Josh Griffin makes his first return to Hull FC tonight after his acrimonious exit but insisted: All that is over. The popular second-row spent seven years with the Black and Whites, scoring 45 tries in 144 games.
He was part of the 2017 Wembley winning side but saw his career there suddenly end. That came after copping a seven-game ban for calling referee Chris Kendall a “f***ing cheat” having been red-carded during a Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat to St Helens. Griffin, whose departure was mutually agreed two years ago today, admitted swearing at the official but always denied making that offensive slur.
His contract was up at the end of the season regardless, and he moved on to Wakefield Trinity. The ex-Salford Red Devils ace couldn’t prevent them from being relegated but was pivotal in helping fire the West Yorkshire club straight back into Super League, where they are now up to sixth in the play-off spots.
Griffin, 35, said: “It is my first game going back. I’m looking forward to it. It’s like a home game for once! It’ll be nice not to have to travel an hour to get there. We still live in Hessle so it’ll take me five minutes!
“I see fans around, and it still gets said I should never have left. But it’s been and gone. I do have fond memories of FC. It didn’t end the best, but it is what it is.”
Griffin has scored five tries in 11 appearances for Daryl Powell’s side this term ahead of tonight’s crucial contest. Hull, who remarkably have not won at home in 12 MONTHS, sit just one point behind them in seventh, so the MKM Stadium clash has plenty riding on it.
Wakefield warmed up with Saturday’s 44-6 thrashing of Catalans when in-form Griffin was among the try-scorers again. He said: “We knew FC had lost [13-6 at home to St Helens] earlier in the day, so it meant we’d be back in the top six if we won. That was our main target.
“With having them on Thursday as well, it’s a big week for us. We’re back where we want to be, and we’ll see some boys back soon as well, so hopefully it’s just going to get better and better. We were very clinical against Catalans. We took our chances.
“We went out there to have a quick start and managed that [leading 28-0 at the break], but it became a scrappy game. The second half was probably the worst game of rugby league I’ve been involved in. It was horrendous.”
Griffin, who works part-time as Midlands Hurricanes strength and conditioning coach, is out of contract at the end of the season. Many Trinity fans feel he warrants another deal, but the former Castleford Tigers three-quarter confirmed: “I won’t be here.
“Unfortunately I will be leaving Wakefield. But I’ve got my future sorted. And I’ll be carrying on playing.”
Griffin, who once had a spell with rugby union side Leeds Carnegie, will join ambitious Championship outfit York for 2026 but is keen to finish his Super League career on a high with Trinity. He admitted: “It’s been a brilliant move for me.
“Obviously getting relegated was rubbish, but it’s been a really eventful journey. Dropping down to the Championship and then seeing how far this club has come in the last two years, it’s nice to be a part of.
“I grew up in Wakefield and started out here, so it’s been nice to come back and see the club really hit its straps. With the help of Matt [Ellis] and his family, the club’s just gone from strength to strength. I’m loving it here.”