Brett Hodgson outlines how collective effort can help Hull FC prosper in Super League

The Australian, who left his role as Wests Tigers assistant to take charge of the Super League club in November, is now well into his first pre-season at the Airlie Birds.

Having assessed his squad and monitored their progression in the opening few weeks of preparations, Hodgson has explained where he hopes to see them improve when the campaign does get underway.

However, he admitted much of the development needs to be done off the field.

“We’ve invested a lot of time in off-field like the culture and behaviours that we are trying to instil here,” said the ex-New South Wales State of Origin full-back.

“Trying to get the players to want to work for each other.

“I think the best defensive teams – which we are trying to improve on – are the ones that are happy to work for each other, so there is a lot around that.”

Hodgson added: “In terms of on-field, I think our defensive process needed to change.

“I think there were a lot of players last year playing individually well at times but as a collective had a lot of work to do, so we are trying to get those combinations working together and moving forward defensively.”

Elsewhere, Leeds Rhinos were back in practice together yesterday having shut down their training ground for 10 days due to a Covid outbreak.

The club is also mourning the death of its former World Cup-winning winger David Rose at the age of 89.

Rose, who had represented Scotland RU before switching codes, played for Great Britain in the inaugural 1954 World up helping them to victory.

He played and scored in all four games, including the final, but Rose - who had joined from Huddersfield - suffered a badly broken leg for Leeds soon after and never truly recovered.

Meanwhile, Catalans Dragons are understood to have captured Kiwi centre Dean Whare, 31, from Penrith Panthers as a replacement for David Mead.

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