HALL OUT TO EMULATE FATHER'S CHALLENGE CUP SUCCESS, BUT FOR THE OTHER TEAM IN HULL
Craig Hall, Hull FC’s dynamic young centre, is itching for a chance to play in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, if only to emulate the success of his father. Ahead of the semi-final against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Oliver Pickup caught up with the son of David, Hull Kingston Rovers’ full-back in the victorious 1980 campaign, and found out what effect new coach Richard Agar, whose father also started for the Robins in that final, has had on the Black and Whites.
The date May 3, 1980, is etched in Hull Kingston Rovers’ fans memory. Regarded by many as the greatest day in the club’s history, at Wembley, in the Challenge Cup Final, 95,000 supporters cheered on the battle of Hull. The national press labelled it a ‘Hullava match’ as the east Hull club won their first Challenge Cup, against their west city rivals 10-5.
David Hall, full back for Hull KR on the day, lined up alongside Allan Agar. And now, 28 years later, both of their sons are so close to replicating their success, but for their old team’s most deadly of foes. Richard Agar, 36, was handed the coaching reins at the KC Stadium in late May following the departure of Peter Sharp, and in his first game he marched Hull to the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a shock 22-16 victory over Bradford Bulls.
Twenty-year-old Craig Hall was on the interchange bench for that win at Osdal, but having been reinvigorated since former assistant coach Agar’s promotion, he believes that Hull can make it to the hallowed turf of Wembley.
“I was very disappointed to miss out on the quarter-final win,” concedes Hull’s leading try scorer – Hall had crossed the whitewash seven times by round 18. “Having been in the team for most of the season, in the stands is not the place you want to be watching at any time, especially in the quarter-final. But it refocused me and now I am playing better hopefully I can take some form into the semi-final.
“I went down to the Challenge Cup Final last year and just watching it was so brilliant. To play there, at Wembley, would be amazing. It would be a dream come true to get there and I have had that dream since I was a little kid.”
Hall, who has been on the books at Hull since he was 13, and has represented England through the junior ranks, had not been born when his father performed his heroics for Hull KR on that May afternoon in 1980. But former Great Britain full back David, from time to time, will dust off the old winners’ medal and use it to encourage his talented boy to better his achievements. And rather than question Craig’s Hull allegiance, Hall senior simply takes delight in the fact that his son is stamping his mark on Rugby League.
Craig continues: “Sometimes dad gets his medals out to show me, and tells me how they were won. But I plan to have a bigger trophy cabinet than him! The fact that I play for Hull and not Kingston Rovers doesn't really bother dad. He is more concerned about me being happy in the game.”
And Hall, who scored 34 points on his debut for the club – in the Challenge Cup against Hunslet in April last year – is enjoying his Rugby League much more under Agar. He scored his first Super League hat-trick in round 17, in the 40-14 win over Castleford, and has penned a new deal, pledging his future to the club until at least 2010.
“Since I have re-signed I have been very happy and I don't want to move on,” he offers. “I've had to look at my game and I want to start playing more for the team. We have gained confidence under Richard and that has helped me a lot. And with guys returning from injury we are finding our feet again. You can't do anything without the ball and with us all working together more we are getting more possession and that's when we can be dangerous.
“In the couple of weeks after Sharpy left we had some team bonding sessions. We went fishing and bowling and had a great laugh. It made us want to start working for each other again, and enjoy our Rugby League more. Now we are all helping each other, like when the lads had that 13-game winning run in 2006.
"Richard wants us to play good, attacking football and that's great. It's about time we started chucking the ball about and scoring points. We were struggling earlier this year and it has been hard at times. We know we have the talent so we are trying to be a bit more inventive now, and that is good news for someone like me.
“We are now playing with much more attacking flair. Our defence is really good on our line too, which was something we needed to improve. Earlier on in the season the dressing room was very quiet but now there is a much bigger buzz on and off the pitch. It's great that the fans are really getting behind us too. I think it is all coming together.”
On the Wakefield semi-final, which will be played at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster on July 8, he adds: “They will be tough. We beat them 18-8 at home earlier in the season, but Danny Brough and Sam Obst, in particular, look really dangerous.
“If we get to Wembley it’ll be a great day and, regardless of whether we play St Helens or the Leeds Rhinos, anything could happen. But we have to get past Wakefield first.”
Craig Hall, Hull FC’s dynamic young centre, is itching for a chance to play in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley, if only to emulate the success of his father. Ahead of the semi-final against Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Oliver Pickup caught up with the son of David, Hull Kingston Rovers’ full-back in the victorious 1980 campaign, and found out what effect new coach Richard Agar, whose father also started for the Robins in that final, has had on the Black and Whites.
The date May 3, 1980, is etched in Hull Kingston Rovers’ fans memory. Regarded by many as the greatest day in the club’s history, at Wembley, in the Challenge Cup Final, 95,000 supporters cheered on the battle of Hull. The national press labelled it a ‘Hullava match’ as the east Hull club won their first Challenge Cup, against their west city rivals 10-5.
David Hall, full back for Hull KR on the day, lined up alongside Allan Agar. And now, 28 years later, both of their sons are so close to replicating their success, but for their old team’s most deadly of foes. Richard Agar, 36, was handed the coaching reins at the KC Stadium in late May following the departure of Peter Sharp, and in his first game he marched Hull to the Challenge Cup semi-finals with a shock 22-16 victory over Bradford Bulls.
Twenty-year-old Craig Hall was on the interchange bench for that win at Osdal, but having been reinvigorated since former assistant coach Agar’s promotion, he believes that Hull can make it to the hallowed turf of Wembley.
“I was very disappointed to miss out on the quarter-final win,” concedes Hull’s leading try scorer – Hall had crossed the whitewash seven times by round 18. “Having been in the team for most of the season, in the stands is not the place you want to be watching at any time, especially in the quarter-final. But it refocused me and now I am playing better hopefully I can take some form into the semi-final.
“I went down to the Challenge Cup Final last year and just watching it was so brilliant. To play there, at Wembley, would be amazing. It would be a dream come true to get there and I have had that dream since I was a little kid.”
Hall, who has been on the books at Hull since he was 13, and has represented England through the junior ranks, had not been born when his father performed his heroics for Hull KR on that May afternoon in 1980. But former Great Britain full back David, from time to time, will dust off the old winners’ medal and use it to encourage his talented boy to better his achievements. And rather than question Craig’s Hull allegiance, Hall senior simply takes delight in the fact that his son is stamping his mark on Rugby League.
Craig continues: “Sometimes dad gets his medals out to show me, and tells me how they were won. But I plan to have a bigger trophy cabinet than him! The fact that I play for Hull and not Kingston Rovers doesn't really bother dad. He is more concerned about me being happy in the game.”
And Hall, who scored 34 points on his debut for the club – in the Challenge Cup against Hunslet in April last year – is enjoying his Rugby League much more under Agar. He scored his first Super League hat-trick in round 17, in the 40-14 win over Castleford, and has penned a new deal, pledging his future to the club until at least 2010.
“Since I have re-signed I have been very happy and I don't want to move on,” he offers. “I've had to look at my game and I want to start playing more for the team. We have gained confidence under Richard and that has helped me a lot. And with guys returning from injury we are finding our feet again. You can't do anything without the ball and with us all working together more we are getting more possession and that's when we can be dangerous.
“In the couple of weeks after Sharpy left we had some team bonding sessions. We went fishing and bowling and had a great laugh. It made us want to start working for each other again, and enjoy our Rugby League more. Now we are all helping each other, like when the lads had that 13-game winning run in 2006.
"Richard wants us to play good, attacking football and that's great. It's about time we started chucking the ball about and scoring points. We were struggling earlier this year and it has been hard at times. We know we have the talent so we are trying to be a bit more inventive now, and that is good news for someone like me.
“We are now playing with much more attacking flair. Our defence is really good on our line too, which was something we needed to improve. Earlier on in the season the dressing room was very quiet but now there is a much bigger buzz on and off the pitch. It's great that the fans are really getting behind us too. I think it is all coming together.”
On the Wakefield semi-final, which will be played at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster on July 8, he adds: “They will be tough. We beat them 18-8 at home earlier in the season, but Danny Brough and Sam Obst, in particular, look really dangerous.
“If we get to Wembley it’ll be a great day and, regardless of whether we play St Helens or the Leeds Rhinos, anything could happen. But we have to get past Wakefield first.”
Labels: Challenge Cup, Craig Hall, Hull FC, Hull KR, Richard Agar, Super League
