Davy Litten has no issues being the joker in the Hull FC team. In fact, by his own words, he’ll ‘be that idiot’ for them!
But the young gun, whose positive energy and infectious enthusiasm cut deep, also knows when to get serious. Targeting a long-term role in the centre position, Litten is fully focused on becoming the best player he can be.
However, and while the desire to get better is there, there’s no denying the 22-year-old is in his element, living out his childhood dream playing for his hometown club.
Being that ball of energy, Litten is Hull’s man to turn to when the chips are down. It’s a role he’s perfectly comfortable with, even if he finds it hard to rein it all in at times.
“I just go stand in the corner,” Litten, speaking in Hull’s pre-match press conference, joked. “In the gym, the boys egg me on to do things, but I think the more energy, the better. When people are hanging out of their backsides on the field, they need some idiot like me to lift them up. I’ll be that idiot for them.
“It is hard to calm it down sometimes, but you look at the people we’ve got in the team, John Asiata and Aidan Sezer; they give you the nod when it’s the time and when it’s not the time. I’ve got a pretty good understanding of when to go and when not to go, but I do get the eyes sometimes just to chill out.”
For Litten, it’s a balancing act. Sitting out the first couple of months of the year with an MCL injury, Litten had to bide his time, but he returned in strong fashion, and under John Cartwright, he hasn’t looked back. On an upward trajectory once again, the young gun has started the last nine games in the centre, starring in Perpignan as the side defeated Catalans 34-0 last time out.
Asked by Hull Live if that was his best display in Super League to date, Litten said: “It was up there. To be able to perform in that kind of heat was new to me; I was spewing at halftime as it was that hot, but I thought I was good in a few areas, and I can be better in a few areas as well.
“But it was a special day to be able to go out with the boys and get such a good win over in the South of France. It was my first game against Catalans as well, and I loved every minute of it. It’s just made me hungrier to be able to perform like that week in and week out and be a consistent Super League player.”
Setting his sights high, there’s no denying that Litten—also capable of lining up at full-back and on the wing—is in his element. But there’s also a side to him that knows he has to knuckle down and perfect his game, adding other qualities to his aerial ability, kick chases, and the like.
“It’s great,” he said on recent continuity. “It’s something I’ve been aiming to do: nail down one position. My utility value is good, but nailing down one position allows you to really kick on and try to do good things in the team.
“It is tough playing centre, and I am a bit raw sometimes—but I try and listen to my peers, be a sponge, and just keep improving. It’s more defence—you want your defence to be on. Anyone can attack, but it’s defence that makes you stand out, especially to the coaches.
“The longer I can do that, the longer I will be in the team. That’s something I watch diligently to be able to prepare for the people who are going to be in front of me. I try to understand what they’re going to do and have a head start going into the game. It’s more defensively; I want to be the best centre in the league for defence—the attack will come off the back of my defence, so the more I can do that, the better.”
Ready to continue where he left off in Perpignan, Litten is now gearing up to face Castleford Tigers on Friday night, with the young gun set to partner Lewis Martin on Hull’s left edge once again.
He added: “Centre is the one for me at the moment, and I’m really loving the partnerships I’m building. Long may that continue. A lot can change in rugby league, but that’s the position I’m loving at the minute. I’m forming a really good partnership with Lewis, and if we continue to do the right things, it could be a partnership for many years to come.
“So touch wood, it continues. I love playing for this club and playing for this badge—I speak about it a lot, but I don’t take it for granted. I absolutely love everything about this place and about this badge and the west side of this city. Every time I play for this badge, I try and leave everything out there. That’s something I’ll do for the rest of my career.”