Danny Richardson insists he is ready to prove he still belongs at the top after finally putting his injury nightmare behind him during an eye-catching loan spell with hometown club Widnes Vikings.
The former Super League Dream Team playmaker has endured a turbulent four years, representing six different clubs while battling serious injury setbacks.
Richardson suffered a devastating ACL and MCL injury during his time at Castleford in 2022 after making a high-profile move from St Helens.
Since then, he has had permanent spells with Hull KR and York, as well as loan stints at Salford, Huddersfield and, most recently, Widnes.
Now, after finally putting together a consistent run of games, the 29-year-old believes he is ready to prove himself again.
“Before I came to Widnes, I hadn’t played three consecutive games since 2022 at Castleford, before I did my ACL and MCL,” Richardson told All Out Rugby League.
“When you look at it like that, it’s a hell of a long time to be out of the game and not have any consistency.
“You’re expected to come into a level you’ve played at before. I’ve been in and out of teams, I’ve moved clubs a couple of times and moved where I’ve lived.
“I was just after some consistency and staying on the field, and now I’m at eight games with Widnes – the most since 2022. The last two or three games, I’ve felt my confidence getting back.
“I knew I just needed to get on the field. You can do all the training, but nothing can replicate that game day.”
Richardson burst onto the scene at St Helens, making 34 appearances in 2018 after progressing through the club’s academy.
He later joined Castleford, making 36 appearances before suffering the serious knee injury in the penultimate game of the 2022 regular season.
Reflecting on the difficult period that followed, Richardson admitted a lack of game time made it almost impossible to rebuild his confidence.
“When I did my knee, it was a major injury and I was out for 18 months. I came back, played two or three games, but got a head knock after one game, and I couldn’t find consistency,” he said.
“Then the move to Hull KR came about, and I knew from the outside looking in, Hull KR were a team doing everything right and I wanted to be a part of it.
“The team were playing really well, and the halves were playing really well and in a partnership where they were playing every week and it was hard for me to force myself into that team.
“I went to Huddersfield for a week, got recalled, played once or twice for Hull KR, then didn’t feature again for a number of months.
“I then went to Salford for two weeks, got recalled again and played the week later, then I broke my foot.
“At the back end of that year [2025], the move to York came about and I thought that was going to go a lot differently than what it did. But for whatever reason, I didn’t play much there, but got a knock when I did.
“The confidence you get is from playing and playing well, and building combinations and repetition, and I haven’t had that since 2022.”
Richardson recently helped Widnes push Championship leaders and Super League hopefuls London Broncos all the way, with the Vikings threatening a stunning fightback from 42-18 down before eventually falling 42-36.
The display only strengthened his belief that he can still cut it in Super League.
“Over the years where I’ve been in and out with injuries and clubs, there’s moments where you have your doubts. That’s just not me. I play my best when I’m confident and feel good and I feel valued as a player, and I know the club and coach wants me there – that’s when I play my best,” Richardson said.
“I’ve been building nicely at Widnes and, against London Broncos, they’re a fantastic team. Before the game I reminded myself that if I went out and played well, then you’re sort of back.
“I did that, and it gave me a real lift.
“It’s definitely come back now, and my situation for next year at the minute, I’ve had no conversations with anybody or had any offers. I’m a free agent as things stand, but I’ve no doubts that I can go in and be a Super League half-back and win games for teams.
“I just haven’t done it consistently for a few years, so clubs probably think, ‘Maybe he can, maybe he can’t.’ It’s about me showing that I’m back and getting back to playing my best rugby.”
Richardson signed with York Knights ahead of their first-ever Super League season, but his one-year deal is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.
“If I’m honest, I’m looking for a home,” he said. “I want to be somewhere that appreciates me and wants me as a player and says to me, ‘We want you to be our man.’
“I want somewhere I can call home over the next couple of years.”