succeeded in 2021.
“What they’re aspiring to do—more than anything, they have that hunger for it,” Davies stated. “Although they may not have reached their goal yet, their desperation to succeed is evident, and that, in my opinion, is what made being in and around that kind of environment—surrounded by young men in similar situations who are vying for trophies and the opportunity to outperform their opponents in every game—so important.
“Steve McNamara told me before I arrived in Catalans that they hadn’t won one, but if we did, we’d be the first to do so. Anything you do at Catalans is a first for sure, as it’s a brand-new club. That’s important since you want to make a lasting impression.
Davies didn’t need to do that, of course. Having sampled silverware at his two prior clubs, he had the option to join or remain at one that was more well-known for its silverware adventures.
Right now, the Robins are attempting to shatter that glass ceiling and take a place among the elite. However, Davies remarked: “They’re knocking on the glass roof; they may not have cracked it yet.”I’ve had the great fortune to never play for a poor team in my career. Every club I’ve visited and every team I’ve participated on has been driven and ambitious. Being at a club that is thrilled to be in the top six and feels accomplished is unimaginable to me. It’s not how I feel.
Davies, however, is fully aware that he must replace Ryan Hall in this role. Since Hall will be rejoining the Leeds Rhinos the following season, he has effectively been brought in to replace Hall in the starting lineup.
Because of Hall’s longevity, Davies is one of the increasing number of players in the tournament who recalls watching him when he was younger, and he acknowledged that the challenge of taking over from him provided additional motivation.
“Big shoes, literally and figuratively. What he’s done in the sport—you can’t really comprehend the things he’s won and what he does, even now to this day, and the role he has in that team.
“It’s something I’m looking forward to. You’re coming in, and you’ve got the person in your position who is a legend of the game. It’s only going to make me push to fill those shoes, and I’ve got to make sure what I’m doing on that pitch is up to the highest standard because that’s how he does everything.
“That’s a big thing for me because when I’m coming in, I’ve got to make sure I’m on every single day. His high standards have indirectly impacted mine because they’ve affected mine. I know I’ve got to be on it every session—the carries he’s taking and the metres he’s making, the tries he’s scoring and how he’s defending, that’s what I’ve got to live up to and make sure I’m doing the best job that I can for the team. On top of that, if I can live up to these expectations I’ll be buzzing with that.”
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