For a man who doesn’t say a whole lot around training each week, it may be a surprise to some to hear Ryan Hall be described as “the storyteller.” A man of undeniable actions, but often few words, Hall leads by example and sets a level for others to follow at training. But, as the winger explains, it appears that’s not his only role in this Willie Peters outfit.
As Hall prepares for his final game as a Hull KR player in yet another Grand Final for him personally, his head coach is readying himself to make his bow as a coach in the big show.
Giving insight into the man who won Super League Coach of the Year this week, Hall has highlighted the importance given to the club’s playing leadership group and supported that method of management. Both Hall and Peters have enjoyed impressive seasons, with the club finishing second in the Super League table before defeating Warrington Wolves in the play-off semi-final at Craven Park and consequently booking their place at the title-deciding fixture at Old Trafford.
Asked about working with Peters and Hull KR’s Man of Steel winner Mikey Lewis, Hall gave his assessment on the pair: “Really good. They haven’t changed. They have developed, but the way they approach training, they walk in at seven o’clock in the morning and you know they are here to work.
“Mikey has developed as a player. Willie has got to know us a bit more—we’ve had a couple of interesting conversations throughout the couple of years! It’s good to have them because it shapes a relationship.
“Because it’s his first head coach job, he has learned from senior players, and we have learned from him. He does like to use me in terms of the experience of having been there and done it before, he does like to use me as a bit of a storyteller! But that’s what the leadership group is for, for the head coach to draw on that. Because if you are a dictator, it loses its effect. You’ve got to hear from within. And that’s what he likes to promote.”
Hall joined Hull KR when previous head coach Tony Smith—who he knew from their Leeds Rhinos days together – was in charge, with the deal being confirmed in late 2020 ahead of the 2021 season. After being so associated with Leeds Rhinos for so long, he needed to find a connection with his new club and has done it with his on-field actions. After those early days, when Rovers were going through tough times, he is now on the brink of securing legendary status with the Robins too.
“When I first signed, it was quite hard to get that connection. I was looking for a connection, how I can tie myself to Hull KR. The closest I got was that my grandma was from Goole! I just came in and tried to be influential in what they do and I think I’ve done that.
“When I joined, they had just won three games in that Covid year (finishing bottom in 2020). I always knew there was a possibility we could turn it around and be a good team but the probability of that was pretty low. It’s really good that possibility has turned into something real.
“It feels different to Leeds. You walk down the street and in Hull, you don’t know if they’re going to be negative or positive, you can’t tell (because there are two Super League clubs in the city). But it’s good.
“They come out and support us, but we are representing them. This area has a working class background. And we like to be hardworking. You get the ties there. You try to get inspiration from your community.”
