Hull star Josh Griffin reveals why he did not move to Australian side Melbourne Storm

JOSH Griffin has revealed why he opted for Hull over NRL favourites Melbourne Storm.

The Australian side, currently number one for their title after winning the Minor Premiership, were interested in the new Challenge Cup winner.

HULL FC

But Griffin says personal issues and doubts meant he never gave the Storm’s interest, which never progressed to a formal offer, too much consideration.

The centre, who left Salford at the end of last year, said: “Melbourne said they were interested in me.

“However, the talks never really got past the early stages and I never really gave it that much of a chance.

“I had some personal things going on at the time and I’d not long since lost my dad. It just wasn’t the right time and I felt it would’ve been too big a risk.

HULL FC

“Not many English centres have gone out to Australia and done great and that was probably something I looked at.

“I would’ve been 28-years-old by the time I’d got there had I taken the risk and that was probably too much of a gamble.”

Griffin is expected to return for this Friday’s Super League rematch with Wigan, as both sides fight for a top four place at the end of the Super 8s.

But just being a Challenge Cup winner is a long way from the days when he trained on his own after a move to Leeds RU turned sour.

PA:Press Association

However, a call to then Batley Bulldogs coach John Kear turned things around.

He added: “I didn’t really want to come back to rugby league and I spoke to a couple of Premiership RU teams.

“But the way it ended at Leeds meant I couldn’t get another club until the end of that season, so I ended up training on my own just to keep myself in some sort of shape.

“I was literally throwing jumpers down on the field and running between them, as well as going to the gym and things like that.

“So I called John and asked if I could train with Batley. He agreed and things just went from there.”