Simon Grix has a simple message for Hull FC fans: hold on. The interim coach is well aware of just how tough this year has been, with the Black and Whites enduring a torrid season with just three wins to their name.
That has rooted them joint-bottom of the Super League table, with two rounds to go to avoid a first wooden spoon in sixty years. And for Grix, who cut an upbeat tone in his pre-match press conference, the only way is up with nine new signings and new coaching staff brought in for next year, with the 38-year-old declaring that the worst part is over.
Stating the factors at play, Grix alluded to the context behind Hull's season but didn't look for excuses. In fact, the coach accepted reality and insisted that Hull will 'get better' next year.
Speaking via Hull Live directly to the club's fans, Grix said: "Hold on. Hold on. For all of us associated with Hull FC, it's hard. It's been really hard. There's a lot that has gone on that has been beyond anyone's control and a lot of stuff that's been beyond what anyone would have foreseen nine months ago or twelve months ago.
"When everyone walked in for pre-season, everyone was as optimistic as you should be, before you kick a ball you always are, and everyone has had the best pre-season ever. Then you kick a ball and you find out where you're at. It's been a tough old ride, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. We are going to get better.
"We're bringing in a significant number of blokes who are going to add a lot to our group. There's a long way to go, but it's not an insurmountable problem; it's just really difficult at the moment. I go back to what Tony (Smith) said, and I know it wasn't received well, but it's a reality that we have to accept now. It's not a flip it once and everything is alright. There's a lot of hard work to go into this to build the club back up properly to where everyone would like it to be.
"Hopefully, it's not too long, but there's going to be a process that we have to go through to get there. I'm certain we've gone through the most hurtful and the most harmful stage of it. There are some good times ahead. We've just got to hold on."
Basing their future on hard work and nothing less, Hull are aiming to be proud of what they achieve next year. Their focuses will be on creating the desired traits and basing their performance on grit, determination, effort, energy, and the like. That is talentless stuff, and all based on attitude; with Grix confident it will improve the side.
"Success will be determined individually, and everyone's version of it is different," Grix explained. "It depends on what you want, but a lot would have to go wrong elsewhere and a lot would have to go right here for us to go from bottom two to top two, so we have to be realistic about what success is. To mine, if we can get in the mix where we're challenging for that top six again, I think that's significant progress from where we are now.
"I know people won't like that, as everyone wants to be in it and get in Grand Finals and Challenge Cups, but again, you have to understand that there's a lot of other people fighting for it as well, and we're behind them as a club at the moment. There's a lot of work to do. It's not impossible, but we will improve."
Grix continued: "We're almost over it, we've got a couple of weeks that we have to work through, but there's a great opportunity now to get better and blokes like Jordan Rapana, John Asiata, leaders, good men who have been at good clubs, played finals, and been in around those environments—that's what we need.
"One bloke can't do it. The coach can't drag everyone along. It takes a full room to get it done properly. We're bringing in some experience that has been and seen that, and that's going to help drag those younger blokes that we've been so enthused by."
Sticking to the rhetoric, Hull, via Richie Myler's Q&A with Hull Live, are hoping to compete again next year as a genuine Super League outfit again. Outlining the importance now of those messages, Grix added: "I think the club can play a big part in that in how we deliver our message of what we want to be and what we want to stand for. I think we need to be right with ourselves. We need to be realistic.
"We want to see everyone improve. We want to compete. That's the big thing for me, and that's the reality. People were a bit happy when we were competing this year and losing games. I'd like to think next year we are competing every game and we're disappointed when we lose games.
"That will be progress for us, but we've got to be realistic about where we are and accept where we are. That's the difficult thing for everyone, really, but if this year hasn't brought it home, I'm not sure what will, but like I say, the only way is up. We will improve."
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