Danny Tickle recalls famous Super League derby duels between Hull FC and Hull KR

He spent seven seasons with Hull FC and, so, played in plenty of their famous battles in the traditional fixture at this time of year with city rivals Hull KR.

However, before that, Tickle made his name at Wigan Warriors whose Good Friday derbies with St Helens are also part of the regular holiday programme.

Yet, given the coronavirus has shutdown rugby league entirely, there will be a lot of people ordinarily involved in those camps looking decidedly lost this lunchtime and on into the afternoon.

Perhaps it is no surprise Sky Sports have opted to replay so many of the past Good Friday duels starting at noon today.

Indeed, of the 11 being showcased only the 2017 re-run of Castleford Tigers v Wakefield does not feature the warring Hull v Hull KR or Wigan v Saints.

Tickle, who turned 36 on Wednesday, can look back fondly on many of them.

For instance, he played in the first Super League Hull derby in 2007 although, ironically, that was held on Easter Monday before the fixture was switched to its regular Good Friday slot.

He scored the first try as FC went on to edge home 22-14 against newly-promoted KR in front of a crowd of 23,002 at a bouncing KCOM Stadium.

“Being from the Wigan area, I knew what the Saints derby was like, especially at DW Stadium,” Tickle told The Yorkshire Post.

“But I’d never experienced anything like what I did when I went over to Hull.

“I enjoyed my time over there and it was a right atmosphere; what a great game to be involved in.

“The rivalry between both sets of fans was a great experience and that first game was immense. I wasn’t aware initially that they’d not played each other for so long in a competitive match – I think it had been about 10 years.

“So the build-up had been going on in the city and you saw both sets of fans – some who live together in the same house – splitting up to go off and support their team. Everyone was looking forward to it.

“To win was great and it kept the red and whites quiet for a while but with KR in Super League we went on to have some brilliant derbies with them.”

Former Wigan team-mate Shaun Briscoe, Sid Domic and Australia winger Matt Sing were the other Hull try-scorers that day, with Paul Cooke kicking three goals.

Tickle, who played loose forward, added: “There was a lot of experience in that side and it was my first year there.

“Hull had won the Challenge Cup in 2005 and the year before had made the Grand Final.

“Richard Swain was a great leader from hooker and there was a lot of internationals in there.

“I was still quite young at the time so it was good to have that experience behind myself.”

Picking out his favourite derby moment is tough for Tickle who scored 47 tries in 177 games for the Airlie Birds.

“I enjoyed playing in all of them,” he explained.

“Playing alongside the likes of Richard Horne, Kirk Yeaman and Danny Houghton – all Hull lads -–was great.

“To play with those guys who were black and white through and through – it’s in their blood – and born in the city, it was brilliant.

“Another was when Lee Radford came out of retirement for the 2012 Good Friday derby. That was a great one to be involved with as we won that day, too. But I think looking back at it all, the atmosphere of that first game was something really special.

“It’s not often you see the top tier at the KC open but it was and it was full as well. And to score the first try wasn’t bad either!”

Tickle started out his career at Halifax in 2000 and is not yet retired having most recently played for League 1 Workington Town last term.

Castleford Tigers, Widnes Vikings and Leigh Centurions are amongst his other clubs as well as, of course, Hull KR.

He spent the 2018 season with the Robins and slotted two decisive penalties in a 20-16 win over Hull at the KCOM.

“I scored a try for KR as well that night, sneaking over from dummy-half,” said Tickle.

“I really enjoyed my time at the Black and Whites and there’s a different perspective putting that red and white shirt on. That was a good moment – although there wasn’t many celebrations.”

And, strangely, there will be none for either club today.