Jai Whitbread has endured a whirlwind few weeks – becoming a father, missing out on Hull KR’s 17, responding with some self-reflection, and then scoring in the Magic Weekend derby victory over rivals Hull FC.
Whitbread recently welcomed his first child, which meant he remained at home while Hull KR competed in the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
After returning, the Australian forward lost his place in Rovers’ matchday 17 and featured for the reserves. However, he has since responded impressively, scoring two tries in his last three appearances – including one at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium during Magic Weekend.
“It’s not a good thing when you miss out on the 17, so to get back into the team, you’ve got to do a bit of self-reflection and see where you can improve,” Whitbread said.
“For me, it was about narrowing it down to a few key things in my game, keeping it simple and enjoying it.
“Willie just said, ‘Go out and be me.’ He knows what I can do, I know what I can do – it’s just about doing the work and performing on game day.”
Whitbread marked his return with a try off the interchange bench in Round 15’s 22-8 victory over Leigh Leopards before crossing for a decisive score in Hull KR’s 26-12 Magic Weekend win over Hull FC in Liverpool.
The try came after Lewis Martin lost possession under heavy defensive pressure, with Whitbread believing there was no controversy surrounding the four-pointer.
“I probably carried on a bit, to be fair, after scoring,” Whitbread smiled. “But just with the way the game was going – it was a bit tit for tat and they were getting back into it.
“To score a try in that moment, in front of the fans, was unreal. Hence why there was a bit of extra passion, I think.
“The ball came out pretty cleanly. Jez Litten got underneath him, and I was in the right place at the right time.
“Getting the result was the main positive.”
Becoming a father has also given Whitbread added motivation as Hull KR prepare to host his former club, Wakefield Trinity, in a top-six clash at Sewell Group Craven Park.
“When you have a child, it essentially gives you a different perspective on life, and everything you do is for them,” he said. “That’s added a bit of motivation for me, and I’m really enjoying it.”
With 10 rounds of the regular season remaining, Rovers know there is still plenty of improvement to come if they are to retain the League Leaders’ Shield, with Leeds Rhinos currently setting the pace.
“I think we’re building, and that’s the focus around the squad,” Whitbread said.
“We’re definitely not at our best, and we’ll be the first to tell you that. We’re still building, for sure.
“It’s about playing how we play, and playing our game. We know what that looks like and we know what that feels like, so it’s about getting back to the best version of Hull KR.”