Hull FC v St Helens - Josh Griffin quick to move on from ‘snub’ by Wayne Bennett
The in-form centre has been overlooked by both England and Great Britain this term when many people touted him as a potential new cap.
Griffin, 29, won four awards at the club’s presentation evening earlier this week and will look to finish on a high when Hull play their final regular round against leaders St Helens tonight.
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Hide AdBut England coach Wayne Bennett, who will also lead the Lions when they head to New Zealand this autumn, has not included him in his plans.
Hull team-mate Jake Connor, Saints’ Mark Percival, Wakefield Trinity’s Reece Lyne and Wigan’s Oliver Gildart were the recognised centres named in the training squad last week.
Gold Coast Titans’ Kallum Watkins could yet also come into the equation.
“I was disappointed not to be in that squad,” conceded Griffin.
“Obviously I’ve not done enough.
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Hide Ad“There’s some great centres in there and he’s obviously stayed loyal to them.
“Form-wise I’d like to think I would have been up there but it’s not to be and I’m not going to beat myself up about it.
“It’s not like I haven’t played well or not given it a go; he’s gone a different way and he thought I’m not good enough.
“If that’s his decision, there’s nothing I can do about it.”
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Hide AdFormer Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils star Griffin has scored 12 tries in 28 games this term and impressed with his big metre-making.
“Personally I’ve had a good season in terms of form and the amount of games I’ve managed to play,” he said.
“To pick up awards at the end of the season has been nice and I’m happy with it.
“Now I just want to help us round off with a win against St Helens as we’ve not been great at home this year.”
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Hide AdLast week’s 44-12 loss at Castleford saw Hull suffer a third straight loss and – at the worst time – fall out of the play-off spots for the first time since March.
Castleford replaced them in fifth but they lost at Wigan last night so Hull can still reclaim the final play-off spot if they beat Saints this evening.
Griffin said: “With Cas losing, we now know if we can get this win against a very good side we’re back in – and we can get some form going into the play-offs.”
Result
Betfred Super League
Wigan (4)26 Castleford (2)8
Wigan Williams (1T) Hardaker (1T) Greenwood (1T) Gildart (1T) Smithies (1T) Hardaker (3G)
Castleford Blair (1T) Ellis (2 G)
P W D L F A Pts
St Helens 28 25 0 3 894 389 50
Wigan 29 18 0 11 699 539 36
Warrington 28 16 0 12 705 507 32
Salford 28 16 0 12 766 581 32
Castleford 29 15 0 14 646 558 30
Hull 28 15 0 13 639 746 30
Catalans Dragons 28 13 0 15 531 721 26
Leeds 28 11 0 17 624 640 22
Wakefield 28 10 0 18 589 713 20
Huddersfield 28 10 0 18 547 754 20
Hull K R 28 10 0 18 532 751 20
London Broncos 28 10 0 18 495 768 20