Hull’s Jake Connor Named in Rugby League Top 50 – Calls Union ‘Too Boring’

The 2021 Super League season has come to an end, and pollsters have started putting together their ‘top’ lists based on the action.

 

Featuring prominently in a number of rundowns were players representing Hull FC and Hull KR, and of those, it was Jake Connor who came out amongst the most highly rated, despite him missing out on a place in the England squad.

Nevertheless, it will be a source of much pride for the 26-year-old that his on-field activities have not gone unnoticed – particularly as he made national headlines when he described rugby union as ‘too boring’ after Eddie Jones, the England union coach suggested he would do rather nicely in the code.

Given England’s position in the rugby odds from Betfair for the Autumn Series and the subsequent Six Nations – they are merely second-favourites at 9/4 behind France – you could forgive Jones for courting Connor’s attacking play.

But the full-back is having none of it, and so the Hull faithful don’t need to worry about him switching codes in a hurry. “Obviously I’ve never played union, it doesn’t look that hard. You never say never, but it looks too boring for me,” Connor said, giving his filter the afternoon off.

The interaction came after Jones spent two days at Hull’s Kingston home, studying the coaching methods of Brett Hodgson and his team and looking to pick up some interesting tactical concepts to take back to his day job as England head coach.

With his side dismal in the 2021 Six Nations, finishing a lowly fifth, and Hull FC missing out on the play-offs altogether, you would think that Jones and Connor would be on the same page after their tough years – however, it seems like they’re singing from a different hymn sheet altogether.

Tomkins Takes the Spoils

One of the reasons that Connor didn’t rank higher than 15th in the Top 50 list from Yorkshire Live is inconsistency in his performances, and for the most part, it is hard to argue with such an assertion.

But as the media firm recognised, the switch to full back has done wonders for Connor’s game, and the fact that he was directly involved in 40% of Hull’s tries speaks volumes of his impact.

Alas, that wasn’t enough to propel him into the top ten of the rankings, which were dominated – unsurprisingly – by St Helens and Catalan Dragons players. Sam Tomkins took the top spot in a year that also saw him claim the Man of Steel trophy, and for good reason given his ten tries and 20 assists in a stellar campaign for the French outfit.

🏆 2012
🏆 2021

Catalans Dragons’ Sam Tomkins is named this year’s Steve Prescott Man of Steel 💪pic.twitter.com/rljtVL6CL2

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) October 4, 2021

Saints duo Alex Walmsley and Jonny Lomax were two and three thanks to their efforts in the club’s Grand Final success, while teammate Morgan Knowles and the Dragons’ James Maloney rounded out the top five.

There were places in the top ten for two of Hull KR’s leading lights. Jordan Abdull is developing into one of the finest playmakers in the game, and he took seventh place in the poll. Powerhouse forward Kane Linnett was in eighth spot.

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