Hull FC: I could still do a job, smiles Lee Radford as he returns to playing field

When you spend your time plotting a way to the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup final and, for that matter, Super League’s summit, there is going to be a need at some point for a release from all the mounting pressure.

So, for his own emotional emancipation, Radford broke off from leading Hull’s treble bid by making a playing return – with amateurs Beverley in front of a crowd that probably did not reach 80 let alone 80,000.

Furthermore, in a complete role reversal, his own prop Scott Taylor became the one giving him the orders.

Black and Whites front-row Radford finished playing professionally in 2011 to be the club’s assistant coach before coming out of retirement briefly the following year during an injury-crisis at KC Stadium.

However, at the age of 37 and at a million miles from Super League, he got the boots on once more with neighbouring Beverley during their 44-12 win against high-flying Toll Bar.

The sight of the former England forward charging towards them must have been slightly surreal for some of the visiting players – especially those who, ironically, had played for Radford a few years ago as juniors when he was Hull FC’s scholarship coach.

He operated at stand-off during the win and played as a favour to Beverley’s coach Taylor, the FC star who has been in such inspirational form for the Super League leaders in 2016.

Radford featured just hours after his side had defeated Wigan Warriors in a brutal Challenge Cup semi-final win at Doncaster that set up their Wembley meeting with Warrington later this month.

“I said to Tag (Taylor) I’d have a run out with Beverley and if we won in the semi I’d turn out for him the next day,” revealed Radford, who has close links with the amateur scene having coached East Hull for many years. “I really enjoyed it. I loved it. I just wish I had the ‘lungs’ for it. I’ve been out and trained with the young (Hull academy) fellas a bit and I want to get back in the swing of things.

“You are a long time retired and coaching builds frustrations so to be able to get rid of some of that on the rugby league field is really pleasing.

“I played stand-off but then did 10 minutes in the back-row. I could still do a job.”

Radford, who won Super League, the Challenge Cup and a World Club Challenges as part of the great Bradford Bulls side between 1998 and 2005, was asked about the influence of 25-year-old Taylor as a budding coach.

“It was the worst team-talk I’ve ever been involved in,” he said, tongue firmly in cheek.

“It sapped the life out of me at half-time and then, if it wasn’t for my energy and getting around the boys and picking them back up, we could have well been beaten…”

Radford, who has not ruled out playing with Beverely again, added: “I cannot believe how much footage there was of it all.

“I’ll put a little package together if any scouts are interested and put on some background music. I’ll see how good I can make myself look.”