Simon Grix wants to put a “chaotic” week behind him and start getting crisis-torn Hull back on track.
The assistant coach is in temporary charge after Tony Smith’s sacking last Thursday. He only arrived at the club himself in the off-season after leaving his role as Halifax chief to link up with his former Warrington boss. But Smith’s exit after starting the campaign with just one win from eight games means yet more changes for an ailing club perennially in transition.
Asked how he’d reflect on the last week, Grix, 38, said: “Chaotic. Surprising. A bit uncomfortable. One man obviously loses his job in these scenarios but we’re all part of it so I’m feeling a bit guilty as everyone should. But we can’t look back for too long. We have to get on with things.”
Hull, who head to St Helens on Friday, have also made the surprise appointment of ex-Leeds, Warrington and England scrum-half Richie Myler in a new position of director of rugby. He has been tasked with finding Smith’s replacement as well as bolstering their struggling squad. But Myler, 33, is new to that sort of position - he was still playing for York until announcing his retirement yesterday.
Grix, who hasn’t ruled himself out of going for the top job, insisted: “Everyone has to give him a chance and he can be judged further down the track. He’ll have fresh ideas. He’s pretty well-connected, played at a few clubs and internationally so I don't really see how it can be a bad thing for us at the minute.”
Grix played alongside Myler for six years at Warrington when the club won at Wembley, finished top and reached two Grand Finals. He said: “Rich was a very good player. Half-backs are not normally renowned for being tough, not in the scrapping sense and throwing punches. But he’d played busted and did all the little things really well.
"His anticipation was very good and he’s been a good player for a long time. Those attributes will serve him well. The perception is players are just big idiots who like to run into each other. But all the qualities you learn throughout that career can really transfer into most roles. I’m sure he’ll attack it [DoR] with that professionalism.
"I know he’s enthusiastic and really excited to get going. The interesting bit for us is around the squad and what we need to try and help us climb out of this hole we’re in.”
Kiwi hooker Nu Brown, released by Hull last week for personal reasons, has signed for St George Illawarra. Hull KR winger Louis Senior has joined Castleford on an initial two week loan deal.