"I like to think it’s my work ethic," Will Kirby, Hull FC’s Academy Player of the Year, replied when asked about his biggest strength this year. The young forward, who made his Super League debut away at Salford Red Devils back in July, knows what it takes.
A key component of Hull’s academy and reserves side throughout 2024, Kirby plays one way: tough. There’s no nonsense. It’s straight and hard with the ball and without it, he likes to hand the 'whacks' out too.
Comfortable in the middle of the field and out on an edge, Kirby, who came through the junior system at Hull Wyke, is aiming to make his mark at the club he’s followed all his life. And he’s doing it alongside his best mates. That bond is there to see.
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"I like to play tough," Kirby told Hull Live. "In this game, you've got to be tough, and you've got to be able to cop a few whacks and give some yourself. For me, it's being tough and working hard. I don't think I'm the most talented player in the world, and I won't score the most tries or make the most breaks, but hopefully people will look at me and think, 'Yeah, I want to play with him.'
"I just want to work hard and put in that effort. I think this award recognises that. My mates are all talented players, and I'm the little cog that works hard and makes sure everything else comes together. That’s my game. I love it."
Proudly sporting his trophy, Kirby continued: "It does feel nice to get some recognition for the year. It's been tough; there's been some adversity personally with a late injury, but I'm really happy to get recognised from earlier in the season. It's also a credit not just to me but to the coaches and the work they put in, and the other boys as well. I look good because of them. We're all it together, and it could have been any one of them, really, but I am proud of myself."
That modesty shines right through the 18-year-old, but it’s no surprise. There is a close feel with this young group, many of which have been named in Hull’s new ‘Elite Talent Group,’ spending the morning at the Kirby household having breakfast before the play-off trip to St Helens earlier this month. They do everything together.
"We're a really tight group," Kirby said. "There's loads of us going up together next year who are all really good mates. My best mates in the entire world are in this group, so that will all help us moving forward. You only have to look at Penrith and the culture they have created. They have got that family environment, and you can see how close the players are, not just as teammates but as friends. That's what we're trying to build at this club—Hull lads who know what it's about.
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"You look at the 2016 and 2017 Challenge Cup final wins, and there was a bunch of Hull lads in there with a bit of talent around them that knew what it was like to play for this club. We're trying to get that going again, and you only have to look around now to see all of the lads and the talent on display. We've got young players who work so hard, who run their blood to water every game, and who know what it means to play for Hull FC.
"For us, it all starts at training and our environment at training. If you train well during the week, then you usually play well at the weekend. Making sure that environment is right, the standards are right, and that it’s the right environment is massive. In games, you look to your left and you see your best mate, or you look to your right and see another one, and you want to go get the ball or make that tackle for him. You don't want to let your mates down. That's been the case for us this year."
And as for his senior Hull FC debut, Kirby, who played week in and week out for the academy and reserves, admitted he was a bag of nerves, both when Simon Grix told him he’d be playing at Salford and in the warm-up come gameday, but looking back now, there’s pride and nothing less.
"I came into the year and my goal was academy, reserves, academy, reserves," Kirby said. "I never really thought first-team was going to be an opportunity, but the way this year has gone, an opportunity came up, and I was really grateful to take it. I don't think on the day I realised what I had just done. Playing a Super League game; it's what you think of when you first start going down to Hull Wyke, that you want to play for Hull FC, and to do that, I can now look back on a good year, be proud of myself, and know that I've done alright.
"Looking back, it was an emotional week. It was a nervous one as well. I'm quite a nervous person anyway before a game, but Grixy pulled me aside and asked if 'I fancied a game.' I thought he was joking; I didn't actually think he was serious. But I was just really pleased, and then suddenly you think, 'What am I going to tell my mum and my dad? Am I ready and all of that?' But I enjoyed the build-up and everything like that.
"I trained alright; we had a little bit of a promo on the Saturday before the game, and then in the warm-up it was the worst nerves I've ever felt in my life, but again they went once I got out there. To then go see my family after full-time and the fans, it was all worthwhile."
As for the future, Kirby, who is recovering from ruptured ankle ligaments, has one thing on his mind: knuckling down. "I just want to enjoy my off-time now, get myself right, get my ankle right, and look to push on," he added. "The next few years will be a long process. I'm not going to be a Super League-ready player in three months, but if I just keep learning and keep getting better every day, then I won't go far wrong."
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